Page 43 of Ghosted

“Foreplay has gotten weirder, I’ll give you that.”

Her mouth presses flat, but there’s a spark in her eyes now. Annoyed. Feisty. Still sitting there.

I like that part best.

I hold the flame under the cigarette and take my time lighting it, mostly because Alice keeps watching my hands like she’s deciding whether to snatch it away or stab me with one of her little photography tools.

Honestly, either option would improve my night.

I take the first drag and lean back, letting the smoke sit between us. “You’re very tense for someone who hasn’t yelled for help.”

Her eyes narrow. “Maybe I’m saving my energy.”

“For what?”

“Dealing with you.”

Well fuck me. I like that.

A laugh slips out before I can stop it, and Alice looks pleased with herself for half a second before she buries it. Too late. I saw it. I like her better when she’s rude. Sweet girls are boring. Too polished and easy.

Alice leans across the table before I can take another drag and plucks the cigarette straight from my mouth.

Well.

Would you look at that.

The little basement ghost has teeth.

And apparently sticky fingers.

I didn’t see that coming, which is fucking rude, because I like seeing everything coming.

She brings it to her own lips, eyes on mine the whole time, and takes one slow pull like she’s done it before. Smoke slips from her mouth when she exhales, soft and lazy in the stale basement air. Then she reaches over, drops the cigarette into a little ceramic dish full of paper clips, and crushes it out.

Problem solved, apparently.

I stare at the dish, then back at her.

Alice lifts her brows. “What?”

My tongue presses against the inside of my cheek. “That was rude.”

“You were smoking in a goddamn library.”

“You put your mouth on my cigarette.”

“To put it out.”

“Sure.” I smile, slow and amused, because now the night is absolutely worth my time. “Don’t worry, pretty girl. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Her expression flattens. “What secret?”

“That you didn’t yell for help.” My gaze drops to her mouth, then back to her eyes. “And that you wanted a taste first.”

Her expression stays flat, but there’s a little color in her cheeks now. Enough to be entertaining.

“You’re disgusting,” she says.