Page 48 of The Haunting of Lockton

Chapter Seven

Skyler

We drove separately to Redwood, but it didn’t take long for us to come back together once we were in my room. I grabbed Paxton by the front of his coat and pushed him against the closed door, claiming his lips.

He moaned low in his throat and took hold of my waist, pulling me closer.

Our height difference made me rise up an inch or so to meet his lips. I fucking loved it. As we kissed, I slid the coat off his arms and tossed it aside before going for the buttons on his vest.

“You’re so goddamn sexy in this,” I murmured, gaze sweeping over his body. Because of the tour, he was wearing a Victorian-era outfit. Dark red vest and black suit jacket, along with a knee-length black coat he’d worn over it. “It’s almost a crime to take it off.”

Paxton gave me a shy smile. “I… I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“You’re not used to compliments, are you?”

“I’m not used to any of this,” he answered.

“What do you mean?” I undid another button on his vest, slower now.

“When I’m not at work, I tend to fade into the background and keep to myself. I don’t really relate well to other people.” His dark eyes remained fixed on my face as I reached the last button and undid it. “Guys like you never notice me.”

“I’m not that special. Believe me.” Had I fucked a lot of people? Yep. Taken advantage of my good lookstofuck them?Definitely. Those good looks were about the only thing I had going for me. “Beneath this pretty face, I’m honestly kind of a dick.”

“Just half of one.”

I laughed under my breath. “Depends on the day.”

“Know what I think?” Paxton brushed our noses together. “You’re actually a good person.”

“You only think that because you don’t really know me.” I took a step back from him. The hot desperation to peel him out of his clothes, throw him on the bed, and ride him nine ways to Sunday had dissipated. Reality did that. “If you did, that door you mentioned would be slammed and bolted shut with no hope of it ever opening for me again.”

“I know you love greasy burgers and fries,” he said quietly before grabbing my wrist. He gently brought me back against him. “You’re also a glutton for sweets. Donuts especially.”

“I’m also a slut for pumpkin spice lattes.”

His raspy laugh was paired with the kind of smile that made my insides wobble. “I’m more of a mocha latte guy. Chocolate and coffee are the perfect combo.”

“Pumpkin goes well with chocolate too.” When I smiled, I felt my lips tremble. “What else do you know about me, Ichabod? Regale me with another tale.”

Paxton slid his hand down my side and rested it on my hip. He lifted the other to my face. “I know you like to sing when you think no one is listening. And that you’re charming and confident in front of a camera, but when the camera’s off, the real you is more guarded. Even wary at times. You said you’ve always felt like it’s you and Julian against the world, and that belief has made you untrusting of other people.”

I stared at him, my throat tight.

“I also know you love your brother with your whole heart and would do anything for him,” Paxton continued. “Even ifit means disregarding your own dreams in order to help him follow his.”

He had read me like a damn book. Not many people could do that.

“So you see?” He lightly grazed the backs of his knuckles over my cheekbone. “I may not know you that well, but what Idoknow? You’re so much more than a pretty face, Skyler Knox. You’re—”

My mouth crashed against his.

I wasn’t the best at expressing my emotions. I normally shoved them down, refusing to let anyone close enough to tempt them back to the surface. In only a few days, Paxton had not only tempted those hidden feelings back up but awakened more I didn’t know I had.

So, I kissed him. Hard and sloppy. He returned the kiss just as sloppily. Our teeth clanked, and the weight of our bodies thumped against the door.

That earlier desperation returned, but it was greater than the desire to have him buried in my ass, rutting together hot and sweaty in the bed sheets. This kind of desperation… I had no fucking idea what it was, but it had me kissing him like his lips were the air I needed to fill my lungs.

“On the bed,” I said between hard kisses, tugging him with me as I stepped away from the door. “Now.”