Page 31 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Shegave the man a cautious glance. Why did he want to know, and why did shesuddenly want to tell him? "You know I always liked it," she beganhesitantly.
"Mmmm,but that doesn't answer the question as to why you're interested in itnow?" he said, tossing her a grin. Having finished his cake in only threebites, Zach stood and made his way to her TV, where it sat on a stand thathoused her DVD's like a mini bookshelf. Pulling up his jeans, Zach squattedwith ease in front of the low stand and ran the pad of his finger across theglossy spines of the DVD covers. "Could it be that you're interested inrunning the outside movie nights again?" he asked without even looking ather.
Sanashifted in her seat at his accuracy. "Maybe…it was something I had thoughtof."
Turninga little until he could look back at her from his lowered position, he gave heran inquiring look. "And would you show movies like some of these old blackand white horror movies we used to love so much?”
"Ofcourse," she answered with an indignant smile. "I would show all theclassic ones like Nosferatu and The House on Haunted Hill."
Standingup from the TV stand, Zach walked over to the window that faced the front ofthe house and looked out into the dark window pane. "What about TheWolfman or Werewolf of London, will you show those?"
Herheart stuttered at that. Flashes of teeth and fur came unbidden to theforefront of her mind, and she shook her head. "No," she whispered."I don't own those."
Turningfrom the window, Zach gave her a penetrating look. "Why?"
Lookingaway from him, Sana stared unseeingly at the rolling credits of the movie onthe screen. "I don't like them," she answered simply.
"Dothey scare you?"
"Yes,"she answered truthfully without looking up.
Zachnodded and stepped away from the window. Without a word, he sat back down onthe couch and sipped his coffee as another movie, black-and-white thriller,began to play. Slowly the tension eased from her shoulders as she absentlywatched the movie in front of them, replaced by a lingering curiosity.Strangely quiet and contemplative, Zach sat on the other side of the couch,saying nothing. The space between them she had welcomed earlier now suddenlyfelt vast and uncomfortable. Everything in her wanted to somehow bridge the gapbetween them, to fill the silence with banter or argument, anything rather thanthe cold distance. For most of the movie, it felt as if she was just sneakingglances at him, trying to discern what changed the mood.
Eventually,the movie ended, and Zach was the first to stand. "I'm going to go. Thankyou for the food and coffee. I'll see you at work tomorrow."
Standingfrom the couch, she followed him to the door. A knot twisted in her chest asshe watched him slip on his boots and open the door. There was an overwhelmingurge tingling through the tips of her fingers to reach out and grab the edge ofhis sleeve. Sana bit her lip and pressed her fingers into the palm of her handto stave off the feeling. She would not fall for Zach again, she told herselfas she watched the muscles of his broad back flex beneath the fabric of hisshirt as he reached for the outer vestibule door. This time she would staystrong.
"Oh,and one more thing," he said, pausing at the door before turning back tolook at her.
Pullingherself from her inner resolutions, she blinked and focused back on him as hestepped closer.
"Yes,"she breathed softly—too softly. Looking up at him, her chest tightened.
Hewas close to her now, far too close. She hadn't been paying attention, and nowhe was only inches away. The pine and sage scent, the smell of the forest thatalways seemed to cling to him, was all around her, now warmed by the heat ofhis tall body. She needed to step back to regain-
Thehand snaking around her waist stole her thoughts as she felt his big handgently propel her forward. Sana only had time to blink as Zach tilted his headand leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Close now, too close tosee anything but his mouth, Sana watched as the corner of his soft lips tugged intoa smirk before stamping themselves over hers.
Slowand devouring, Zach's lips worked gently over hers. Sana could feel his longfingers press tighter into her waist, pulling her even closer into him untilher breasts were pushed flat against his hard chest. With relentless, consuminghunger, his tongue glided past hers in soft but steady strokes, determined toremind her of all she had tried to forget.
Pullingaway just enough to nip at her lower lip, Zach let out a deep groan at thedesperate little sound she made in her throat. Keeping his arm locked firmlyaround her waist, he leaned his forehead against hers and spoke in a low roughtone. "I can't promise I can go slow for you, Sana. I never could.I've waited for you for too long to try to lie to myself and take it slow. Sojust start preparing yourself for more of this."
Sanashook her head, her mind at war with her body which still hummed pleasantlyfrom the kiss. "You can't just—ah!" her words were cut off with alittle cry as Zach leaned down and nipped at her lower lip again in warningbefore gently running his tongue across the swollen flesh.
"Ican, sweetheart, you know I can," he whispered against her lips.
Sana'shands tightened in the fabric of his shirt, and she could feel the firm fleshbeneath harden. Without censure and without thought, she turned her face uptowards his as he placed another searing kiss to her lips.
Eventually,he pulled away from her, stepping back and letting his hands slowly glide fromher waist until they dropped to his sides. Sana swallowed. Zach's eyes burnedbright in the low light of her vestibule, and she felt her body shudder at thememory of a night years ago when they burned just the same above her.
Withoutsaying anything, Zach turned and walked out the outer door.
Shestood there watching at the window as he walked down her porch stairs and out ofthe little circle of light her little porch light offered against theoppressive night until the darkness enveloped him fully.
Chapter 9
Sevenyears ago.
Three-hundredand sixty-five days. Sana had felt every single one of them from the day sheleft Tarki last summer. Each day her thoughts had turned back to this town andthe boy with the sharp teeth and the golden eyes, no matter how much shestruggled to fight it. Back and forth, she battled with her emotions about theenigmatic boy. One moment, she found herself longing after him and fondlyremembering his heated words and consuming kisses, and the next she wasdisgusted with herself for ever letting herself fall so easily for a boy thatwas clearly just toying with her. A boy who never gave her his number or anycontact info, just empty promises and obvious lies. God, how her heart achedwhen she allowed herself to think at how he must be laughing at her or how hewas no doubt cozied up to some girl even now, pulling the same moves. It didn'tseem to matter what form her thoughts about Zachariah Waatese took, whether itbe regret or pining, it all ended up the same—torture for her.
