Page 3 of Scaredy Cat

Zach held the door open, and I stepped out into the brisk October chill.

The atmosphere crackled with excitement, with laughter flowing from nearby houses and businesses in our charming little town.

He fell into step beside me, the weight of the evening’s earlier awkwardness dissipating as we walked and took in the people celebrating around us.

He was still dressed in all black. Black jeans with his black button-up, yet his sleeves were rolled to his elbows now showing off even more artwork etched into his tan skin.

“Check out the costumes,” he said, nodding at a group of witches cackling outside a bar, their pointed hats bobbing as they laughed. “Looks like the whole town came out to play.”

I glanced around, and smiled. “Yeah, it’s pretty wild.” My eyes landed on a couple dressed as superheroes, their capes flapping in the breeze.

Zach led me down the street, past a gaudy display of flashing lights. The bar loomed ahead, its entrance crowded with costumed patrons. A banner overhead proclaimed, “Spooktacular Night!”

“Let’s grab that drink,” he suggested, pushing through the throng of people.

Inside, the atmosphere blared with drunk voices and music. We squeezed up to the bar, the wooden surface sticky under my fingers. I grimaced as I wiped my hands on my skirt and then placed my purse on the back of the bar stool as I sat down and scanned the drink menu, but my mind was elsewhere.

“What's your poison?” Zach asked, his brow raised.

“Something strong and fruity,” I replied, trying to shake off the tension creeping back in. “I need a distraction.”

He ordered us both cocktails while I pulled out my phone, hoping to text Matt. I’d left him a message earlier today before I lost my phone, but he hadn’t replied. I frowned at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

“Everything okay?” Zach leaned in, watching me.

“Just trying to reach my boyfriend,” I mumbled, tapping the screen again. “He’s being weird about texting back. He didn't happen to message me when you had my phone, did he?”

“Sorry, no. Maybe he’s busy with his own Halloween plans,” Zach offered, though his tone seemed like he was quite happy about that idea.

I shrugged, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in my gut.

Just as our drinks arrived, Zach excused himself.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, weaving through the crowd toward the restroom, the eyes of the women in the bar following him.

I couldn't blame them since I couldn't help myself as I stared after him, too.

He was very tall, at least 6'5 and had dark hair like mine though obviously shorter.

His black jeans hugged his muscular thighs and a backside that should have been in a Calvin Klein commercial.

I was just taking in how his back flexed through his black Henley as he pushed open the bathroom door at the back of the bar when someone bumped my stool.

I blushed and took a sip of my drink, the sweetness washing over me, and tried texting Matt again. Still no response. I chewed my lip, glancing around the bar. The costumed crowd laughed and danced, oblivious to my relationship problems.

What does a girl have to do to find a guy who is into kinky shit?

I took a chance on Matt specifically because he wasn't necessarily the best character. My friends couldn't believe it when I brought him home from the bar. They were used to me dating upstanding men from society. Ones my parents hand-picked me. Ones that had money and no personality.

Matt was a rockstar wanna-be druggie who didn't treat me like a lady.

He didn't treat me like anything at all really, except a decent lay every now and then which was more than I was getting with the guys at my parent's country club.

I had been so close to an orgasm the last time because he got rough with me and my body loved it.

I assumed I could work out some of these sexual fantasies with him and get them out of my system, FINALLY get to that point in my sexual career and move on.

But the bastard seemed to have partied too hard tonight.

Then, finally, my phone buzzed. I quickly unlocked it, my eyes taking in the text.

Meet me at the entrance to the Loden Woods. Hope you wore sneakers. I’m about to make all your fantasies come to life.

My eyes widened as I stared at the screen.

What? So he was going to go through with this?

I glanced around me and stared back at my phone, a mix of anticipation and excitement mixing with the alcohol.

I tucked my phone into my purse just as Zach emerged from the bathroom, his thick dark hair falling slightly over his forehead, a smile dancing on his lips.

God, he was too sexy for this earth, I swear.

And charming. He obviously came from money, too, which made him almost too good to be true with my former experiences.

I raised my glass to my mouth, taking a hasty sip and the DJ started playing Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell.

Perfect. Let's add to my paranoia.

