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Authors: Tracey H. Kitts

Sex Symbol (8 page)

BOOK: Sex Symbol
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I shrugged. “Takes too long to freeze. Besides, I think putting a lobster in there is pretty damn funny.”

We mixed the rest of the ingredients and set them in the fridge to chill. Chase had also brought a rack of ribs that I started to season. While he was still distracted looking for Eramus, I made my famous barbecue sauce. By the time he noticed me again I was preheating the oven and slathering the ribs with the thick, sweet mixture.

“You bitch,” he said, but his heart wasn’t in it. After another minute or two he shrugged and turned away from the window. “Fuck it. Is the pot out back?”

“Uh, no. It’s under the sink. I meant to get it out earlier, but I was distracted.”

I told him about helping decide where to plant the rose garden. Of course, I left out the part about the shelter. Eramus had only told me because I already knew a hole was there. I planned to tell Ozzy, just because I knew he would ask. Knowing what it was for should put him at ease, or so I thought.

“So, he was just digging a garden? Justina made it sound like a pit.”

“That’s what I thought, but we couldn’t actually see over the fence. It’s really pretty over there. He’s put down some new sod and everything.”

“Humph.” With that Chase picked up the bag of peanuts and I followed him with the pot. After helping him set everything up over the fire pit, I returned to get salt and found myself staring out the window just like he had. Only I had better luck.

Eramus stepped out the back door of his house and my heart felt like it might burst. He was wearing another pair of jeans and a white, tunic-style shirt that hung open enough to reveal a bit of his chest. And here I was expecting a t-shirt. I was very pleasantly surprised.

When I walked out back to hand the salt to Chase he was standing there open-mouthed. Eramus opened the gate that separated us and came strolling through like something out of a dream. The way I felt when I looked at him was impossible. I say that because we had just met. Until a few hours ago I didn’t even know his name. I was still in love with James. And yet…something within me stirred as I watched him move and it was much more than desire. As he came to stand in front of me and ran a hand through his still damp hair I understood something—I hungered for him.

“Glad you could make it,” I said, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

He nodded in my direction and extended his hand toward Chase. When he moved, his scent drifted toward me and I nearly started foaming at the mouth. I don’t care what he said. He must be wearing something. Cologne laced with pheromones, maybe? Did they make stuff like that?

“Eramus Creed,” he said.

His voice was like warm honey and I noticed Chase shiver before replying, “Chase Ramsey,” and shaking his hand.

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Eramus asked.

It took me a second to realize he was talking to me. “Um, no. Everything is taken care of for the moment. You could come with me to put the ribs in the oven if you want to.”

His smile kept doing things to me that I didn’t think a simple facial expression should. A smile really was a simple thing. But not his. His lips parted just enough to show his teeth, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch just enough to make the cutest little crease in his cheek. And the way the emotion was clearly visible in his eyes…well, it made me want to smile too. In fact, I couldn’t stop.

He paused at the door and I turned back to take his hand.

“Come on.”

A feeling passed over me when he stepped across the threshold. It was strange and something I really can’t put into words. It wasn’t exactly a bad feeling, but a chill of sorts. Almost like a shiver of excitement.

Instantly I thought about the rumor that a vampire has to be invited before they can enter someone’s home. Eramus wasn’t a vampire. He had too nice of a tan. Besides, I saw him out in the sun all the time. I scolded myself for having such thoughts in the first place. Anyhow, vampires were supposed to be cold. His hand was warm to the touch and as I continued to lead him toward my kitchen I tried not to think bad thoughts.

Still, I had the impression that I’d just invited the big bad wolf over for dinner and from the smile he continued to wear, I might be on the menu.

I released his hand and checked to be sure the oven was ready.

“Here, let me. That looks heavy.” Eramus moved to set the ribs in the oven as he said, “I wanted to thank you again for your help with the garden. I really appreciate it.”

“It’s no problem. I like gardening.”

“Maybe in a little while it will match the other side.”

I was confused. “What’s on the other side?”

