“I’ve never met anyone like you, sexy,” He chuckled.
“Well, that’s a good thing isn’t it?”
I blushed as his gaze ran over my body. “It’s great,” He agreed, as I smiled away like an idiot, loving the way this guy made me feel. Dane was the first person in a long time I could smile and laugh with and actually feel like I wasn’t just putting on a front. I watched as his hand worked its way up my thigh, to my hand.
“Is this okay?” He whispered softly.
“It’s more than okay,” I smiled, locking my fingers around his palm. He weaved the car into his driveway. I suddenly felt really shy, the nervous flutter in my stomach an indication that the more time I spent with him, the harder I was falling.
I stepped out of the car, and walked around to meet him. He reached for my hand again, as he led me up to the door. Tingles ran up and down my arm where he touched me, as the same silly grin etched across my face.
Stop smiling, Lily. You look like such a dork!
He led me inside. This time, though, we continued down the hall toward his bedroom. Apart from the unmade bed, it was pretty clean, though not as clean as the house had been the other day. I grinned widely, loving that he’d gone to such an effort to impress me.
“Don’t you make your bed?” I laughed, raising an eyebrow at him. He shook his head proudly.
“You know, research has shown there is actually less bacteria in an unmade bed when compared to a made one,” He said, brushing the creases out of the sheet.
“Is that you’re idea of foreplay?” I giggled, “Woo me with your bacteria talk, Dane. It really turns me on,” I said in my sexiest voice. He blushed, then pulled me into his arms, caressing my face.
“Are you making fun of me, Lily?” He asked, teasing me with promises of a kiss. My lips lurched forward, trying to catch his. He was too fast for me, pulling away, with a sly smile. Then leaning in again, and pulling away. “Still want to make fun of me?” He murmured, his eyes narrow.
Really? He thought he was the one with the power here? He was about to learn a valuable lesson. I pulled out of his embrace, circling him around the room until I was up against the bed.
“You don’t want to kiss me, Dane?” I pouted, tilting my head to the side, my hands threatening to undo the second top button of my shirt. Eventually, it popped open, giving him an eyeful of breast.
He breathed in sharply, “You’re not playing fair,” He muttered, as he slowly walked closer to me. I let his arm slide around my waist, and eyed him with caution as he brought me flush against his body. I narrowed my eyes at him as he ran his finger down the middle of my chest, opening the third button. I shivered as he ripped the final buttons apart.
“Oops,” He said, nestling his head in my neck, kissing me, as he worked the shirt off me. He gripped the strap of my bra with his teeth, his tongue working its way down along the edge of my bra, “This has to go too, sexy.”
I unclipped the bra, allowing him to slide it off my shoulders. He nodded appreciatively, his fingers gently running over my breast, my nipple hardening at his touch.
“You like it when I touch you,” He said, more of a statement than a question. I didn’t answer. I gasped as his hands began to work their way down. “This is in the way too,” He gripped a handful of my skirt, tugging it down. It slid down my legs easily, leaving me almost completely exposed in front of him.
I lifted my arms up to his neck, snaking one around and the other caressing his face. My lips tilted to meet his, in a long intense kiss. I felt his hands wander under the band of my panties, resting themselves on my ass. I groaned softly, as my body pressed against his hardness.
His hands fumbled to undo his pants, his lips still pressed against mine. Kicking off his shoes, he kicked his pants down his legs, and off. I giggled at his frustration. He grinned back at me as I ripped his shirt open.
“Only fair. You ruined my shirt.”
He raised his eyebrows, amused, “Get these off, before I rip them too,” He threatened. I pulled them down quickly, partly because I was so turned on, and partly because I didn’t want him ruining my only decent pair of underpants.
I spread my legs as he pushed me back on the bed, his length pressing hard against me, ready to play. He lifted my leg, resting it on his shoulder as he entered me hard. I gasped as he slid inside me.
“Oh god,” I moaned, as he gazed into my eyes from above me. I ran my fingers through his hair, yanking him down and eagerly kissing him, “Yes!” I gasped.
