Page 14 of Salace

I grin and shrug my shoulders. “Can’t or won't?” I raise a perfectly groomed brow at him. “Promise I don’t bite.”

The grass is cool against the sides of my sandaled feet. I stare up at him, smiling. Hoping.Goddammit, Kasey, just say yes.I hear the bang of a door inside. It startles me and I glance around hoping no one can see me.

“Fine. Just... wait there,” he says.

My insides twist with anticipation and excitement. I step back under a tree and lean against the trunk. Kasey quietly sneaks out the side door. The soft latch of the lock the only indication that he’s come outside. I smile when I see him. He grins back. When he gets to the tree, he grabs my hand and pulls me behind it.

“This is weird. You shouldn’t be here. My Dad will have a conniption.”

I laugh softly. “Yeah. Probably not my best idea.”

Kasey pouts. “You were at pickup today? Did I lookthatbad?”

“You looked upset enough that I came all the way here. Let’s go for a drive. Drives always make me feel better. Therapy appointments should all be conducted in cars if you ask me.”

Kasey’s eyes light up. “You’re not wrong.”

“Great, let’s go. I’m parked over there.” I gesture to the side street that abuts his yard. He glances over and hesitates. I reach out and take his hand. He stares down at our combined hands and wrinkles his brow before letting me tug him along as I start walking.Once we’re in the car everything will be fine.

Kasey doesn’t utter a word as we go. I feel him try once to pull his hand from mine, but I grip it harder until we’re at the car. I click the fob to unlock the doors and open his. “Feel like an ice cream? Or maybe some fries? Happy to stop somewhere,” I offer.

“Uh. I could eat, I guess.” He slides into the passenger seat. I close the door. Excitement hammers through my veins as I round the hood of the car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I tug the door closed. When I start it and put it in drive, the doors automatically lock. The finality of the sound seems too big in the small space.

“Where to? I’ll take you anywhere,” I say. Kasey stares out the window and shrugs. If he’d just...look at me... he might relax a little. I’m here to help him take a load off. “Okay. If you’re not hungry, I can just drive.”

“Sure,” he says, as I pull away from the curb. “Driving sounds good.”

I glance at my makeup in the rearview. It’s flawless. I spread my legs slightly letting the coat slide off one thigh slightly, showing more bare leg. At the stop sign I notice his eyes land on my knee and slide upward as I accelerate on to the main road.Good boy.

“Do you want some music? Go ahead and put on whatever you like,” I offer. I turn the heat up a smidge and unbutton the top two buttons of my coat revealing a hint of lacy cleavage. Kasey turns the volume up and flicks through some preset stations until he lands on something he likes. “So tell me what’s got you upset,” I say.

Kasey turns to me and opens his mouth to speak, but quickly snaps it shut. A quick glance at him reveals dilated pupils as he takes me in. I lick my lips and pull off the main drag toward a quiet park. His eyes rake over my body and he adjusts himself in his seat.

“Where are we going?” he asks, knee bouncing.

“Driving therapy only helps if you actually talk,” I snap. I grab my water bottle and take a long drink.

“Can I have some?” he asks. I smile and hand him the bottle.

He chugs some of the clear liquid then chokes and sputters. I laugh. A full on belly laugh. The sound fills the car.

“Fuck. I thought that was water. What the hell?” He slams the bottle back in the cup holder and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Relax. It won’t kill you,” I coo. “If anything it will help you loosen up.”

I pull into a large vacant lot and park beneath a copse of trees. Turning to him, my jacket slips open further, revealing where my thighs meet. I reach out and stroke his cheek.

KASEY

This is insane, but it’s exactly what I’ve been wanting for a while, I think, as I fish out my phone and then open the contact list.She’s going to be so fucking pissed.

Running a hand back through my hair, I take a deep breath and jab a finger at Eden’s name. I’m a little nervous, but this is a conversation that needs to happen, and honestly, I’m sick and tired of having to work on her fucking time.

The phone rings, and rings, and rings, and rings.

I chuckle softly because I know that she’s waiting for me to give up so she can text me and ask what I want, but I’m more than happy to kill her battery with my persistence if need be.Maybe she’s rubbing one out to the thought of fucking my father.

“Hey!”Finally,I think, as I roll my eyes at the obviously faux cheerful tone she just laid on me. “I was just about to call you!”

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