Part 12 (1/2)

”He is, more than some. Misses having a dad around, though. Frank ... well, he's a good man, a very very good man. But he's too busy with all his projects to give him much time, and too durned deaf to hear half the things anyone says.” The dishes clashed and clattered merrily in the sink. good man. But he's too busy with all his projects to give him much time, and too durned deaf to hear half the things anyone says.” The dishes clashed and clattered merrily in the sink.

Theo turned back to the table. Holy c.r.a.p. She wasn't hinting-was she?-about how long I'm going to stay and how badly Sam needs a father. Holy c.r.a.p. She wasn't hinting-was she?-about how long I'm going to stay and how badly Sam needs a father. Was Was she? she?

After all, he'd only been here a week. And besides that, the kid didn't seem terribly pleased with the idea of Theo being around. And why would Vonnie even think think of him and Selena hooking up? Everyone else seemed to think that the age difference-such as it was-was some sort of cardinal sin. of him and Selena hooking up? Everyone else seemed to think that the age difference-such as it was-was some sort of cardinal sin.

”What happened to Sam's dad?” Theo asked, figuring since she'd brought it up . ..

He didn't miss Vonnie's secretive smile. Holy Jewish Mother, she was was matchmaking. How the h.e.l.l should he take that? matchmaking. How the h.e.l.l should he take that?

”He and Selena had a disagreement and there was a big tragedy involved. She left-we all left; me, her, and Sammy-boy-and eventually ended up here. Was about seven, eight, maybe ten years ago now,” Vonnie said, her little nose wrinkling up. ”We met Frank and he invited us to stay here.”

”A disagreement?” Theo asked.

Now Vonnie stopped all of her exuberant ablutions and looked at him. ”He didn't understand her and he didn't trust her, when it all came down to it.”

Down to what?

”He was a d.a.m.n fool,” Vonnie said, clanging and clinking at the sink again.

”Who was?”

Theo's stomach did a pleasant little flip at the sound of Selena's voice. She walked into the kitchen, giving him the briefest of glances-cool, so casual-and scooped up a handful of almonds.

”Brandon,” replied Vonnie, a definite sneer in her voice.

Selena's expression tightened. ”Didn't you always teach me not to tell tales?”

Vonnie snorted, but instead of replying, she offered Selena a plate already filled with food. ”Eat something and don't lecture me. How's Robert?”

”Doing all right. He's not ready to go yet ... maybe tomorrow or the next day. Stubborn guy. I expect Frank will be like that when it's his time too.” She glanced toward the window, where the sun was low to the horizon, and nibbled on a piece of red pepper. Her hair, which had been pinned up, was sagging and hanging in s.e.xy little strands around her face and neck. She was wearing jeans and, instead of a loose tunic, a short s.h.i.+rt that showed the curve of her a.s.s and was b.u.t.toned down the front.

Hmmm ... easy access. And his skin was already p.r.i.c.kling with expectation. And his skin was already p.r.i.c.kling with expectation.

Theo dried his hands on a towel and caught Selena's eyes. ”I'm sorry to hear that,” he said, referring to the dying man and trying to keep his thoughts on the matter at hand ... not on the way that one b.u.t.ton between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s was straining a bit more than the others. He'd be happy to relieve its pain. ”Is he in a lot of discomfort?”

Selena drank some water from the cup Vonnie handed her, and met his gaze briefly over its rim. ”He says he's not,” she said as she lowered the gla.s.s, ”but he is.” Her lips tightened a bit and she shrugged in acceptance. ”The marijuana helps sometimes, and the tea, but it can't eliminate all of the pain.”

”That must make it even harder for you, knowing there's not much you can do.”

She nodded. ”I wish I had some of the medicine and treatments they had ... before. Or at least, more information about how they alleviated pain then. It might help.”

I might be able to help you with that. Either me or Elliott. Theo folded the towel and set it on the counter. ”I'm going to go back up to the arcade. There are some things I want to check out up there.” He took care not to look at Selena-both for his own sake, and Vonnie's as well. Theo folded the towel and set it on the counter. ”I'm going to go back up to the arcade. There are some things I want to check out up there.” He took care not to look at Selena-both for his own sake, and Vonnie's as well.

”Where's Frank?” Selena asked as Theo paused to get a drink of water.

”He went out to work in the garden, same as he always does,” Vonnie replied.

”Sammy go with him?”

”Yes. He didn't get away fast enough.”

”Darn,” Selena said. ”I wanted him to help me move that big shelf for the supply room.”

