Page 49 of Velvet Cruelty

“I just need to be closer. Is that okay?”

He twists his knees away. “Ah, maybe not right now…”

For a second, I’m stung, then I see it. The thick ridge along his hip. “You’ve got a… I gave you a…?”

Bobby’s face is scarlet. “Sorry, you’re just so beautiful and—”

I move without thinking, shifting myself fully onto his lap. Bobby makes a noise of protest but when I kiss him, he kisses me back.

It isn’t like with Doc or Eli. It isn’t like anything I’ve ever felt. It’s golden and delicate as a spring morning. A first kiss. A real first kiss. The start of something precious.

We break apart, grinning like idiots. Bobby presses his forehead to mine. “I can’t tell you how long I wanted to do that.”

“Me too. I never thought…”

“I know.”

We kiss again, slower this time, and the feel of Bobby pressed against my shorts makes heat lick between my thighs.

“JJ.” Bobby’s hands are on my hips and he grinds against me. “You’re so gorgeous.”

It’s wrong, rocking against Bobby’s erection. Even wronger than Doc sucking my nipples. Doc made me feel trapped, forced to feel things. Being with Bobby is a choice. But I don’t stop and neither does he. He’s rougher than I thought he would be and I like it. We kiss until I’m out of breath. Until everything between my legs is tight and soaking.

Bobby’s hands brush the bottom of my T-shirt. “Can I?”

I swallow. “I don’t know. I’m so confused.”

“That’s okay.” Bobby ducks his head. “You know when I knew I had feelings for you?”

I beam at him like a dork. “Tell me?”

“It was hearing you sing Rex Orange County. That ‘Loving is Easy’ song. You were smiling and tapping your feet and I just…” He presses a hand to his heart. “Melted.”

I laugh, embarrassed and delighted. “I can do better songs.”

“Impossible.” He kisses my cheek. “I don’t want to rush you, but if we get married, I can make everything right.”

The glow in my chest evaporates. “Bobby…”

“I know. I know it’s a lot of pressure, but we can make it work.” His face is earnest and boyish. I open my mouth to ask how old he is exactly and then the thought clicks, as though it was always there. “Bobby? Did you hear me sing Rex Orange County at school?”

His dark eyes flick to the left and then back again. “Yeah.”

The taste of cheese and tomato rise in my mouth. “I never sang at school, even to myself. I would have been too embarrassed.”

He doesn’t say anything but a blush creeps down his neck again. I slide off Bobby’s lap and walk to the side of the cage, as far away as I can get. “You were spying on me, weren’t you? At home or at my singing lessons or somewhere.”

He lowers his head. “I’m sorry.”

“I guess you are really good at surveillance.”

He huffs out a humorless laugh.

“And you’ve killed other people, haven’t you? Kurt wasn’t the first.”

“No.”

I nod, feeling calmer than I should. “I think maybe you should go.”

“Yeah.” Bobby gets to his feet and walks away slowly as though trying to think of some reason to stay. I’m thinking hard too, but there’s nothing there. The basement door swings open and then he’s gone, just like the other two.

His gold chain is still sitting on my dresser. I don’t check if it’s fine enough to hold the medallion. I don’t touch it at all.

---