Inseparable (11 page)

“Well, that was the best date I’ve ever been on,” I smile at Dane, as he walked me to my door. He reached for my hand, pulling me into his arms. His hand moved around my neck as he guided my mouth toward his. My heart pounded at his proximity, the closeness of his lips, and the feel of his hands on my skin. If I could spend all day in his arms, I would.

As we kissed, I memorized everything about him. The way his tongue flicked against mine we he first moved in to kiss me. The smell of his aftershave, mixed with sweat and the saltiness of the sea. The way he looked at me when he found me irresistible, which seemed to be all the time.

“I had a great time too,” He whispered, kissing my lips, then my nose. In retaliation, I kissed his nose back, only bigger, and wetter. I laughed as he screwed up his face, wiping away my kiss.

“Hey,” I pouted, pretending to be offended, “You don’t like my kisses?”

“You know I love your kisses, I just wasn’t expecting your spit all over my face,” He chuckled, his eyes lighting up, “I don’t want you to go,” He added suddenly, his grin widening. We had just reached my front door, when he began to pull me back toward his car.

“What are you doing?” I laughed, not resisting. He bundled me back into the front seat, clasping the seatbelt into place.

“Stay with me tonight?” He pleaded, a silly grin playing on his lips.

“You can’t give me that look. That’s not fair. How am I supposed to say no to that?” I grumbled playfully. Dane fisted the air, and slammed the door shut.

“I’m taking that as a yes!” He yelled out, walking around the car. I giggled, holding my hands up to my cheeks. He jumped into the car.

“You’re crazy,” I laughed, secretly loving this.

“You love it,” He retorted. Okay, so maybe not so secretly. I glanced at him as he drove through the streets. “What?” He asked, catching my stare. I blushed and shook my head.

“Nothing, I just like looking at you,” I said shyly. He raised his eyebrows at me, reaching his hand across to my leg. I jumped as he rested it there, trying to keep the stupid grin off my face. God he must think I’m an idiot.

“What are you laughing about?” He asked amused, “You are a weird one, Lily,” He said, shaking his head.

“I’d rather be weird than boring,” I shrugged.

“Oh, so you’re calling me boring now?” He accused, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“No! That’s not what I meant! I mean…” I fumbled my words, eventually realizing he was messing with me. “Oh, nice,” I poked my tongue out as he laughed.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, sexy,” He chuckled.

“Well, that’s a good thing isn’t it?”

I blushed as his gaze ran over my body. “It’s great,” He agreed, as I smiled away like an idiot, loving the way this guy made me feel. Dane was the first person in a long time I could smile and laugh with and actually feel like I wasn’t just putting on a front. I watched as his hand worked its way up my thigh, to my hand.

“Is this okay?” He whispered softly.

“It’s more than okay,” I smiled, locking my fingers around his palm. He weaved the car into his driveway. I suddenly felt really shy, the nervous flutter in my stomach an indication that the more time I spent with him, the harder I was falling.

I stepped out of the car, and walked around to meet him. He reached for my hand again, as he led me up to the door. Tingles ran up and down my arm where he touched me, as the same silly grin etched across my face.

Stop smiling, Lily. You look like such a dork!

He led me inside. This time, though, we continued down the hall toward his bedroom. Apart from the unmade bed, it was pretty clean, though not as clean as the house had been the other day. I grinned widely, loving that he’d gone to such an effort to impress me.

“Don’t you make your bed?” I laughed, raising an eyebrow at him. He shook his head proudly.

“You know, research has shown there is actually less bacteria in an unmade bed when compared to a made one,” He said, brushing the creases out of the sheet.

“Is that you’re idea of foreplay?” I giggled, “Woo me with your bacteria talk, Dane. It really turns me on,” I said in my sexiest voice. He blushed, then pulled me into his arms, caressing my face.

“Are you making fun of me, Lily?” He asked, teasing me with promises of a kiss. My lips lurched forward, trying to catch his. He was too fast for me, pulling away, with a sly smile. Then leaning in again, and pulling away. “Still want to make fun of me?” He murmured, his eyes narrow.

Really? He thought
he
was the one with the power here? He was about to learn a valuable lesson. I pulled out of his embrace, circling him around the room until I was up against the bed.

