Page 41 of Sackett (Demented Souls #17)

A fter Sackett dropped her off at home, Selena kept busy. Unpacking, laundry, ordering groceries and preparing for the next week at work. She managed to stay busy until bedtime, but when she slid between the sheets, she found herself staring up at the dark ceiling.

This felt wrong. How could a person get so used to something after only two days?

If someone had told her a week ago that she would be lying in bed missing a man after only two nights together, she would have told them they were crazy. But now, that was exactly how she felt.

Add to the problem, Selena found herself jumping at every creak and thump, and she didn’t know if she would get any sleep tonight.

It wasn’t just that she was alone in the house.

She’d lived here, alone, for almost two years.

She was used to the noises her house and neighborhood made.

But between missing the warmth and presence of Sackett in the bed and seeing Mr. Smarmy— no, Sackett had said his name was Harper, in Silverton and knowing he had to have been following her, she was feeling some anxiety.

What if they followed them all the way to Tucson?

What if that creak was him? Was that thump was someone trying to get into the house?

After lying in the dark for what seemed like hours, she gave up, turning on the light and checking the clock.

Forty-five minutes had passed since she’d turned out the light. She spent maybe thirty seconds debating it, then threw the blanket back and got up. Taking her phone with her, Selena went into the kitchen, filled the kettle and put it on the stove.

She picked up her phone, intending to scroll online while she waited for the water to heat but found a text waiting and from the last person she’d expected to hear from.

Sackett: Know your probably sleeping but I wanted to say I’m thinking of you.

Selena found herself smiling at the screen. She checked when he’d sent the message and saw it had only been ten minutes.

Selena: I should be, but I’m not.

Selena: Thinking about you too.

She glanced at the kettle, then set her phone aside while she pulled down a mug and had to dig through the cabinet to find the box of chamomile tea she knew was in there somewhere. After getting her cup ready, she picked her phone up again.

Sackett: Something wrong, sunshine?

Sackett: Sunshine?

Sackett: Are you okay?

Her heart raced as she realized not answering right away had probably worried him.

They hadn’t exchanged texts before, but he’d spent three days with her in the car and he saw how she was.

She had a thing about returning texts as soon as they came in.

Though it was a lot harder when she wasn’t in the car looking for something to do.

Her solution was to mute the phone when she wasn’t in a place where she could return them right away, then respond when she could.

Sleeping was one of those times, which was why she hadn’t heard any of the messages come in.

Now, she quickly typed several messages.

Selena: I’m good.

Selena: Sorry. I’m making tea and set the phone down to get things ready.

Selena: I wouldn’t say wrong, but different.

Selena: Yeah. Different works. My bed feels empty and I’m jumping at every noise. But I’m making tea. I’ll drink it then go to bed again.

Sackett: Different how?

Selena frowned at the screen for a second, trying to figure out what he meant, then realized he’d sent that while she was typing out her last message, so she’d already answered the question.

A moment later, while she was still staring at the screen thinking she wished he was here, another message came in.

Sackett: Hold on a few. I’ve got something I need to do.

She didn’t know how long he would be gone so she went to her favorite social media app and started scrolling. When the kettle went off, letting her know the water was boiling, she set it down and fixed her tea, taking it into the living room to sit and wait for it to cool, then drink it.

The tea had barely cooled enough to drink when another message came in.

Sackett: Open your door.

Selena frowned. Why? She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t tell her if she asked, so she pushed herself up and went to the door.

But if they last week had taught her anything, it was to keep her eyes open and be aware of what was going on around her.

Because of that, she didn’t just open the door, but looked out the peep hole to see who or what was out there.

Selena jumped up as she spotted Sackett standing on her doorstep, she bit back the squeal of surprise as she flipped the locks and opened the door.

It took everything in her not to fling her arms wide and jump into him.

Instead, she stepped back to let him in, then, once he was inside and the door closed, she tilted her head and looked at him for a moment.

