Chapter 14 #2
For a man who can fuck me for hours, he doesn’t last long when it’s my mouth. I suck him deep into my throat and swallow, reveling in the almost pained sound he makes. The slight sting of my scalp as he pulls my hair only adds to the wetness between my legs. That was such a turn on.
“Christ, what are you doing to me?” he breathes. He tucks his cock back into his pants and fastens them.
When I sit up and wipe my mouth, I notice we’re already on the road near his house. Not even a minute away. The fact that he pulled over so close to home puts a smile on my face. It doesn’t escape his notice.
His lips twitch up as he puts the truck into gear and starts driving again. “Something you want to say?”
“You almost made it. Less than a minute from home.” The look he gives me as he parks the truck says it all. My night isn’t nearly over.
“We’ll see if you have that satisfied smile when you’re begging me to come.”
I worked the early shift at Lucky’s today and I’m considering an afternoon nap when Lee’s phone rings. I can hear half of his conversation as he talks in the kitchen.
“You hit the reset button on them? Okay, do you have batteries? Yeah, it shouldn’t do that. I’m on my way.”
“Everything okay?” I ask, grabbing myself a bottle of water.
“Cabin one’s smoke detectors are malfunctioning. Going off for no reason. They’re wired in so when one screws up, so does the other. It’s a quick fix.” He walks down the hall and returns with two new detectors.
As soon as he leaves, I recognize the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.
It’s light outside, and cabin one is the furthest away, on the other side of the lake.
Even if it’s a quick fix, it’ll take him half an hour.
It’s been ten days since I followed him, and I can’t take not knowing anymore.
If I hurry, I can see what’s in that boarded-up cabin he visits at night.
I shove my shoes on and pull a hoodie over my head.
Once his truck is out of sight, I head into the woods.
I’m following the same faint path left by his repeated visits, but it’s a lot less terrifying in the daylight.
It’s probably nothing. Maybe he just wants to be alone.
Maybe he uses it like a workshop or keeps stuff stored in there.
Like his missing wife?
No, absolutely not. I don’t believe that. I’m just investigating to see what it is and ease my mind. I’ll take a peek inside and Lee will never even know.
Adrenaline hurries my steps, and barely ten minutes later the cabin comes into view.
There’s nothing ominous about it when it’s dappled in sunlight.
It doesn’t even look particularly rundown.
I slow my steps as I approach and try to be quiet.
Not that I think there’s anyone around, but rushing in seems foolish.
I creep up to one of the boarded windows.
There’s no room between the boards to give me a peek inside like I hoped, so I press my ear to it.
A minute passes without a sound. I make my way around to another window and do the same with the same results.
There’s an empty gravel driveway at the back of the house.
It must connect to Lee’s road somewhere.
It’s probably that spot between the trees that he’s roped off with another private property sign.
It's just another cabin, not fit to rent. That’s what I tell myself as I make my way back around to the door. The handle turns easily and I hesitate for a second, psyching myself up before I push the door open.
What the hell?
The cabin only has one large room, and what must be a bathroom to my right.
There’s no one in sight, but a cot sits against one wall near a folding table that holds a laptop.
A few folding chairs are scattered around.
I take a cautious step inside, listening for the sound of anyone pulling into the driveway.
The trash can beside me holds some discarded fast food wrappers and a donut box from Lucky’s.
What’s going on? Why would Lee come out here?
Bring food out here? He could have privacy in his room at home if there’s something he’s using the laptop for that he doesn’t want seen.
It doesn’t make sense or answer any of my questions.
The place is dead silent, and I hold my breath as I take a quick peek into the bathroom to make sure no one’s there, then head for the computer.
It’s likely password protected, but I’ve come this far. I’m not going to leave without at least trying to figure out what the hell Lee comes out here for. A glance at the time on my phone tells me I need to get moving if I want to beat Lee back home.
I bend over the laptop, and I’m surprised to see it wake up with a touch of the trackpad, as if someone has been using it recently. There’s no time to make sense of anything on the screen before an arm wraps around me from behind and jerks me away from it.
A scream bursts from my lips and my reaction is completely involuntary, but effective. Tearing at the arm with my nails, I stomp as hard as I can on the intruder’s foot. He curses in a deep unfamiliar voice. My nails can’t get purchase on his arm. They slide over a strange slick material.
“Stop! I’m not going to hurt you.”
Yeah, right. His arm loosens around me, allowing me to turn just enough to elbow him in the face. At least I would’ve hit his face, if it wasn’t covered by an odd plastic mask. Instead, I catch him just under the chin.
“Damn it.” He lets go and I spin around to face him. The sight freezes me in place for a moment. He’s wearing some weird jumpsuit. It’s kind of like the biohazard suit that doctors or scientists wear during a deadly outbreak of disease. But more form fitting with a tight hood and plastic faceplate.
I don’t know who this freak is and I’m not staying to find out. He leaps in front of me, slams the door closed and stands in front of it, blocking the only exit.