“You feel so good, sexy. You’re so wet for me,” He moaned, closing his eyes as he pushed inside me harder, faster, “Oh Lily,” He murmured, panting. He collapsed on top of me, burying his face into my neck, sweat covering both our bodies.
I rolled over and snuggled in against him so he was spooning me. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, so he was almost enclosing me. This was exactly where I wanted to be. Naked, in Dane’s bed, with him cuddling me.
“You are amazing,” He whispered in my ear. His kissed my ear, and my neck, his arms holding me close against his body, “My sweet, sweet girl.”
“This is nice, Dane,” I said
“Nice? Well thanks, I guess…”
“You know what I mean,” I grumbled, jabbing him in the side as he laughed, “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
“You know what, Lil?” Dane began, I smiled as he kissed my neck again, “I’ve never felt this way about a girl before.”
“But you have about a boy?” I kidded, laughing. I could almost feel him rolling his eyes behind me.
“No you idiot. I’m trying to be all romantic and stuff and you’re ruining it,” He grumbled.
“I’m sorry,” I turned in his embrace, so we were facing each other, “Continue.” I giggled. He blushed as I watched him, waiting. “I was trying to say I like you, Lily. I like you a lot.”
“I like you a lot too,” I grinned. I lay in his arms, with him gently stroking my back until I eventually fell asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
“Lily.”
Abby sat at the edge of the bed. Dane’s bed. This was the first time I’d seen her somewhere other than my own room. Actually, this was the first time I’d slept somewhere other than my own bed since her death.
“Abby,” I smiled. I turned beside me, Dane was fast asleep.
“You haven’t told him,” Abby frowned at me, concerned.
“It’s not that easy, Abs. He will think I’m insane. I’m starting to think I’m insane,” I grumbled. Abby looked hurt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, but you have to understand where I’m coming from here. I can’t just blurt out ‘hey, you're dead sister is actually alive’. I’d be more concerned if he did believe me.”
“So get proof,” Abby said as a matter of factly. I laughed, like it was that simple? Sure, I could do what police had failed to do ten years ago. Then maybe I could star in my own TV show about how my dead sister solves crimes.
“How?” I asked, annoyed. Even if I wanted to play detective, I had no idea where to start.
“Use your brain, Lily. You’re supposed to be the smart one,” Abby said, frustrated. If she so badly wanted me to help Dane, why the fuck couldn’t she give me a straight answer?
“Lily.”
I gasped loudly, sitting bolt upright in bed. Dane stared at me, concerned as I struggled to catch my breath.
“What’s wrong, Lily? Can’t tell me what?” He reached up and stroked my hair. “You can tell me anything,” He soothed, concerned. What exactly had I said aloud? If I’d mentioned Steffy, I was gone. It was over.
“What?” I mumbled, not completely sure how I was going to get myself out of this one, “What happened?” I decided playing vague was my best defense.
“You kept saying ‘I can’t tell him’, I can’t tell Dane, over and over,” He stared at me intently, his brow furrowed inwards, “What can’t you tell me, Lil?” He was sitting up now, wide awake, waiting patiently for me to say someth
ing.
Swallowing hard, I tried to get the words to come out, but I had no idea what to say. So I’d not mentioned Steffy this time, but I was bound to eventually. Next time, or the time after that.
“It must have been a nightmare. I don’t remember anything,” I fibbed, rolling away so I wasn’t facing him. Inside, my heart was racing. What was I supposed to do now? If any time had been perfect to tell him, it was the moment that had just passed.
He snuggled into me. He didn’t believe me, that much I could tell, but he also didn’t pressure me to talk. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep, until he fell back to sleep. In the safety of the darkness, I gently eased myself away from Dane, until I was lying on my back, facing the ceiling.
What the fuck was I going to do? I was on the verge of tears.
I felt angry at Abby for doing this to me. Why did she have to tell me that? Why did she have to go and die on me? No matter how incredibly selfish I sounded, I couldn’t shake the anger I felt toward her for leaving me, and for dumping me with this useless information.
