AllFreeNovel
Share Us
HalfwaybetweenCharlotteandMercury Ridge, I popped into a gas station for an energy drink. The jolt of caffeine helped for a while, but it’s worn off now.
As I make my way up the mountain toward my remote cabin in the woods, a wave of exhaustion hits. I roll the windows down, letting the cool autumn air slap me awake.
The relief is temporary, though, and my skin adjusts to the cooler temperature. Before long, I’m thinking longingly of my bed again. My eyelids grow heavy.
A possum darts into the road just as I’m rounding a bend. There’s no time to swerve to avoid hitting him. I hold my breath, bracing for the impact. Miraculously, the wheels miss the animal, and he scurries back into the woods.
“Lucky bastard,” I mutter. But the creature’s brush with death provides the kick of adrenaline I need to stay awake for the rest of the drive home.
Finally, I park my truck in front of my house. It’s dark, but the full moon casts a soft glow over the tiny cabin.Home sweet home.
I fish the key from beneath the welcome mat and slide it into the lock.
As I step inside, something feels…off.The light above the stove is on, though I’m sure I turned it off before I went to Australia. I drop my duffel bag to the floor before walking across the kitchen to turn off the light.
Glancing down at the trashcan, I see a white garbage bag peeking out. I’mpositiveI took out the trash before my trip.Did I replace the bag?I don’t usually bother until something needs to be thrown away.
The house seems cleaner than when I left, too. After being out of town for two months, I’d expect to find dust on the furniture and cobwebs in the corners. Not only is the house spotless, but everything seems…tidy. Even the magnets on the refrigerator look straighter.
I hadn’t asked anyone to look after my place while I was gone, but maybe Macbeth did anyway? There’s no way it was my brothers, so my sister is the only person I can think of—but it’s not like her to volunteer to clean. Raised by a single dad and four big brothers, she’s never been particularlydomestic.
Then again, a lot’s changed while I’ve been away. My brother Romeo not only fell head over heels in love but managed to plan a wedding too. He’ll be saying “I do” less than a week from now. So, maybe Beth morphed into a super-helpful sister who cleans?
I chuckle at the thought. Beth would rather die than clean up after her brothers.
I kick off my boots and begin stripping off layers of clothes, leaving them strewn throughout the house on my way to the bedroom. I’ll catch up with my siblings tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to sleep like the dead.
By the time I reach the doorway, I’m naked as a jaybird. Another wave of exhaustion crashes over me and I stumble to my bed. Just before I collapse onto it, the clouds shift, allowing a beam of moonlight to stream through the bedroom window, illuminating the room.
I freeze, staring in disbelief. The bed isn’t empty.
The moonbeam falls across the stranger’s face, showcasing her delicate features. Her hair is short, sticking up in places, as though she’s been running her hands through it.
She whimpers softly in her sleep.
Is she having a nightmare?
I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to wake up a person who’s having a nightmare. But what’s the protocol for finding a stranger in your bed? Surely, I’m not expected to wait for her to wake up on her own. It’smybed, and I want to sleep in it!
Before I can decide what to do, she thrashes in her sleep, tossing the blankets to the floor.
“Fuuuuuck,” I moan.
I’m not the only one who sleeps in the nude.
And this woman has an ass I’d kill to sink my teeth into.
Three
Annie
Iwakewithastart, gasping for breath.
“Bad dream?” a man asks.
Not. At. All. I roll over, stretching my arms over my head, and savoring the remnants of the orgasm I just experienced in my dream.
There’s something about Mercury Ridge. I’ve had crazy sex dreams every single night that I’ve been in the cabin.
