Dark Realms(55)

“Oh, my God,” I said. “Just for that, I’m sending you back to first base.”

“I’ll take what I can get. We don’t even have to play the bases; we can just wander the fields.”

I laughed again, and it reminded me of my mother with Caleb. I was as pathetic as she was with men.

“Man, I love your laugh.”

My face hurt now, I was grinning so wide. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

We sat in silence for a few seconds and then I spoke. “It’s late and I was just about ready to take a bath.”

He sucked in his breath. “I’ll be right over.”

“Duncan! I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, are you naked yet?”

I groaned. “Goodnight, Duncan,”

“Just give me something to fantasize about.”

I looked down at the uniform I was still wearing. “Yeah, I’m totally naked, except for the nail polish on my feet.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me.”

“Night,” I said. “This time… for real.”

“Night,” he murmured back.

He waited for me to hang up and I smiled again as I ended the call. One thing was for certain, Duncan was definitely the guy making my toes curl. No doubt about it.

I put my phone back in the charger, eyeing the balcony, suspiciously. The moon was bright, and normally I would have thought it was cool, but right now it was only ominous. There was no way that I was going to unlock the door, even if Ethan could somehow make it up here.

Ethan.

I didn’t even know him and the conscious side of me knew that my reaction to the guy made no sense. Sure, I’d basically climbed all over him in our break room and his kisses ignited a raging fire inside of me, but the truth was, he scared the crap out of me, crazy sexy or not.

I checked the lock on the balcony door to make sure it was secure, then went back into the bathroom and got undressed. Seconds later, I had the jet streams going in the tub and my back was getting a much-needed water massage. I closed my eyes and soon began drifting off.

A strange noise jolted me awake, and I looked towards the window, only to find myself alone.

Must have been dreaming…

Sighing with relief, I checked the time and noticed I’d been in the tub for a half hour. The water was too chilly to enjoy anymore so I decided to get out. I toweled myself dry, put my robe on, and unplugged the bathtub. I then padded into the bedroom where I stopped dead in my tracks. Ethan was on my balcony, leaning against the railing watching me. He reminded me of a predator studying its kill before striking.

Time seemed to stand still as the realization of what Ethan really was sunk in. Obviously, he’d made it up to my balcony all by himself, and yesterday, we’d soared through the night faster than what was humanly possible. There could only be one explanation now, and it chilled me to the bone.

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever and then he pointed to the door.

Swallowing hard, I stepped over and unlocked it.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked softly.

My heart was hammering in my chest and I bit the side of my lip, trying to decide what to do.

“Well?” he asked, smiling devilishly. “I promise I won’t hurt you, Nikki. In fact, I imagine you’ll enjoy my company tremendously.”

I let out a ragged sigh and nodded.

He stared at my mouth. “I’d like to hear you say it.”

“Come in, Ethan.”





Chapter Eighteen





Ethan stepped into my bedroom and I instinctively took a step backwards.

“Are you afraid of me?” he asked with a sardonic grin.

“I… don’t know,” I whispered, as the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Obviously I was lying. He scared the hell out of me.

He took another step towards me, his eyes probing. “Nikki, seriously, you have nothing to be afraid of.”

“Uh, why me?” I squeaked, surprised that I was able to ask any questions at all when what I really wanted to do was run like hell.

Ethan’s lips curled up. “Why not you?”

“I…” I stared at him as my panic began to change into something else entirely – an achy need to be closer to him; to touch and be touched by him.

What is wrong with me?

He walked over to my bed and sat down. “Come here.”

I moved towards him and he grabbed both of my hands, kissing them with his soft lips.

“Why you? Because we belong together,” he murmured.

Earlier his skin had felt cool to the touch. It had been the one thing that had surprised me. Now, his cheeks were warm and he held my hands against them, nuzzling them, lovingly.

“But I don’t even know you,” I said. “How can you say that?”