AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Matthew pops the trunk of the Hummer, and we all toss our load of shopping bags inside. Soon, Francis returns with Jane’s tan corduroy backpack. It’s decorated with enamel pins and puffy keychains.
He leans against the side of the vehicle, sending my girl a wide, charming smile. “Here you go, miss.”
Jane takes it from him, careful not to touch his hands. The blush on her cheeks makes me want to bash Francis’ head in.
“Why don’t you wear gloves, like Samuel?” Jane asks him, her voice low.
Francis throws a haughty glance in my direction. I return his gaze with an icy stare. “Sammy here has a bad habit of forgetting how dead we are. He still shakes hands in greeting, and since he’s been in the city all week, I suspect he wore those leather things all the time.” Francis winks at Jane. “Me, on the other hand… Well, I’m careful not to touch anyone who’d notice the difference.”
I gently take hold of Jane’s arm, ushering her toward our car. “What he means is that he never gets laid.”
Francis scoffs. “Rude.” He clutches his heart, mocking pain.
“Come.” I tug Jane further away from Francis. “It’s time to go.”
She leans into my shoulder, tipping her head up. “They’re sonormal,” she mouths.
Jane and I sit in the back seat as Matthew drives.
I could have ridden in the passenger seat, but it didn’t feel right to leave Jane back here alone. I’m sure she feels out-of-place amid creatures like us, despite hownormalshe thinks we are.
“Are you hungry?”
Jane straightens, her head swiveling to face me. “Hungry? No.”
“Tired?”
Her lips form a tight smile. “Not really.”
“Then what’s on your mind?”
Her eyes dart forward, staring at the back of Matthew’s head. She leans closer toward me, her warmth crashing into my side. It soaks into my chest, enveloping me in her scent. With her body pressed against me, I can feel her pulse reverberating through her body as if it were my own.
I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly dry.
Jane’s hair brushes against my cheek as she closes the distance between us. “I don’t think he likes me,” she whispers.
My eyes fixate on a strand of her golden mane, and as if I need an excuse to touch her, I lace it around my finger and tuck it behind her ear. “Matthew isn’t much of a talker.”
“No, ma’am, I’m not. But my boy likes you, so I guess you’re alright.” Matthew’s voice booms from the front seat. He adjusts his rearview mirror, positioning it so he can give Jane a kind smile.
Jane’s cheeks flame red. “Shoot. I forgot about the ultra-sensitive hearing thing.”
“It’s fine.” Matthew redirects his attention to the dark stretch of road ahead of us. “If I didn’t like you, you’d know.”
The car goes quiet, but Jane doesn’t scoot away from me. And every second her body heat remains next to mine, I grow warmer, like I’m thawing from a deep freeze. I grab her hand instinctually.
“What are you doing?”
I examine her fingers for a moment, debating. “Are you scared to touch me?”
She puffs out her cheeks. “Um, no?”
Smiling, I tug my glove off. “Good.” I place my hand against hers, palms touching. Her skin is clammy, but not uncomfortable. Instantly, the heat penetrates my exterior, working its way into my bones. I lean my head against the back of the seat, sighing. “Am I cold?”
Jane laces our fingers, strengthening her hold. “A little.”
I roll my head to the side, pressing my nose into her hair. “Do you use strawberry shampoo?” I already know the answer.