The blast of hot air from the oven seemed to make his scent even stronger. I remembered on nature shows how they talked about animals being drawn by the scent of the opposite sex. Surely that crap didn’t apply to people. Isn’t that why we use perfume, because we don’t have our own naturally alluring scent?

“You mean you haven’t seen it?”

I shook my head.

“This great big rose climbing up the side of the house. It’s beautiful.”

Now I remembered. “Oh, yeah. I forgot all about it. I never come home that direction, so I haven’t noticed it in ages. It’s that big now, huh? I can’t believe it grew so much without anyone taking care of it.”

When he closed the oven and stood back up, Eramus was so close to me that our bodies almost touched. I was dead even with the middle of his chest, right where his shirt parted, revealing just enough skin to make my mouth water. He touched my shoulder lightly and I wanted more. I wanted to lean into him, to press as much of my body against his as possible.

“Are you all right?”

He was so close now that his breath caused my bangs to move against my forehead. Was I moving closer or was he?

“You smell really good.”

Before he could reply there was a loud crash and what sounded like someone running across the front porch.

“Motherfucker!”

“That would be Justina,” I said.

I’m not sure what would have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted or why I wanted so much to touch him. It wasn’t like I was sex starved. Ozzy had helped me take care of that problem. I would say it was magic, only I wasn’t certain. I believed that magic was real. Witches and wizards did exist, or so I’d heard. Like everything else that went bump in the night, I had never personally met one. Even if that was the case, why would anyone waste a spell on me?

Eramus seemed unfazed by the interruption. He motioned toward the door as he said, “Sounds like your friend could use some help.”

We opened the door to find Justina chasing potatoes across the porch and down the steps. Apparently the large bag she was holding had ripped just as she reached the door.

“Well, that would explain the noise,” Eramus said.

From the look on her face she had a scathing comment at the ready, but her sarcasm was no match for his smile.

We started helping her retrieve the potatoes while he said, “I’m Eramus by the way, Lucy’s new neighbor.”

Justina paused and brushed back her long dark hair. She was wearing an orange tank top this time that contrasted well with her black coat and matched her nail polish.

“I’m Justina, the moron who yells ‘motherfucker’ as loud as possible before I meet new people.”

She rolled her eyes jokingly and we all laughed.

“I’m not easily offended,” he assured her.

She opened the paper bag she was carrying and as we dumped the potatoes inside said, “Good. You’ll fit right in around here.”

“I never should have left them in that flimsy plastic bag,” Justina grumbled as we made our way inside. “Stupid checkout girl overstuffed it.”

Eramus helped carry in the rest of her groceries, listening quietly to her bitching about the world like he was used to it. When I gave him a questioning look he said, “I have two sisters,” as if that explained it all.

Justina started pouring the potatoes into the sink.

“I thought you were going to cook at home,” I teased.

She started looking around for a pot to fit them. “I’d much rather mess up your kitchen. Besides, I didn’t want to be by myself.”

That wasn’t like her at all. She normally didn’t want to be around anybody, sometimes even me.

“Why, is something wrong?”

She shrugged. “I kept hearing weird noises last night. Just creeped me out, that’s all.”

Before I could tell her what I saw the night before, someone else knocked at the door.

“It’s me, I’m early,” Ozzy yelled.

By the time I rounded the corner he was making his way through the foyer with a bag full of corn and an ice chest full of booze. I took the corn and hugged him.

“I hope you don’t mind me being so early. I wanted to make sure you were all right after last night.”

“What happened last night?”

We turned to see Justina in the doorway with Eramus right behind her, arms crossed as if he too were waiting for an answer. Thankfully, Ozzy spoke up because I surely would have given something away.

“I drove Lucy home last night and we saw something in the yard.”

“What was it?” Justina asked.

Oz and I exchanged a look. Neither of us were ready to start throwing around the word “werewolf”.

“Like a big dog,” he said. “He probably got loose from one of the farms around here. Anyway, I didn’t get a real good look.”

But the wolf sure did. He must have been watching us the whole time. I shivered at the thought before remembering I hadn’t introduced Eramus.