My heart races as reality sets in. He’s much bigger and stronger than me. I don’t even have a weapon, and a quick glance around doesn’t reveal anything I can use. This was stupid. This was so stupid.
“Get the fuck out of my way. Lee will be here any minute,” I lie.
He yanks off his mask and hood. I’ve never seen him before, and he’s someone I’d remember.
His dark hair is unremarkable. but his skin has a strange rough quality in places, and his eyes are a unique shade of blue-green.
Blood trickles from one side of his lip.
“You know Lee?” He takes a deep breath. “Are you Silver?”
I’m not telling this man anything. “Let me go.” My demand comes through gritted teeth that are trying not to chatter. This is so confusing. Why is he dressed like that? What have I walked into?
He slowly holds up a gloved hand, his palm toward me. “I’m a friend of Lee’s.”
When he realizes I’m not going to make another break for it, he pulls out his phone and taps it, never taking his eyes off me. “Hey, we got a problem. Silver’s here. Yeah, in the cabin. Okay.”
He hangs up and nods at me. “Lee’s on his way.”
My panic begins to lessen at the thought, which is crazy considering the circumstances. “Who are you?”
“My name’s Landon. Like I said, I’m a friend of Lee’s. He’s been letting me stay here.”
My mind races. Lee’s on his way. I have plenty of questions for him, but he’ll have one for me. Why am I here? I need to think of an explanation that doesn’t include me following him to this cabin. I’m not sure what to think about any of this.
“Why are you wearing that? Is there something dangerous in here?”
He smiles and starts removing his gloves. “No, it’s a long story. You aren’t in danger.”
That remains to be seen.
Lee shows up unbelievably fast. I hear the motor of his truck in the driveway a moment before he steps inside. His face is impassive when he asks me, “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
His anger shows itself when he snaps, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
It ignites my own temper, and I raise my chin. “This asshole in the superhero suit won’t let me leave.”
“Don’t play games with me.”
“I’m not. I was just taking a walk and I found the cabin.
I figured I could explore it since it’s on your property.
I didn’t know it was some big secret or off limits.
It was unlocked. I saw all the stuff and thought maybe you had a squatter or something.
Then he grabbed me.” Some of the tension seems to drain from him.
He looks at Landon. “You’re bleeding.”
“I pulled her away when she was trying to take my computer. She stomped on my foot and elbowed me in the jaw. Made me bite my lip.”
“I wasn’t trying to take it. I barely touched it.”
Lee shakes his head, but I see a small smile under his palm as he rubs it over his face. “Silver, this is Landon. He’s a friend who’s staying here for a few weeks while he’s in town.”
I glance at Lee, then look around the bare room. It’s warm in here, due to a space heater in the corner, but it isn’t exactly a hotel room. The doubt on my face must be clear to both of them.
“I can’t stay at Lee’s place,” Landon says, answering my unasked question.
“I have a genetic condition that makes sunlight extremely dangerous for me. Even the sunlight that filters in through windows will burn me in minutes.” He tugs at the front of his suit.
“This is the only way I can go outside but as you can imagine, it isn’t all that comfortable.
It’s better to stay here where the windows are boarded.
” He grins at me. “It isn’t a superpower, despite the costume. ”
Well, now I feel like an asshole. That explains the strange texture of his skin.
They’re scars from the sunlight. What a horrible thing to have to live with.
I’m not sure what to think about why Lee was coming out here.
To hang out with a friend? Then why wouldn’t he just say so?
I know something has been going on with him and this has to be related.
Maybe Landon’s here to help Lee with whatever it is, but either way, it’s not my business.
It’s not like Lee’s the only one keeping things to himself.
“I’m sorry I hit you,” I tell Landon.
“It’s okay,” he assures me with a smile.
“Thanks for calling,” Lee tells him, and gestures for me to follow him to his truck. Once we’re inside, he asks me again if I’m alright. I expect more questions, but he must’ve accepted my explanation because he just silently drives us home.
I can’t let it go that easily. “How long have you been friends with Landon?” I ask, once we’re back.
“I’ve known him for about ten years.”
“And he’s never been able to go in the sun? How does he live like that?”
Lee shrugs, unlocking the front door. “He has to. His house has some kind of sun proof windows. He only goes out at night or with that suit on in the daytime.”
“Why’s he in town?”
“For work.”
“So, he isn’t hiding out or wanted by the cops or anything?”
“You watch too many crime shows,” he scoffs, tossing his keys on the counter.
Well, that isn’t an answer. He obviously isn’t going to tell me why Landon is actually staying out there alone in a rundown cabin.
If he was just a friend visiting, why hasn’t he invited him over here after dark, for dinner, or to sit by the bonfire like he does with other friends?
There’s more to it. I planned to tell him about how I’m handling the Matheson’s after the meeting with Grady is over, but maybe I shouldn’t since he can’t trust me with whatever he has going on.
I can’t stop myself from saying it. “He’s here for whatever it is you aren’t talking about.” His impassive stare is steeped in silence. I look into his dark eyes that seem to hold only more mysteries. When it’s clear he isn’t going to say anything, I quietly add, “Okay.”