Zach slid onto the bar stool next to me, his gaze settling on my face with an intensity that made my heart flutter. He leaned closer, resting his arms on the counter. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just thirsty,” I said as I took another drink and then dropped my hands in my lap to play with the hem of my skirt.

What was it about this guy? He made me feel like a teenager again, not a woman in her mid-twenties who'd never gotten off in her life.

I think that was the problem. He looked like he could do it.

He even looked like he wanted to.

“Right.” He raised an eyebrow, his voice teasing. “Thirsty or nervous?”

I bounced my leg under the table, the rhythm betraying me. I tried to play it cool, but every time he looked at me, my body reacted.

Zach reached out and grabbed my thigh, his fingers warm against my skin even through the fishnet fabric that clung to them. I was startled, but tried to hide it.

“You’re really jittery,” he said, studying me.

I laughed quickly, brushing it off. “I had too much caffeine today, that’s all.”

“Caffeine?” His tone suggested he wasn’t buying it. “You sure that’s all?”

The warmth of his hand lingered on my leg, and I fought to suppress a moan. “Yeah, just the excitement of Halloween.”

“You're excited, huh?” He leaned back, a knowing smile on his face. His eyes dropped to my chest and I could feel my nipples harden. I hoped he couldn't tell through my sweater. “I guess I can see that.” Shit.

I tried to focus on my drink, but the way his fingers pressed against my thigh sent me spiraling. “You’re just making me think about my costume,” I said, forcing a laugh that didn’t quite match the tension in the air. I needed to change the subject and fast.

“Which is?” he prompted, a glint in his bright green eyes.

“Um, just a cat obviously,” I said, shrugging and pointing to the ears. “Nothing too wild.”

Zach smirked, and his grip moved another inch higher on my thigh. “I guess it does seem a little tame for a night like this.”

I bit my lip, trying to hide the smile threatening to break free. “Maybe I’m just trying to keep it low-key tonight.”

“Low-key doesn’t look like that.” His thumb brushed against my inner thigh, and my breath caught.

My heart raced as I glanced away, the atmosphere affecting me almost as much as the drink I had in my hand.

I couldn't tell if it was the drink or him, but my nerves danced, a tightrope walk between desire and dread because why was I still here?

With a strange man at a bar and not with my boyfriend?

Zach seemed to sense me stiffen and moved his hand off my thigh to flick at the cat ears on top of my head.

I crossed my legs, hoping to shake off the heat radiating from where his hand had lingered.

The shift brought some relief, but the tension between us only seemed to thicken, like an invisible thread pulling tighter and tighter and -

“So, I really need to meet up with Matt soon,” I said, making myself get the words out, trying to divert my mind from the warmth of his touch.

Zach just grinned, taking me in with that calm, steady gaze. “You guys have special plans before the party?”

“Uh, yeah. Something like that,” I replied, a slight tremor in my voice. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.” Wait. Hold on. “How do you know about the party?”

He chuckled softly, leaning back as he looked at his drink, something blue and fruity because there was an orange and cherries on top.

I just noticed how silly it looked to see such a towering specimen of a man drinking something so girly.

“Actually, your friends texted you about it earlier tonight. I happened to see the notifications on your phone.”

“Great. I thought you hadn't gone through my phone.”

“Relax, it’s not a big deal,” Zach said, but I wasn't convinced. I don't care how hot this guy was, I couldn't help but feel like he'd gone through those nudes I was worried about. Mia keeps scolding me about putting a lock on my phone and now I realize I should have listened to her.

I glanced at my drink, feeling the weight of the conversation press down on me. “I should probably pay for this.”

He grabbed my hand, preventing me from paying with the $20 bill I'd just pulled from my wallet. "Let me get this," he insisted.

I nodded and put my things back in my purse and mumbled a 'thank you' as I tried to look at anywhere else in the bar that wasn't his face. He didn't seem to like that and grasped my chin to turn my gaze back to his.

“Maybe I’ll go to that party of yours. It would be a shame to see such a beautiful pussy go alone.” He leaned closer, the moment stretching between us, charged with unspoken words.

I opened my mouth to respond, but my heart raced, caught in the web of his filthy words and the danger that radiated off him.

He looked like he was about to eat me.

And I was about to let him.

Without another word, I pulled away from him and bolted from the bar.