“You don’t want to kiss me, Dane?” I pouted, tilting my head to the side, my hands threatening to undo the second top button of my shirt. Eventually, it popped open, giving him an eyeful of breast.

He breathed in sharply, “You’re not playing fair,” He muttered, as he slowly walked closer to me. I let his arm slide around my waist, and eyed him with caution as he brought me flush against his body. I narrowed my eyes at him as he ran his finger down the middle of my chest, opening the third button. I shivered as he ripped the final buttons apart.

“Oops,” He said, nestling his head in my neck, kissing me, as he worked the shirt off me. He gripped the strap of my bra with his teeth, his tongue working its way down along the edge of my bra, “This has to go too, sexy.”

I unclipped the bra, allowing him to slide it off my shoulders. He nodded appreciatively, his fingers gently running over my breast, my nipple hardening at his touch.

“You like it when I touch you,” He said, more of a statement than a question. I didn’t answer. I gasped as his hands began to work their way down. “This is in the way too,” He gripped a handful of my skirt, tugging it down. It slid down my legs easily, leaving me almost completely exposed in front of him.

I lifted my arms up to his neck, snaking one around and the other caressing his face. My lips tilted to meet his, in a long intense kiss. I felt his hands wander under the band of my panties, resting themselves on my ass. I groaned softly, as my body pressed against his hardness.

His hands fumbled to undo his pants, his lips still pressed against mine. Kicking off his shoes, he kicked his pants down his legs, and off. I giggled at his frustration. He grinned back at me as I ripped his shirt open.

“Only fair. You ruined my shirt.”

He raised his eyebrows, amused, “Get these off, before I rip them too,” He threatened. I pulled them down quickly, partly because I was so turned on, and partly because I didn’t want him ruining my only decent pair of underpants.

I spread my legs as he pushed me back on the bed, his length pressing hard against me, ready to play. He lifted my leg, resting it on his shoulder as he entered me hard. I gasped as he slid inside me.

“Oh god,” I moaned, as he gazed into my eyes from above me. I ran my fingers through his hair, yanking him down and eagerly kissing him, “Yes!” I gasped.

“You feel so good, sexy. You’re so wet for me,” He moaned, closing his eyes as he pushed inside me harder, faster, “Oh Lily,” He murmured, panting. He collapsed on top of me, burying his face into my neck, sweat covering both our bodies.

I rolled over and snuggled in against him so he was spooning me. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, so he was almost enclosing me. This was exactly where I wanted to be. Naked, in Dane’s bed, with him cuddling me.

“You are amazing,” He whispered in my ear. His kissed my ear, and my neck, his arms holding me close against his body, “My sweet, sweet girl.”

“This is nice, Dane,” I said

“Nice? Well thanks, I guess…”

“You know what I mean,” I grumbled, jabbing him in the side as he laughed, “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

“You know what, Lil?” Dane began, I smiled as he kissed my neck again, “I’ve
never
felt this way about a girl before.”

“But you have about a boy?” I kidded, laughing. I could almost feel him rolling his eyes behind me.

“No you idiot. I’m trying to be all romantic and stuff and you’re ruining it,” He grumbled.

“I’m sorry,” I turned in his embrace, so we were facing each other, “Continue.” I giggled. He blushed as I watched him, waiting. “I was trying to say I like you, Lily. I like you
a lot
.”

“I like you a lot too,” I grinned. I lay in his arms, with him gently stroking my back until I eventually fell asleep.

Chapter Thirteen

“Lily.”

Abby sat at the edge of the bed. Dane’s bed. This was the first time I’d seen her somewhere other than my own room. Actually, this was the first time I’d slept somewhere other than my own bed since her death.

“Abby,” I smiled. I turned beside me, Dane was fast asleep.

“You haven’t told him,” Abby frowned at me, concerned.

“It’s not that easy, Abs. He will think I’m insane.
I’m
starting to think I’m insane,” I grumbled. Abby looked hurt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, but you have to understand where I’m coming from here. I can’t just blurt out ‘hey, you're dead sister is actually alive’. I’d be more concerned if he
did
believe me.”

“So get proof,” Abby said as a matter of factly. I laughed, like it was that simple? Sure, I could do what police had failed to do ten years ago. Then maybe I could star in my own TV show about how my dead sister solves crimes.