He’d changed clothes since she’d seen him but other than that he looked the same.

She mentally kicked herself. It had only been a few hours, why would she expect him to look different?

“You didn’t have to come over,” she said when she realized she hadn’t greeted him yet.

“You weren’t sleeping, I wasn’t sleeping, maybe if we’re together, we’ll get a little sleep.” He lifted one shoulder and let it fall.

Selena couldn’t argue his point. Well, she could, but not only didn’t she want to, she felt like he was right.

“Come sit down with me for a few minutes while I drink my tea.” She led him into the living room and motioned for him to have a seat.

He didn’t hesitate to move to the sofa and sit in the spot she’d just gotten up from.

Selena frowned, but didn’t have long to wonder what he was doing because he held out one hand toward her and curled his fingers in a come here motion.

She moved closer, her frown deepening as he took her hand and tugged. Moments later she found herself sitting on Sackett’s lap with his arms wrapped around her. It only took a few breaths for the tension to drain out of her.

“Drink your tea, sunshine. Then we’ll go to bed,” he said.

She wanted to ask what they would be doing there, or if they would be sleeping but didn’t want to know what he was thinking, she wasn’t ready for that. Not when she was so… tired? Not physically, obviously or she would be asleep right now.

“You’re thinking too hard, sunshine. Just relax. Drink your tea.”

“Would you like some? The water is still hot, I’m sure.”

“I’m good, sunshine.” Sackett seemed content to sit with her on his lap, his arms wrapped around her middle and his cheek resting against the top of her head.

Selena wondered if there was something about to happen, or if he was waiting to tell her something, but she didn’t get the feeling he was impatient or wanting her to hurry. Only that he was content to sit this way as long as it took.

By the time she finished her tea, she could barely hold open her eyes and she knew this time, she’d be able to sleep, though she didn’t know if that was because of her drink or the man who’d spent the last twenty minutes holding her.

“All right,” she said, getting up. “Let’s go to bed and try this again.”

Selena carried her cup into the kitchen and left it in the sink before leading Sackett into her bedroom.

“Sorry, my bed’s not as big as the ones in the hotels.” She didn’t mind, it just meant she had to lie closer to him. From the way Sackett had her sit on his lap and the way he touched her, even when he didn’t have to, she didn’t think he would mind either.

“No worries. Let’s get in bed.”

It occurred to her as she stripped out of her pajamas that she should probably be upset that Sackett had invited himself over, and to spend the night but she wasn’t. And she was so tired, so glad to have him here, she wasn’t going to worry about what should be.

“What time does your alarm go off in the morning?” Sackett asked from the far side of her bed. She looked up and found him standing in just his jeans.

“Six. Is that early enough for you?”

“Six is fine. Come on, babe,” he motioned to the bed, “get in.”

She followed his instructions, wiggling to get comfortable.

She watched him shove his jeans off his hips, then stepped out of them and slid into the bed behind her.

As soon as she shut off the light, Sackett’s arm around her middle tugged her close to him.

She felt his semi-erect penis nestle against her back and started to turn over, reaching for him.

She was tired but things were still too new between them for her to turn down sex.

“Lay still. It will go away in a minute.” His voice was rough and low, but still sent a thrill through her. Selena closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Her last thought was that she wanted to do this every night.

T he incessant beeping of her alarm dragged Selena from sleep. She reached for the clock and couldn’t roll toward it. There was something holding her still. By the time she remembered she wasn’t alone in bed, Sackett had loosened his hold. She turned off the alarm then rolled back toward him.

“I need to start coffee, then get in the shower. Are you in a hurry to get out of here?”

“I’ve got a little time, but I need to get ready.”

She glanced over at the clock. “I need to pull out no later than 8:30 in order to get to work on time.”

“Good. How about I start the coffee, then I’ll join you for a shower?” He grinned up at her for a moment, waiting for her answer.