“Oh, this is my friend Ozzy,” I said.

Eramus stepped forward and the men shook hands as he introduced himself.

Chapter Nine
Sleeping dogs

“Eramus Creed,” Ozzy repeated. “That’s a pretty famous name.”

The two men exchanged a look that clearly said they knew something I didn’t. What the hell was going on? I was lost.

“Only in certain circles,” Eramus replied.

Ozzy raised an eyebrow. Then as if to further confuse me, Eramus supplied, “It was my grandfather’s name.” Well, I already knew that, but had no idea what difference it made.

“Ah.”

Even though they were both carrying the ice chest through the house now and the subject had changed to the weather, there was a palpable tension in the air. Justina came to stand beside me and we both watched the men walk out of sight. She didn’t speak until we heard the back door close.

“What the hell was that all about?”

“I have no idea.”

“Is Eramus famous?”

I shook my head. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m sure if he was a celebrity, I would remember a face like his.”

“And that ass,” Justina said, rolling her eyes like she was going to swoon.

I turned toward her, laughing. “I know, right? Did you see how good he looks in those jeans? I have never wanted to be woven into cotton so bad in my life.”

I thought my comment was pretty clever. In fact, I was waiting for her to respond with a whoop or a catcall of some sort. Instead she looked kind of…embarrassed.

“What? Are you going to say that wasn’t funny to you?” I shrugged.

Justina pointed at what I thought was my hair.

“Is there something in my hair? Something wrong?”

I took a section of my red locks in one hand and started searching for whatever it was that was bothering her.

“There’s nothing in my—”

My words were lost as I turned toward the back door. Eramus was standing there with his arms crossed, looking down at me. For a second I wondered if he’d overheard us, but the look on his face answered my question.

“Do you often fantasize about being woven into cotton?” His voice was smooth and his words were obviously a challenge. Normally, I would have been embarrassed in such a situation. But something about him made me fearless. I wanted him to know I was attracted to him and had no problem admitting it.

“Only when I see you wearing jeans.”

His smile grew wider, revealing more of his perfect white teeth. He was so close to me now that the smell of his cologne was overpowering. Don’t misunderstand, it wasn’t that strong of a smell, it just had that powerful of an effect. It made me weak. Maybe he was using magic of some sort?

“And what if I wasn’t wearing them?”

I’m not sure if he meant “what if he wore something else” or “what if he took them off”. But I chose to answer in a way that would make him guess as well.

“Not sure.” I shrugged in a way that I hoped looked nonchalant. “I’d have to see first.”

“Did you get the meat?” Chase asked, sticking his head in the door.

His words and my thoughts were enough to make me blush, although I wasn’t exactly embarrassed. Flustered is more accurate. How had I not heard Eramus behind me? I heard when Chase opened the door.

Never taking his eyes from me, Eramus answered, “Not yet.”

I could feel Chase staring at me and knew I’d most likely get questioned about this later.

“Could you show him where the steak is in the fridge?” Chase asked. “Ozzy said he put some in there this morning.”

No one seemed to find it strange that Ozzy was stocking my refrigerator. Besides, he did that quite often.

“Sure, right this way.”

Justina was still standing there in what looked like shock. As we walked past her I asked Eramus, “You don’t really need me to show you the fridge, do you?”

“Nope.”

But he didn’t complain. I opened the door and found the steak in the bottom drawer where I always kept meat.

“Ribs and steak? You guys are just a bunch of carnivores.”

His smile never wavered as I handed him the steaks.

“Thanks.”

Before we could say anything else Chase came in and started rummaging through my cabinet for seasonings.

“Have to do everything myself,” he grumbled. “Give me those.”

He took the steaks from Eramus and started sprinkling them with about ten different ingredients. I didn’t pay much attention because I couldn’t take my eyes off Eramus, even though I knew it must be beyond the point of rude to stare this long.

“You run a bar outside of town, right?” Eramus asked Chase, finally breaking whatever spell there was between us as he looked away.

BOOK: Sex Symbol
12.96Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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