Джерри Хилл - The Zeiko Place

“Andi?”
Andi opened her eyes, feeling the pounding of her heart and the gasping breath. She turned towards the voice, her eyes colliding with Jamie’s.

“You okay?”

Andi fell into her eyes. . it was the same look she remembered from twelve years ago — eyes darkened with desire. She wondered if perhaps Jamie had been recalling their night together, too. Because now, now she knew what that look in her eyes meant. She wasn’t the fumbling teenager of old.

So, she uttered the only coherent words that were crowding her brain.

“Kiss me.”

Jamie leaned on her elbow, head tilted as Andi rolled towards her. Their mouths met, gently at first, then with an urgency that made Andi moan as she grasped Jamie’s arms.

And then, just like all those years ago, no words were spoken. Jamie sat up, pulling her T-shirt over her head, tossing it on the floor before reaching for Andi’s. Jamie’s skin was as soft as Andi remembered. . and as taut. And when her mouth lowered, finding Jamie’s breast, the taste shouldn’t have been as familiar as it was. But when her tongue circled Jamie’s nipple, it was a taste she’d carried with her over the years, a taste she’d tried to duplicate.

“God. . Andi,” Jamie murmured.

Unlike their first time together, Andi didn’t hesitate. She moved between Jamie’s legs, spreading her thighs before her hand moved between them, searching for Jamie’s wetness. She found her, unable to stop the groan as her fingers slid inside her, confirming her suspicions that Jamie had been remembering that night, too.

Her pleasure, however, was short-lived. Jamie rolled them over, settling between Andi’s thighs as their hips met. Jamie’s mouth silenced Andi’s protest, and Andi opened to her, their tongues meeting, all gentleness gone now as their passion ignited.

Andi grasped Jamie’s bare hips, pulling her forward, grinding against her. She couldn’t remember a time when she had such a physical ache for someone. Her hips rose, then fell again, in her quest to touch Jamie.

Then Jamie moved lower, her mouth finding an aching nipple, and Andi pressed into her. She moved, finding Jamie’s hand, sliding it between their bodies. She would just die if Jamie didn’t touch her soon.

“Please, Jamie,” she murmured quietly, then groaned when she felt Jamie’s fingers caress her swollen clit.

“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Jamie whispered. “You’re so wet.”

Andi opened her eyes, meeting Jamie’s dark ones, nearly melting under her gaze. “Kiss me,” she whispered again. She opened to Jamie, her tongue mating with Jamie’s, matching the rhythm of Jamie’s fingers. She was embarrassed by the sounds coming from her but she couldn’t contain the moans at each stroke of the other woman’s fingers. She felt her orgasm build, knew that Jamie felt it, too. Just as she was about to climax, Jamie’s fingers moved deep inside her, and with one last thrust of her hips, Andi reached the heights of orgasm that she’d been striving for for the last twelve years. Not since the very first time Jamie had taken her had she wanted to scream out at the top of her lungs.

But Jamie’s mouth was there, catching her scream, soothing her as her breathing slowed. She finally opened her eyes, daring to meet Jamie’s. She was surprised by the gentleness she saw there. Not a hint of triumph, just a softening of the desire Jamie apparently was trying to keep a rein on.

Andi touched Jamie’s face with a gentle hand, her thumb lightly rubbing Jamie’s lower lip. She was pleased by the rapid pulse she saw beating in Jamie’s throat.

“Let me make love to you,” she whispered. She didn’t wait for Jamie’s response. There was no need to. Jamie’s eyes said all she needed to know. As she moved between Jamie’s legs, the scent of her was nearly intoxicating. Andi moaned as she spread Jamie’s thighs. She was about to experience the one thing she had not dared do during their one night together all those years ago — taste Jamie Tucker.

CHAPTER EIGHT

When Andi walked into Ronnie’s room, Jamie turned, a piece of pizza halfway to her mouth. Their eyes collided for a second, then Jamie lifted one eyebrow.

“Pizza again.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m starving.” She lifted the lid on one of the boxes and pulled out a piece. “Where is everyone?” When she woke up, she was alone. The shadows outside her window telling her it was fast approaching dusk. She’d found the third floor bathroom empty and took the opportunity to clean up. Her hair was disheveled, and there was no mistaking the smell in the room. Not that she cared what these people thought, but perhaps Jamie did. But she wondered if it really mattered. The walls were probably paper-thin.

“The camera on the front porch wasn’t working. They’ve been tinkering with it.” She glanced at the monitor. “Oh, shit. It’s up.” She reached for the handheld radio. “Ronnie, I got a picture.”

“Okay, thanks. The wire was totally disconnected. It’s weird.”

Jamie and Andi exchanged glances. Then Jamie smiled.

“You okay?”

Andi nodded. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. It was completely mutual.”

“Thank you,” Andi said quietly. She didn’t want to feel embarrassed by her wanton actions, but she was. Her only saving grace was that Jamie’s ardor had matched her own.

Jamie walked closer, her voice low. “Please don’t thank me. I should thank you. I can’t remember the last time it felt so good to be with someone.”

Andi blushed and turned away. She was thinking the very same thing, but she was hardly going to voice that to Jamie. But she was saved, anyway. The others came back into the room. At the knowing glance from Dr. Gilbreath, Andi turned crimson.

“I see you’ve decided to join us, Ms. Beene. You must have been very. . tuckered.”

Despite her embarrassment, Andi met her gaze head on. “Yes, very tuckered.”

It was Jamie who laughed outright. “Good one, Dr. Gilbreath. I wasn’t aware you had a since of humor.”

“I don’t,” she snapped. “I also got very little sleep, Dr. Tucker. Please try to refrain from. . social activities during this watch.”

“What are you all taking about?” Ronnie asked.

“You didn’t hear? I would have thought the entire house heard.”

“Dr. Gilbreath, please, can we drop it?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Beene, didn’t mean to embarrass you. You’re right. Let’s drop it. It’s already dark. The full moon will rise shortly. I expect an active night.”

The words barely left her mouth when the crack of thunder was heard.

“A thunderstorm?”

“How spooky,” Ronnie teased. “Maybe we’re in for the mother of all nights.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Jamie murmured. She walked over to the pizza box and took another piece, handing it to Andi. “Sorry about that,” she whispered.

“No problem.”

“Dr. Gilbreath! In the den, look!”

They all turned to the monitors and Ronnie pulled up a larger image. The fireplace that had been laid with wood, as if expecting them, was just beginning to smolder. Then the flame grew, licking at the dry wood.

“Oh my. . God,” Andi stammered. “Look at the porch camera.”

Walking up the steps was the shadow of a man — a man carrying an axe. Ronnie quickly enlarged the thumbnail, just in time to see the axe raise, then the camera went black.

“Holy shit!”

“Do not panic, people,” Dr. Gilbreath said. “This could be the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“I just hope we live to tell about it. That aberration of an axe just killed our camera,” Jamie said loudly.

“Dr. Tucker, you’ve been in haunted places before. Don’t tell me you’re scared,” Dr. Gilbreath chided.