”I'm sure Theo would help you,” Vonnie said in a very smooth voice. ”Wouldn't you, Theo?”

And that was how it happened.

”You didn't fool her in the least,” Theo said to Selena as he followed her down the hall. His heart was suddenly racing, and his belly had become embarra.s.singly filled with fluttering b.u.t.terflies. He felt like a middle-schooler going to his first dance.

She tossed back a smile at him that did nothing to calm the upheaval in his stomach. ”I know. But it made me feel better.”

He felt odd, following a woman to ... well, he a.s.sumed, her bedroom. But he wasn't quite certain. Maybe she did need help moving a big shelf. Probably not. Probably not.

But it was a little strange to him, knowing that this was all planned. That they were going going to have s.e.x. to have s.e.x. Could it be any less spontaneous? Could it be any more awkward, for a first time? Any less ... special? Could it be any less spontaneous? Could it be any more awkward, for a first time? Any less ... special?

And why was he making such a big deal about it? It was going to be good, no matter how it went.

They started up a flight of stairs near the far end of the large house, and Theo couldn't resist asking, ”Your supply room is on the second floor? Not very convenient, is it?”

Selena curled her fingers on the top of the banister, stepped up, and turned to give him a hot smile as she went around the corner. ”I have a feeling you'll find it very convenient.”

Oh, yes. A dart of l.u.s.t shot through him, and he vaulted up the last few steps with a little jump, landing next to her. ”If you're sure . ..” A dart of l.u.s.t shot through him, and he vaulted up the last few steps with a little jump, landing next to her. ”If you're sure . ..”

”I'm su-”

But Theo'd decided he was through with waiting, and he had her in his arms before she could finish her sentence. He found her mouth easily, covering it with his as he edged them away from the stairs. Instinct from living in a deteriorating world for fifty years had him s.h.i.+fting from the railing at the top of the landing, and instead pulling her up against his chest as he leaned against the wall.

Steadying himself, so that he could put all his energy and effort into tasting and enjoying her, he smoothed his hands up over her delicate shoulder blades, crossing them to stabilize her as he deepened the kiss.

Selena had at first stiffened in surprise. But now she melted against him, pressing Theo into the wall and received his kiss, drawing his tongue and lips into her mouth as if she wanted to devour him. Theo lost himself for a moment, just drinking in her smell, the soft, welcome lines of her body, the way he tilted back, stable, against the wall, holding her against him. Everything became hot and sleek as their kiss eased into serious business.

His hand found her a.s.s, sweeping over that sweet round curve as he slipped his knee between her legs. ”I've missed you,” he said. ”Where have you been?”

”I really do,” she said, s.h.i.+fting back a bit, clamping her teeth around his lower lip and tugging at it, ”have something heavy ... for you to move.”

Theo closed his eyes against the niggling pleasure-pain at his lip, the muscles beneath his skin s.h.i.+vering with want. She released him and then swiped her tongue in a little apologetic dance over his throbbing lip.

”Want to make me work for it, do you?” he murmured, slipping his fingers between them to give relief to that straining b.u.t.ton on her blouse. And then the one below it.

”Oh, yes,” she replied, pressing down onto the knee he'd slipped between her legs. ”I wanted to get you all hot and sweaty first.”

Another b.u.t.ton. And then another. He slid his hands beneath the opening of her s.h.i.+rt, taking care of the still tender ganga ganga slashes on the front of her shoulder. For a moment, he paused and looked down at them, a stab of anger and something like fear shooting through him. ”Selena,” he whispered, imagining those awful, evil nails scoring her smooth, tanned skin ... and somehow, her getting away from such a threat. slashes on the front of her shoulder. For a moment, he paused and looked down at them, a stab of anger and something like fear shooting through him. ”Selena,” he whispered, imagining those awful, evil nails scoring her smooth, tanned skin ... and somehow, her getting away from such a threat. Miraculous Miraculous.

How? And why would she risk it again? At least he knew she hadn't gone out the last few nights. He'd been watching. And why would she risk it again? At least he knew she hadn't gone out the last few nights. He'd been watching.

As if reading his mind and looking for a way to detour it, she s.h.i.+fted, her hand cruising down between them to cover the raging hard-on straining the b.u.t.tons of his shorts. The confident weight of her hand, cupping him, sliding over the center of his desire, drove all other thoughts from his mind. He couldn't hold back a groan as she found the length of him through the fabric, up and along, back and forth, as he filled his hands with her bra-clad b.r.e.a.s.t.s.