24. ~ Char ~
CHAPTER 24
~ Char ~
B efore I could pull James in for another kiss, he leaned back. His jaw was tight with what seemed to be restraint, like he wanted to devour me. I felt myself involuntarily tip my weight toward him, offering myself up.
Instead, he let out a shaky breath and turned away, facing the locked door. Mischief flashed in his eyes again. “Curious what’s inside?”
I nodded, one hand on the wall beside me, afraid to look over the expanse of openness to my left.
He gestured to the door. “Mind if I try?”
I wasn’t sure what he meant since it was locked, but I shrugged and said, “Be my guest.”
Before I could finish my sentence, he kicked the door, the loud noise ricocheting off the metal walls. I jumped, nearly falling off my step and tumbling down the rest.
He gave the door another kick, and this time the latch gave.
I gasped at his strength. “How did you do that?” Talk about sexy!
He strode into the room, leaving tracks in the thick dust. He turned back, unimpressed by what he’d discovered, which was nothing.
I surreptitiously inspected the door and doorframe. Splintered wood bent inward. Dang. I followed him into the dark room, using my phone as a flashlight. The area was the size of my apartment bedroom—not that big—and it was empty, aside from a cardboard box and a wooden crate. There was nothing but layers of dust in the crate and box, now marred by my fingerprints. Not even a fixture was attached to the loose wire hanging where a light had once been.
Somehow it was all incredibly disappointing.
I wiped my hands on my jeans, coughing at the disturbed dust.
“No gold,” James sighed, checking the empty crate.
“No gold,” I echoed.
But I’d been kissed, and he’d held my hand. I felt lighter than I had in days, because now I knew that there had been no midnight-breaking kiss-me spell, and that James was still interested.