“That sounds great.” She rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom, glancing over her shoulder, hoping for a glimpse of Sackett before he pulled on his jeans.

But to her surprise, he didn’t bother with pants, instead he rolled off the side of the bed she’d just gotten out of and headed into the kitchen.

She found herself watching his ass until he disappeared into the kitchen.

Once he was out of sight, she went into the bathroom, started the shower and let it warm up before stepping under the spray.

Selena stood facing the showerhead. She tipped her face back, letting the water flow over her face and down her body.

She stood like that for several moments before turning around and repeated the same movements, tilting her head from side to side to make sure she’d gotten all her hair wet.

When she heard the shower door open, she smiled, knowing it would be Sackett.

“That’s what I like to see.” The low rumble of his voice sent heat pooling low in her belly.

“What?” She opened her eyes to find him watching her, his erection standing tall between them. He moved close, pulling her into his arms and covering her mouth in a quick hard kiss.

“I’ve been dreaming about this all night,” he said, turning her so her back hit the wall, then dropping to his knees in front of her. Sackett draped one of her legs over his shoulder then ran his tongue the length of her slit.

“Perfect.”

Selena didn’t know what to say. Then, when Sackett buried his face between her legs, her ability to think fled.

It was all she could do to stay upright as pleasure swamped her.

She wanted to say something, to make some sound that let him know how she was feeling, because she knew he liked it, he’d demanded it before.

But her throat seemed to freeze as her body clenched and waves of pleasure made her knees weak.

Only Sackett’s hands on her kept her from falling.

She was still lost to the euphoria of her release when he set her foot gently back on the floor and stood. Without a word he spun her, so she faced the wall, tilted her hips, and plunged inside. He sank all the way into her in one swift thrust ripping a moan of pleasure from her throat.

“Sweet Jesus, you feel good.” His words vibrated through the haze still clouding her brain, sending bolts of heat through her body.

One of his arms wrapped around her torso, the hand tripping her breast as he pumped in and out of her core.

She lost track of time. All that mattered was what was happening right here. Right now.

Sackett’s other hand wrapped around her throat, not tight enough to restrict her breathing, but enough to focus her attention on his face hovering so close.

“Give me your mouth.” His words were barely more than a whisper, but more than loud enough.

She turned and he captured her lips in a kiss that only served to push her over the edge into another blinding orgasm.

A few strokes more and Sackett froze, groaning into the curve of her neck as he exploded inside her.

“God, sunshine,” his voice was muffled as he hadn’t yet moved his face, “I’m blown away by what you do to me.”

It took the two of them a couple of moments to recover. Sackett managed to be mobile before she did. He stepped away, making sure she was steady on her feet before adjusting the water temperature and guiding her back under the spray.

Selena was still mostly boneless as he manipulated her body around, then tilted her head back and started washing her hair, taking the time to massage her scalp with his fingertips before rinsing and repeating the process with her conditioner.

While her conditioner worked, Sackett washed her body and his, then rinsed them both.

Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped her in a towel, taking the time to use a second to blot the worst of the water from her hair before grabbing another to wrap around his waist.

“What do you want for breakfast?” he asked as he finished rubbing her skin dry.

“I usually have coffee and toast. I don’t have the brain power to cook before I’ve had enough coffee, and usually not enough time to do more by the time I’ve gotten enough coffee and ready for work.”

“If that wasn’t an issue, what would you want? Assuming you have the stuff. I probably don’t have time for a store run.”

Her mind went blank. She stared at him for a moment, trying to think of something, anything.

“How does a breakfast burrito sound?” he asked after a moment.

She blinked as she thought about it. “Sounds great.”

“You get ready. I’ll make breakfast.” He kissed her forehead, then turned and went into the bedroom, leaving her staring after him.

With a shake of her head, she looked at herself in the mirror, wondering how she’d gotten here and what would it be like to start every day like this.

Pushing the thought away, she got busy. She needed to get ready for work, she had a lot to do today.