The Hard Bounce - страница 55
Kelly dropped Spike onto her night table with a thump and jumped into her bed, yawning deeply. “So, what’s going on?”
“I… um, was in the neighborhood.” It was true. Still sounded wicked retarded.
“What time is it, anyway?”
I didn’t bother looking at my watch. “It’s late. Too late for me to be stopping in. I’m sorry. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Don’t be stupid. You’re already here. I’m already awake, and I’m not mad. I’ve been trying to reach you again. Got a present for you.”
She stood up and leaned over to her purse on her bureau. She pulled out a cell phone. “Here.”
“Present from the boss?”
“Present from me. Getting tired of calling all around town looking for you. It’s prepaid and all set up. I even programmed a couple numbers for you.” She tumbled into bed again and patted the space next to her. “C’mere.”
I sat next to her on the bed. She leaned over and kissed me right on the point of the jaw where Sid’s fist had nearly removed it from my melon a day earlier. The blood in my veins stopped dead for a second, confused as to where to go. “What was that for?” I asked.
“That was for taking care of me the other night. I’m sorry it was so awkward in the morning.” She moved her lips a little higher and softly kissed my busted lip.
“What was that one for?”
“That was because I wanted to.” She wrapped herself around me in a warm embrace. “To let you know I still think you’re an attractive man, even when I’m sober.”
“Hmm,” was all I managed banter-wise.
“This isn’t, you know, bothering you, is it?”
Bothering me was the last thing it was doing. “No. It’s fine.” My voice sounded flat in my ears.
She let me go and turned my face to hers. “What’s wrong?” she asked firmly. “Is it me?”
“No… listen. I… I think you’re very attractive, but…”
I wanted to kiss her, badly. I wanted to lose myself in a simple act of physical intimacy.
Flashing knife.
A touch that wasn’t violent. That didn’t hurt. That wouldn’t make me bleed.
APA PANA
The softness of her pajamas against my fingers.
Clothes torn off.
Hair, smelling of vanilla shampoo.
Cut off.
An inch of smooth white skin, bellybutton underneath her pajama top.
Red.
I stood up, gasping, my breath struggling inside my tightened chest. “I think I should go.”
Kelly drew her knees up to her chest and hugged herself. Quietly, she said, “Maybe you should.”
I took a step. Stopped and just blurted, “I don’t think we’re going to find Cassandra.” It was the truth. Just not the whole truth. It was the first time I’d vocalized it, and the twinge of accompanying guilt rocked me.
Kelly didn’t say anything. I let my last sentence hang in the air. Finally, she said, “Did you get close?”
“Close enough. As close as we’re gonna get.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s a tough girl. If Mr. Donnelly has to go to the police, he’ll go to the police.”
“I…” I wanted to scream. She’s not fine! I failed! I fucking failed her! I clamped my jaw tight and put my face in my hands, massaging my temples.
“Hey,” she said as she stood up from the bed. She lifted my chin with her fingers. I let her. Her lips curled in a small, sad pout as she looked me in the eyes. “It’ll be fine.”
Softly, she pressed her lips to my mouth again. Her kisses became firmer as she slid me back onto the bed. I moved my hands down to the small of her back and pulled her to me, pressed her tight against me.
She traced her hands under my shirt, fingers working their way up my stomach to the mass of scar tissue on my chest. I tensed self-consciously. She paused when she reached the lumpy concave over my heart.
I waited, eyes closed.
She didn’t ask.
Instead, she kissed me even harder as she pulled my shirt over my head.
My hands explored the soft skin under her clothes. For the first time in days, the rot in my heart and mind was melting away rather than building. The ache in my spirit washing away, overwhelmed by want… by my need for her.
No dead girls.
No knives.
No bad things.
The phone on her nightstand rang.
“Don’t answer it,” I said, hoping it wasn’t the booty call she said she was kidding about. When the answering machine clicked on, I almost wished it was.