Bait

Sure-footed. He was so sure-footed.

Knew just where to find me.

And just where to fuck me.

He knows this place.

Just like he knew the last one.

The tiniest shimmer of intuition, nothing more. It’s wild, but I go with it anyway.

“You live here…”

His eyes lock on mine. “Sorry?”

I gesture to the road. “You live here. This is your street.”

He pauses. Waits.

“I’m right, aren’t I? This is your street?” I spin on the spot. “We must be close. Are we close?”

I fix my eyes on a tall old place a few down. Maybe that one. Or maybe the redbrick place opposite, I think. Just far enough away to keep me off the scent.

But no.

He smiles a dirty smile. Gestures beyond the truck to the house right alongside us.

“We’re more than fucking close, Abigail. You’re standing on my driveway.”Thirty-OneOut of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Khalil GibranAbigailI stare dumbfounded at the property before us.

“This is yours?”

He nods. “Home sweet home.”

The place is gorgeous – period brickwork with big windows and an arched front door. Shrubs line the path to the doorway. The pane looks like stained glass, but I can’t be entirely sure in this light.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” he agrees. He hovers by the truck, his eyes as dark as ever, his jaw tight.

He’s emanating tension. It makes my nerves spike.

“We should go,” I offer, but he takes a step forward.

“I want to show you something.” He takes my hand. Grips tight.

I follow in silence, terrified of breaking whatever moment this is we’re having. The revelations are rolling and I don’t want them to stop. I want to know the man behind the monster, stare into the shadows behind his eyes and uncover the secrets there.

He leads the way around the side of the house, unlatches a gate and steps on through. I’m excited. Nervous. My heart fluttering with every step. He flicks a switch on the wall and the whole place comes alive in front of me.

I can’t even breathe.

We’re on a balcony ledge staring over wrought iron railings. The view is breath-taking, just as it was up on the hills. Only this time there’s a tiered level down below, and that level has a swimming pool. It’s dotted with gold mood lighting. The water shimmers like it’s breathing.

“Wow,” I say. “Just… wow…”

He doesn’t say a word.

“Is this all yours?”

“I had it put in a few years back.”

“It’s incredible.” I can’t hold back a smile, can’t help wanting a swim in the darkness.

He knows it. “Be my guest,” he says and gestures down the steps.

I grip the railing tight on my way down. “Skinny dipping? You want me to skinny dip?”

I know he’s smirking behind me. “Unless you want to swim in my jacket.”

“Maybe you should stop tearing my clothes off me.” I laugh.

“Not gonna happen.”

Oh, how I smile.

I look around before I take the plunge. There’s a light on in a neighbouring house far above, but no other signs of life.

“You joining me?” I ask as he slips his jacket from my shoulders. He smirks as he drapes it over a railing.

“Not tonight.”

My heart falls.

He has to.

The pool has no barrier on the far side, just a smooth ledge onto nothing. I imagine swimming up to the drop, staring down at the moonlit world.

“Come on,” I protest, and he smirks.

“Get your pretty ass in the water before I throw you in myself.”

“Is that a threat?”

“A promise.”

An electric moment, me bared to the whole world, naked in his back garden while he stares on from the shadows. And then he moves. Quickly.

He hoists me up before I can run. His hand clamps over my mouth, just as always, but this time I don’t go easy. I kick my heels off in a beat, my arms snaking back around his shoulders to grab hold of him.

I pick the perfect moment as he reaches the edge of the pool. My feet hook his legs and hold. I don’t let go as he drops me.

Don’t let go as he fights for balance, teetering over the side.

Please, God.

It works.

My soul air-punches as I topple the monster. Surprise was my only real advantage. I doubt I’ll have it on my side ever again.

But that’s ok.

It’s ok, because as I splash hard into that beautiful water, he’s falling right behind me.

He recovers at the last second, manages to catch himself on the ledge before he goes under. He’d haul himself right back out if it wasn’t for an impulsive moment of bravery that sees me throw my wet body at his and wrap my arms around his neck.

“Please,” I whisper. “Be with me.”

My tits flatten to his chest and soak his shirt clean through. He’s ridiculously ripped, muscles taught as he supports my weight as well as his.

He lowers himself slowly. Carefully. My mouth is on his before he can protest.