Oh, gorgeous, they are so not nice. They want to devour you from the tips of your eyelashes to your painted toenails. They want to kiss between your legs until you scream with an incredible orgasm.
I squeeze her hand and let her believe that I’m a gentleman. “After this is over. I am going to ask you out on a date.”
She escapes my gaze and lowers her lashes. “I, ah, don’t do long term. Okay?”
It’s not okay by a long shot but I don’t say so. “Slow down, the only thing I’m proposing is a nice meal, a glass of wine, and some talking.”
“Riiight. Followed by sex.” That snarky smile pops back into place.
I’m amused she was thinking along the same lines as me. “Hey, you said it, not me. I’m willing to put out as long as you respect me in the morning.”
She snickers. “Maybe I’ll just insist on an expensive dinner and leave you hanging.”
“Oh honey, it won’t be hanging.”
She blushes and I wish Jack had taken the limo so I could put a dark window between the front and back seats. If so, I’d have her straddled over me, her jeans down around her heels, and me thrusting into her.
Not the time or place, I rest back and shut my eyes. It’s hot as hell when her head drops into my lap but when I look down, she’s asleep. After my raging hard on subsides, I snooze on and off, as well.
When I wake, the horizon glows orange over a forest of pines. Jack clears his throat, glances into the rearview and pulls off the highway. “We’re close.”
Sienna stretches, yawns, then points to the right over the front seat. “There’s a dirt road in a couple miles. It’s not on the map.”
Another one of my dad’s favorite sayings comes to mind as I scratch the growth on my chin.Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.
“We should’ve stopped for more coffee.” The beautiful woman next to me gives me this incredible smile.
“That’s it! Stop.” She points, Jack slams on the brakes, and her stunning behind goes right into my face.
Unaware of how close my mouth is to her lovely buns, she looks over her shoulder and says, “Ah, let’s see. I usually park under those trees. Then, it’s not too far, maybe a five-minute walk. There’s the cellar hole in front of the farmhouse that burned down in the thirties.”
We all pile out of the car, a fucking parade of comic book characters. Jack’s all military, Dahlyla’s the femme fatale, and Sienna’s jumping around with nervous energy.
Me? I’m wondering if we’ll all be arrested because about eye height, there’s no-trespassing signs posted everywhere.
It’s a misdemeanor, but still, I’d rather not have to explain to a judge why we’re here.
Frowning, Jack ups his pace as Sienna dashes ahead. At one time, this must’ve been a beautiful estate. There’s an overgrown cement walk, statuaries, and a broken fountain covered in vines. It’s like walking onto a post-apocalyptic movie set with a sound track of gurgling water. Without thinking, Sienna drops back to take my hand and my heart lightens. I squeeze hers as we near the brook. When we stop, there’s a strong whiff of urine, blood, and a whole lot worse.
Death.
“Ah shit. Jack? Keep them here.” Just a few feet ahead, a body rests on the forest floor. More out of habit than need, I put my finger to the cold, lifeless skin of the dead man’s neck.
Jack comes up behind me. “What do you want to do, counselor?”
“We need to call the police.” I shout to the women, a few feet down the path, “There’s a dead body. You can come but be prepared.”
Dahlyla keeps her distance, dark skin pasty and eyes wide but Sienna squats for a closer look.
Then, her face too, pales as she gasps. “Oh my God. That’s not Peter, it’s his brother, Adrian.”
“Where’re your mics, Sienna?” Jack grimaces and snaps pictures with his cell phone.
“Up there.” She points overhead in the oaks.
“Holy fuck. You climbed all the way up there?” My heart goes into my throat. “You could’ve broken your stupid neck.”
Jack punches my arm. “Focus, counselor. Sienna, any chance you got a recording of what went down?”
Sienna’s eyes go wide. “Oh shit, probably. I just need a computer to log onto.”
Done taking pictures, Jack herds us back to the SUV. “I figure the body’s been there about twenty-four hours.” He glances at Sienna. “Do you have an alibi for yesterday.”
My heart goes out to her when she groans. “Not all the time. I was all alone when I took a nap. You don’t think I’m a suspect?”
“Maybe not but they’re going to question you.”
“Not again.” She whispers. “This can’t be happening.”
