Timepiece (Hourglass 2)

The whole north side of town was on fire. Main Street burned with complete abandon.

Even from two blocks away, the heat pushed across the pavement with a physical force. Closer to the blaze, the asphalt became pliable again. The glass in storefront windows popped, cracked, and then exploded.

“How? This couldn’t have happened this fast.” Lily was shouting, but I could barely hear her. The roar of the flames sounded like a waterfall. “We would have heard something, smelled something.”

“Where are the fire trucks?” I took her hand and drew her close, assessing the situation. “I don’t even hear them now.”

“I don’t, either. Where did they go?”

“Lily! Kaleb!”

Tires squealed as Michael pulled over to the curb in front of Murphy’s Law. Emerson jumped out of the car and flew toward us at top speed, with Michael right behind her. She launched herself into Lily’s arms. “Where have you been? We haven’t heard from Kaleb since this morning, and neither one of you was answering your cell.”

“We drove down here to look for you,” Michael said, pushing down his fear, choosing concern instead. “And now … the fire….”

“I can’t get in touch with my brother.” Flames reflected in Em’s tears, and two escaped to roll down her cheeks. “This is everything he’s ever worked for, and it’s literally going up in flames. He and Dru both worked tonight—there was a party for the community theater troupe. Thomas always keeps his phone on him.”

“Thomas and Dru are at the Phone Company?” I asked, looking from Em to Michael. His frown deepened as he looked north.

Shock.

Em’s fear had become so familiar to me that I knew the second it came.

The Phone Company was on the north side of town.

“Emerson, no!”

Michael wasn’t quick enough. She’d already started racing toward the smoke. We followed.

pped breathing when she tugged her sweater over her head to reveal an ivory lace camisole. “You haven’t seen every single bit of me.”

I was a hell of a lot closer than I’d been five seconds ago.

Reaching out, I drew a line with my index finger from her bottom lip to the button on her jeans. “Taking your memories of that day feels so personal. Taking something that important to you away, and then giving it back, it was even more intense than I expected. It reminded me of …”

“Kaleb.” A skip of desire.

“You know, making love has always sounded so lame to me. Maybe because I’ve never done anything like that, either. But I think I understand now.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I didn’t think … you’re not a—”

“Um … no.” I kissed her again to soften the words. I couldn’t tell exactly how much that mattered to her. “But everything is different with you. I’m closer to you than I’ve ever been to anyone.”

She leaned over and put her lips right next to my ear.

“Get closer.”

I opened my ability as wide as I could, staring into her eyes.

She wanted this as much as I did.

When I didn’t respond immediately, she turned away. “I’m sorry. The timing is … so wrong. I shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t.” I put my hands on her hips, sliding her close, flipping our positions. I eased her back onto the pillows and traced the line of her cheekbones with my thumbs. “I only hesitated because I wanted to feel what you felt. Know you were sure about me. Us.”

“I am.” She slid her hands into my hair and arched her back, pressing into me. Tightened her legs, pulling me closer.

“I know.”