Without Mercy - Lisa Jackson [18]
Don’t do this…you can’t. Remember Lauren? Didn’t you learn your lesson? What if she denies you? Throws your advances back in your face? Worse yet, what if she talks? Lauren made it easy, but this one, what if she calls you out?
Who would believe her?
He watched Shaylee walk to the fish tank, and all of his concerns faded.
In his mind’s eye, he saw her naked body lying beneath him, her full, firm breasts waiting to be touched, to be kissed, to be teased with his teeth….
His knees went weak at the thought. He would have her; he would. And she would want him, her desire fanning his. He wouldn’t make the same mistake he had with Lauren. And he’d make room for her to be a part of his secret disciples, to warm his bed.
His throat was dry, his erection hard. He reached for his fly, just to take the edge off until he could be with her. His fingers grazed his zipper.
Creeeaaak.
A door opened in the rooms below.
Damn!
He couldn’t be found!
Not like this.
His cock shriveled instantly.
With one final glance through the window, he saw her toss her dark hair over her shoulders before looking upward, through the glass, as if she knew instinctively that he was watching her every move.
His breath was lost in his lungs for just a second before he convinced himself she would never be able to see him in the shadows. Then, without making a sound, he stole down the back staircase and wondered how long it would be before his erotic fantasy became reality.
CHAPTER 6
“Hey, Jules!” Eli’s voice boomed through her cell phone as she pulled into her parking spot at the condo. “Analise said you were here. Sorry I missed you.”
“No big deal.” She pulled on the emergency brake and cut the engine, wondering why Eli was calling. This was the first time ever. He’d always been friendly enough at family gatherings, but he’d never taken the initiative and called her or dropped by. “What’s up?” She juggled her purse and phone as she climbed out of the car and locked it. Rain was drizzling from the gray sky and running down her neck.
“You wanted some info on Blue Rock, right? Because Shay’s enrolled?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So…why all the questions?”
“I wanted the inside scoop on the place.”
“Analise said you weren’t crazy about Shay being sent there.”
She snorted as she dashed to her front door. “I’m not.”
“Why?”
“I thought there might be other options.” She bent down to pick up a flyer someone had left on her stoop. It was a wet advertisement for carpet cleaning.
“The way I hear it, Shay needs some straightening out.”
“Or guidance?” she offered. There was something about Eli, an air of superiority that had always gotten under Jules’s skin.
“That’s what I meant. A little tough love. There wasn’t a lot of it in your family, what with Max leaving your mom and all that trouble with Rip.”
“Trouble?” she repeated, irritated.
“Yeah—”
“He was murdered, Eli,” she reminded him tightly as she straightened and jabbed her key into the lock. “Killed by an intruder.” She felt a rush in her ears, a thunder that always precluded the same vision of Rip lying on the floor, staring, gasping up at her, his lips crimson as she stood over him….
Had the knife been in her hands?
Or was that image only in the nightmare that haunted her?
“Hey, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m just saying Shaylee grew up without a real strong father figure.”
“And Blue Rock Academy will supply one?” She twisted the knob.
“It will give her a good, solid base. Rules to live by. Counselors to talk to. Strong Christians who will show her how to live her life to her full potential.”
“You sound just like some of those testimonials I read online.”
The door was stuck again. Swollen with the rain. With an effort, she shouldered it open and made a mental note to talk to the handyman for the condos.
“Blue Rock is a great place. Perfect for Shaylee.”
Tossing the soggy brochure onto a table near the doors, she said, “Glad to know. Thanks.”
“So…then…we’re good, right?”
“Haven’t we always been, Eli?”
“Yeah, but…Well, Analise was