Creeping out from under the covers, I tip-toed out of the room. On the way, I grabbed Dane’s robe off the hook behind the door. Wrapping the grey striped material around me, I breathed in his smell, quietly making my way out to the living room, feeling my way along the wall in the darkness. As my fingers brushed past a lamp, I switched it on, squinting at the sudden burst of light that filled the room.
My handbag lay on the couch. I sat next to it, shuffling though its contents until I found my IPad. How was it that even with its size, it somehow still managed to get lost in my handbag?
To say I had no idea where to start was the understatement of the century. Cross legged on the couch with the TV tuned to infomercials, I typed in the name of Steffy’s alleged killer. What were the chances that he’d spoken to a cellmate about Steffy’s disappearance?
Pretty good I would’ve thought.
I was sure the police would have covered that already, but maybe a semi attractive young blonde would be more successful in phishing for information?
“Lilgirl.”
I opened my eyes. I’d fallen asleep. Crap. Great detective I made.
“Abby,” I said quietly, “Hi.” Abby smiled at me, her eyes filled with sadness.
“I’m sorry, Lil. I know this is crazy, and I know you feel like nobody is going to believe you but you need to help her…” She hesitated, “I’m sorry I left you, Lil,” She added.
I groaned. Now my dead sister was making me feel guilty about being angry.
Maybe I was crazy?
“Lil, you’re not crazy,” Abby chastised. I bit my lip. Of course my dead sister inside my head would say I wasn’t crazy.
“Lily!” Abby shouted, getting angry.
“Okay, okay. Sorry,” I said, rolling my eyes, “I don’t know what to do, Abs. Where do I start? The prison? Maybe his cell mate knows something he didn’t tell police?” I said hopefully. From the glint in Abby’s eyes, I knew I was on the right track.
“I have nothing to make him talk though,” I added sullenly, “He wouldn’t talk to the police, so why would he talk to me?”
“Tell him you know about Bella, and what really happened,” Abby said slowly, her eyes lighting up, “Tell him she told you about Steffy.”
“Who’s Bella?” I asked, confused. The last thing I needed was someone else complicating my mind,
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to know. Just tell him that and I guarantee he’ll talk,” She assured me. I raised my eyebrows at her dubiously. “Just do it, Lil. For god’s sake, you’re even more difficult to deal with now that I’m dead,” She rolled her eyes.
I poked my tongue out at her.
I stretched out my cramping leg, pain shooting through me everywhere. I opened my eyes, trying to ignore the pain of my brain pressing against my skull. Falling asleep on the couch was not one of my finest ideas.
“Dane,” I gasped, sitting up in shock. He sat opposite me, frowning, and his expression unreadable, “What is it? Are you okay?” I asked, my head thumping with pain.
Then I saw it.
My IPad, sitting on his lap, the screen open to the last page I’d left it on before falling asleep.
His sister’s killer. Or apparent killer. Oh god. How was I supposed to explain this?
“It flicked on when I lifted it off you,” He explained softly. His face creased in confusion, “What is this, Lily? Morbid curiosity? Is that why you’re with me? Fishing for information on my sister’s killer?”
“Dane, no. Of course not,” I protested, angry that he would even think that, much less say it.
“Then what is this, Lily?” He spoke harshly, anger and confusion passing through his eyes, “What can you possibly say that would explain this?” Hurt filled his eyes as he blinked away tears.
“I don’t think she’s dead, Dane,” I blurted out. I threw myself back on the couch. Well, that was probably the worst way to tell him. My plan to gradually work that into the conversation was now out the door.
Yay team Lily.
“What?” He yelled, “What the fuck is this? You better start talking, Lily, and fast,” He added darkly. He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting impatiently for me to speak.
I put my hands to my face, trying to block out the light, and not wanting to look at him when I spoke.
“When my sister died, I would still see her,” I began. Wow this was hard. He was going to think I was insane, just like everyone else.
