Page 95 of Floodgates

“What’s that?”

“The sensors for the floodlights didn’t work the same as they do at my Dad’s house.”

“How do you mean?” he asked pointedly.

“Like, the lights didn’t come on until the guy was leaving. He was all the way up here on the deck, and they didn’t come on. That’s weird, right?”

Cord nodded. “That means whoever the guy was, he knew where to walk so he wouldn’t trigger the lights, or the lights were on a timer or––I should check. I’ll be right back.”

I greedily accepted the kiss he leaned close and gave me before he rose and strode from the room. It was strange, but as surreal as the situation was, being with Cord was the opposite. In the middle of the craziness, I was grounded because he was there. I could look at him and be reminded of who I was, of my life and my family and my friends. Never had I thought he would provide stability.

“You’re deep in thought.”

I was surprised he was back already. “I thought you were checking on something?”

“I did.” He chuckled, sitting back down beside me, too close for us to be anything else but lovers. He took my hand in both of his and stared at me.

“Cord?”

“Sorry,” he said quickly, clearing his throat. “I just can’t get over it.”

“What’s that?”

“That you see me, that I have your attention.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. No reason to be sorry,” he told me, lifting my hand to his face. “So the lights aren’t set to go off with movement, they’re on a timer.”

“So it was just time for them to go off when they did.”

“Yes.”

“That’s stupid.”

“I agree, which is why now they’re set on the motion sensors.”

“So the security company does their part––”

“But Mr. Alcott got tired of them going off for foxes or stray dogs, cats, whatever, and so he changed it to specific intervals.”

“That’s great,” I said sarcastically.

“Yeah, it is,” he rumbled softly, pressing his face down into the crook of my neck and opening his mouth on my skin.

I made a noise I didn’t intend, a groan, moan, whimper all rolled together as he kissed up behind my ear.

“It was good that you noticed that––that it struck you as odd.”

“Was it?” I asked, fishing for the compliment.

“Yep, I would have never known otherwise.”

“I should be rewarded, then.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, pulling me into his arms for a hug.

So fast.