I park my bike in the same deserted parking lot before trekking alone through the woods. I take a different path than I did last time. This one has more of a foot trail, probably leading to the top of a cliff somewhere. No matter where it goes, all these prints will mask mine, andhopefully the rain washes a majority of it away.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve done more research than ever before. I’ve studied for the test of my life, and now is the time to put it to use.
Securing the drenched hood over my head, I approach the front entrance of the home. Then, peeking through the droplets dangling on the edge of my lashes, I observe the front porch, checking for security cameras or motion-sensored lights.
Spotting none, I rap my knuckles on the vast, red wooden door, waiting a couple of minutes before I spot a shadow moving in the dim lighting.
His form appears behind the frosted glass. There’s a peep hole inches above my head. Unwrapping my arms from my shivering torso, I call out hello, waving softly. Harmlessly.
“Hi! I’m so sorry to be bothering you so late! I’m a bit lost. I was wondering if you would let me use an outlet for a minute? I just need to charge my phone so I can call a ride.”
Not another second passes before the door swings open and Joshua Kellar is standing in the doorway. He reeks of booze and stale Cheetos, but he’s very handsome, in a Hugh Jackman type of way. I can understand Beth’s attraction, but still, he has nothing on Theodore.
Running greasy-looking fingers through finely styled brown hair, Joshua looks over my sopping clothing, not bothering to mask his appreciation of the way they cling to my curves. Not only is he a man, but he’s a drunk one. They’re a little trickier to maneuver. But at the end of the day, a man is a man. They can be swayed. They can be played.
“Yes! Oh my God, come in! Are you okay? You’re soaking wet and your hands look a little beat up. What happened?” he asks, voice slurring while ushering me into the warm foyer with his palm on my lower back.
My skin crawls under his touch, but I force back my squirms, slapping a cutesy little smile on my face. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Fell out there in the storm, but it’s okay. This is the worst of it.”
My palms are razed and scraped, but whatever blood that was spilled washed away long ago. Gratefully, it ended quickly. I would hate to bleed all over these pristine oak floors.
Walking away from me, he disappears somewhere in the hall. “What are you doing out so late? It could be dangerous.”
Returning moments later with a towel in his hands, Joshua helps me out of my oversized windbreaker, peeling it from my damp body.
I feel his hands pause as he takes me in from behind. The leggings I chose to wear are completely sheer at this point, giving him the perfect view of my lacy white thong. His sharp intake of breath is my opening, so now I just have to slither through.
“Thank you,” I purr, batting my lashes as I cover my cleavage with the cotton cloth. “I had a fight with my boyfriend in the car. He kicked me out on the side of the road.”
Every man loves a damsel in distress. It makes them feel useful, wanted.Needed. No amount of money can do that. Joshua’s eyes swell at the chance to be my hero.
“What a jackass! You’re only a kid… Is there anything I could do for you?”
“No. I’m okay. I just need to charge my phone, if that’s okay with you.” Nodding his head, Joshua points me to the nearest outlet. I make sure to glide my hand along his bicep on my way, luring him with my touch before saying, “Oh, and I’m not a kid. I’m eighteen.”
And just like that, myherodesires for something more.
It starts with a drink, a kind, considerate offer while I wait for my phone to power on.
“Water or something a little stronger?” he asks, flirting with an innocent smile.
Shrugging, I join him, laughing along as I say, “Why not? I think I deserve one after all I’ve been through tonight!”
He makes his first, since it’s a simple double of whiskey. But mine, I ask for something a little sweeter.
“Could I please have a cherry lime vodka soda?”
Because he’s such a man, he doesn’t just drink cherry lime vodka sodas… but he’s hoping for some fun, so for me, he’s going to make it happen.
“Of course. I don’t think I have the cherries or soda here. Let me just get some from my other fridge, and I’ll have it for you.”
I don’t stop smiling until he’s gone, and only when I hear the sound of a door closing in the distance do I jump into action.
Racing to the coat hanger by the door, I pull out two of the pills I stole from my parents’ stash and quickly crush them on the countertop. With my heart thumping brutally in my chest, I toss the powder into his drink and swirl the liquid until it dissolves.
I listen to the pounding of his feet hitting the floor as he makes his way back, but I continue swishing the alcohol around.
“What are you doing?” Joshua laughs as he steps back into the kitchen, pointing toward the glass in my hand.