“Well that’s normal, I used to think I saw Steffy-.”
“No, I saw her. Really saw her. We would have conversations, laugh, and cry. It was almost like she hadn’t left me. I spent three months in a psychiatric facility, because my mom was convinced I was having some kind of breakdown,” I took a deep breath. This wasn’t going well. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Dane, because I was sure the look in his eyes would be disappointment.
“The doctors said it was common in twins, to still feel them after death. With lots of therapy, I stopped seeing her everywhere. It became only in my dreams.”
“Sorry Lily, what does any of this have to do with Steffy?” He cut in, his tone still sharp. He felt sorry for me, but there was still anger and confusion as to how Steffy tied in to all this.
“I’m getting to that,” I promised. I clutched my hands together in my lap, trying to hide their shaking. “Abby told me two nights ago that Steffy needed your help. She is alive, but in trouble. Somewhere in the country, though I’m not exactly sure where,” I watched helplessly as Dane dropped his head to his knees, his arms resting on top of his head. He cursed softly into his lap.
“It’s insane, right? How was I supposed to work that into a conversation?” I said helplessly, watching as Dane stood, and began pacing the length of the living room. I willed for him to say something.
Anything. Call me a crazy bitch, or kick me out. The silence was killing me.
“Has she told you things before? You know, that turned out to be true?” He stared at me impatiently, looking overwhelmed.
“Only once,” I coughed, trying to clear the strain in my voice, “Once. My dad was having an affair. Abby told me where to find him and his…thing,” I finished, “And she was right.”
Dane laughed, shaking his head again. He grabbed the phone and began to dial.
“Can I order a cab please? Uh-huh,” He gave the address and hung up, “I can’t think…I need some time to process this,” He said, his voice cold.
Right. The cab was for me.
Nodding, I left the room before he could see my tears. I quickly dressed in his bedroom. This was so messed up. I had truly gone and fucked things up, and I had no idea how to make things right, or even if I could.
As soon as I heard the cab pull up outside, I walked into the living room to grab my bag.
“Here,” Dane murmured, waving a few notes at me. “For the cab,” He added. I shook my head. Way to make me feel like a whore, Dane.
/> “I’m not taking your money,” I mumbled, wiping the tears from under my eyes. As I walked to the door, I kept hoping that he would stop me. Call out for me to stop, or say something.
He didn’t.
Chapter Fourteen
I glanced at my watch as I unlocked the front door; it was almost four in the morning. Thank god Kella would be asleep, the last thing I needed was her seeing me like this. Fraser was here too, or at least his car was. I went straight to my room, stripping out of my clothes and climbing into bed, the sheets freezing up against my skin.
Running the day over again in my head, I tried to work out what my plan was. Everything was better with a plan, even if it was a bad one. The prison that Earl had been detained in was Landonberry, a maximum security prison reserved for the most dangerous offenders. His cellmate, Cole Chambers, was still there, and would be for life. He’d been found guilty of rape and murder back in 1986. Landonberry was probably my best starting point. Cole wasn’t likely to talk, but I had to at least try.
Kella was still asleep the next morning when I rapped lightly on her door. It was just after nine, and I really needed her car. Waiting a few seconds, I knocked again, this time louder. Kella’s muffled voice called out something that sounded like ‘what’.
“Can I borrow your car?” I asked softly.
“Yeah,” She mumbled, “Come in, the keys are on my dressing table.” I carefully opened the door, not wanting to wake Fraser if he was still asleep, which he was. He was sprawled out, face down (thank god) on the bed. Kella had rolled over at some point in the night, taking all the blankets with her. I grabbed the keys and backed out of the room, trying not to look at his ass.
According to my GPS (thank you mom for making me buy one), the Landonberry Prison was a good 200 mile round trip. I sat in the car with the engine running, letting the heater warm up a bit.
A tap on the window scared the hell out of me. Screaming, I turned to see Dane. What the fuck? I wound down the window, trying to slow my heart rate back down to normal.
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