Chasing Shadows (Shadows 2)

"What took so long?"

"Sorry. I was just...remembering."

Simon held my hand and we walked back into the living room. I let him guide me onto the sofa and I just sat there, thoughts crowding my head. Time seemed to stand still as I waited, but I wasn't sure what I was waiting for.

"We've been sitting here for almost an hour," Simon said, breaking into my thoughts. "We should get back."

I sighed, feeling defeated. "I feel like I'm missing something. I've read my aunt's journal so many times that I practically have it memorized. I keep looking for the answers that she told me I would find there, but I don't even know what the questions are. But one question I know I need the answer to, is whether my mother is still alive."

I stood up, feeling frustration grow, and decided to search the entire house despite having gone through it meticulously before. An hour later, I accepted defeat when my search turned up nothing.

"Let's go home," Simon said softly, brushing his hand against my cheek. I pressed my lips together to try and stop them from trembling. "You're going to make yourself sick with worry. We're in Connecticut until Sunday. We can always come back. But you look like you're about to collapse right now."

I let Simon lead me outside, making sure to lock the door behind us, since I had left the window unlocked. The drive back to Simon's house was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts.

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Simon, I can't stay in here!" We were back at his parents' house and I was aghast when Simon led me to his room, and I saw my suitcase sitting next to his bed. I had assumed that I would be sleeping in a guest room.

"Why not? My parents don't mind."

My mind rebelled against the thought of sleeping in the same bed under his parents' roof. It wasn't that I had a problem sharing a room with Simon, considering I had slept over at his apartment plenty of times. But the thought of his parents thinking we were fooling around in his room made me blush hotly.

"Because...because your parents will think we're doing stuff in here."

A smile was dancing across Simon's face. "Stuff like what?"

"You know!" Simon merely raised an eyebrow. I groaned in frustration and exclaimed, "Sexual stuff!"

Simon burst out laughing. "So what? We're both adults."

"It's just embarrassing." I sighed. "I know, I know. I think I'm stunted in the dating department. In terms of relationships, I'm still progressing through the junior high stage."

Simon wrapped his arms around me, kissing me lightly on the nose. "It's okay. I like the junior high stage." He quirked his mouth as he thought over his words. "That sounded weird. I meant I like you at any stage, not that I like junior high girls."

I laughed, hugging him back. "I know what you meant."

Simon nuzzled my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "We don't have to do anything in my parents' house that makes you uncomfortable. I just need to have you in my arms at night to know that you're safe."

I melted against Simon, his words so intoxicating that I almost felt drunk. "I love you, Simon."

Simon nipped my earlobe, sending a shudder through my body. "You're my world, Caitlin. Don't ever forget that."

I forgot about being in his parents' house when his lips met mine, coaxing my mouth open with languid sweeps of his tongue. His hands slipped under my shirt, gently brushing my sides, his thumbs grazing the bottom of my bra every time they swept up. My nipples hardened in response and my body felt like it was on fire.

"So sweet," Simon muttered against my mouth. "I can never get enough."

This time I was the one that increased the pressure, kissing him with wild abandon as our tongues mated. I whimpered when his thumbs slipped under the bottom of my bra, stroking the undersides of my breasts. I pressed my hips against his, gratified by the evidence that he was enjoying this as much as I was. I made a sound of protest when he pulled away.

Simon's eyes were dark with desire as he looked down at me, but he smiled wryly. "Any more of that and we'll never make it to dinner."

I knew at that moment that I wanted to make love to Simon more than anything in the world. It was an inopportune time since we were at his parents' house, but the need to share my body with him was overwhelming.

"Simon," I started shakily, taking a deep breath. "I know I've wanted to take things slow."

Simon nodded, lovingly caressing my face. "And I'm okay with that."

I shook my head, trying to make him understand. "But I don't want to go slow anymore."