“How?” I asked, annoyed. Even if I wanted to play detective, I had no idea where to start.

“Use your brain, Lily. You’re supposed to be the smart one,” Abby said, frustrated. If she so badly wanted me to help Dane, why the fuck couldn’t she give me a straight answer?

“Lily.”

I gasped loudly, sitting bolt upright in bed. Dane stared at me, concerned as I struggled to catch my breath.

“What’s wrong, Lily? Can’t tell me what?” He reached up and stroked my hair. “You can tell me anything,” He soothed, concerned. What exactly had I said aloud? If I’d mentioned Steffy, I was gone. It was over.

“What?” I mumbled, not completely sure how I was going to get myself out of this one, “What happened?” I decided playing vague was my best defense.

“You kept saying ‘I can’t tell him’, I can’t tell Dane, over and over,” He stared at me intently, his brow furrowed inwards, “What can’t you tell me, Lil?” He was sitting up now, wide awake, waiting patiently for me to say something.

Swallowing hard, I tried to get the words to come out, but I had no idea what to say. So I’d not mentioned Steffy this time, but I was bound to eventually. Next time, or the time after that.

“It must have been a nightmare. I don’t remember anything,” I fibbed, rolling away so I wasn’t facing him. Inside, my heart was racing. What was I supposed to do now? If any time had been perfect to tell him, it was the moment that had just passed.

He snuggled into me. He didn’t believe me, that much I could tell, but he also didn’t pressure me to talk. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep, until he fell back to sleep. In the safety of the darkness, I gently eased myself away from Dane, until I was lying on my back, facing the ceiling.

What the fuck was I going to do? I was on the verge of tears.

I felt angry at Abby for doing this to me. Why did she have to tell me that? Why did she have to go and die on me? No matter how incredibly selfish I sounded, I couldn’t shake the anger I felt toward her for leaving me, and for dumping me with this useless information.

Creeping out from under the covers, I tip-toed out of the room. On the way, I grabbed Dane’s robe off the hook behind the door. Wrapping the grey striped material around me, I breathed in his smell, quietly making my way out to the living room, feeling my way along the wall in the darkness. As my fingers brushed past a lamp, I switched it on, squinting at the sudden burst of light that filled the room.

My handbag lay on the couch. I sat next to it, shuffling though its contents until I found my IPad. How was it that even with its size, it somehow still managed to get lost in my handbag?

To say I had no idea where to start was the understatement of the century. Cross legged on the couch with the TV tuned to infomercials, I typed in the name of Steffy’s alleged killer. What were the chances that he’d spoken to a cellmate about Steffy’s disappearance?

Pretty good I would’ve thought.

I was sure the police would have covered that already, but maybe a semi attractive young blonde would be more successful in phishing for information?

“Lilgirl.”

I opened my eyes. I’d fallen asleep. Crap. Great detective I made.

“Abby,” I said quietly, “Hi.” Abby smiled at me, her eyes filled with sadness.

“I’m sorry, Lil. I know this is crazy, and I know you feel like nobody is going to believe you but you
need
to help her…” She hesitated, “I’m sorry I left you, Lil,” She added.

I groaned. Now my dead sister was making me feel guilty about being angry.

Maybe I was crazy?

“Lil, you’re not crazy,” Abby chastised. I bit my lip. Of course my dead sister inside my head would say I wasn’t crazy.

“Lily!” Abby shouted, getting angry.

“Okay, okay. Sorry,” I said, rolling my eyes, “I don’t know what to do, Abs. Where do I start? The prison? Maybe his cell mate knows something he didn’t tell police?” I said hopefully. From the glint in Abby’s eyes, I knew I was on the right track.

“I have nothing to make him talk though,” I added sullenly, “He wouldn’t talk to the police, so why would he talk to me?”

“Tell him you know about Bella, and what really happened,” Abby said slowly, her eyes lighting up, “Tell him she told you about Steffy.”

“Who’s Bella?” I asked, confused. The last thing I needed was someone else complicating my mind,

“Don’t worry. You don’t need to know. Just tell him that and I guarantee he’ll talk,” She assured me. I raised my eyebrows at her dubiously. “Just do it, Lil. For god’s sake, you’re even more difficult to deal with now that I’m dead,” She rolled her eyes.