Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
He rocks on the balls of his feet, as if unsure if he should take the plunge. He… must have done this before in one capacity or another, right?
“Good. I would have talked to him otherwise.”
I bite back a smirk. I’m no damsel in distress, and have handled my own shit from a young age, but it still warms my heart that he wants to be my protector. Men who say they’ll take care of me usually mean something else entirely.
“I think he is a good friend,” I tell him and then my back hugs the wall, Creep finally steps over the threshold, shoulders hunched as if he isn’t sure he’s allowed inside. Which is funny, since he didn’t ask permission that first time.
The cabin is small, with only one bedroom, and while the orange wall in the living room is not to my taste, the place looks half-decent after a bit of cleanup.
If I choose to stay here for longer, I could redecorate. Put up my tapestry with lunar phases, display the crystals on shelves, maybe even get a rug, but it’s too early to think so far into the future, so instead, I make conversation. “Whoever lived here before me had terrible taste,” I say, pointing to the portrait of a clown hanging on the orange wall.
“You don’t like creepy?” he asks, and it takes me two seconds to clock that he’s joking about his nickname. He’s even standing in the darkest corner of my new living room-kitchen like it’s second nature.
Is it weird that it sends a pleasant spark down my spine?
“Too many colors. It’s so jarring I’m almost missing the cave.”
He cocks his head, gaze even more attentive than before. I need to get the hair out of his face, because his bone structure is gorgeous, and I want to see more of him. “We can go back.”
A soft laugh rips from my chest. “I did say almost. I like the fresh air and sunlight, but maybe I’ll need to redecorate. What do you think?” I ask, approaching him in slow, even steps that shouldn’t scare him off. I don’t know why I even think this murderer, gang member, and all-around badass would be skittish, but it’s a vibe.
He looks around the room. Anywhere but at me. “I could help.”
Of course he would.
He would do anything to make me like him, and while I don’t intend to manipulate him in any malicious way, it is a good sign. He wants to please, and I like being pleased. Win-win.
“How about I help you tonight, as a thank you for taking my side against Johnny?”
“Help me… how?” Creep squints at me with suspicion that’s making me want to laugh.
“We all got sweaty moving my stuff. I say a shower is in order,” I tell him, taking a step closer. I’m eager to see his eyes darken in response, but his frown deepens instead, so I go on, in case he doesn’t understand I mean for us to shower together. “And I can wash your hair with my new shampoo. It’s got all the good stuff in it. Tomorrow, I can even trim it for you once I unpack my stuff.”
Creep raises his arm and smells his armpit. I bite the inside of my cheek not to burst out laughing.
“I can go wash and come back later. I’ll do that.”
“Wait, what?” I mutter, shaking my head. He is worse with understanding cues than I thought. “No, I meant… we could shower together.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want to,” he says to my bewilderment, and when I try to reach for his hand, he backs toward the door.
What is even going on? Prophet did say Creep’s had a weird upbringing or something, but I don’t get it.
“Why not? Am I misunderstanding something?” I ask, flopping my hand back and forth to indicate both of us. “I thought you’re attracted to me.”
Creep makes a raspy huff. “I am. I’m so fucking attracted to you. I just… don’t want to shower. But I wash!” he adds quickly and his cheeks flush. “I’m not dirty.”
This makes zero sense. I step forward, reaching for him. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. All that warm water drizzling down our bodies—” I mutter, trying to tempt him. I’ve never had this much trouble enticing a man to fuck me. On one hand, it’s borderline offensive that he doesn’t want to see me naked as fast as possible, but on the other… he intrigues me. Creep is a mystery, and I love those. UFOs, secrets of the universe, unsolved murders, and sightings of Big Foot, all those intrigue me. I’ve always been interested in the strange and unusual, and Creep is that, in the form of a man. The more he backs off, the more I need to have him.