Escape by Sheritta Bitikofer Read Free Book Online Page B

signaling that it was time to go rest for them both.
                “Oh, that’s another thing,” Amelia began as she stood up from the table with much less grace. “Is it always night time here or will the sun ever come out?”
                Esmeralda took up her empty plate and glass to place in the sink. “I don’t know what ‘sun’ you’re talking about. It’s always dark around here. But, enough of that for now. Go get some sleep.”
                Amelia nodded and treaded softly down the hall upon her unstable legs, past both of the bathrooms and into the guest bedroom to lie down for a while. The room was pleasantly decorated in a country cabin theme, reminding Amelia of the times her family used to travel up to the mountains on vacation. They hadn’t done that in years, but it was still a fond memory for her.
                Such a memory made her even more homesick. As she laid her head upon the pillow, she breathed in the musty smell of the quilt and it was an even more potent trigger. She felt her nose tingle with impending tears, but forced them back. She needed to rest. Perhaps if she went to sleep, she would wake up back home and all of this would be over.
                When Amelia had awoken from her nap, she was dismayed to find that she was not back home. She was still in the guest bedroom of Esmeralda and Connor’s home. She lay still for a while, listening for any stirring around the house. She did this often when she first woke up in the morning at home. She never heard anything because her parents had normally already left for the day.
                But in this house, she heard movement. From what she knew of the layout, it was coming from the kitchen. She thought that perhaps it was Esmeralda. Amelia presumed that Connor would still be steaming with anger in his room.
                She rose from the bed and peeked out the door to see if she could catch a glimpse of who it was. It sounded like someone was browsing the contents of the fridge, which was out of sight from where she stood.
                Amelia took the risk and tip toed down the hall into the kitchen. It wasn’t Esmeralda. Standing in front of the fridge was Connor, wearing only his jeans from earlier and eyes scanning through the shelves. One of his hands gripped the fridge door while the other had a thumb hooked through one of his belt loops. It was a pose worthy of Play Girl magazine.
                Before Amelia could catch herself staring, he did. His eyes were fierce, but not with anger. Her breath caught in her throat and her lips parted slightly, willing the air to flow freely, but she could feel herself choking on his gaze. She stood fixed in the cased opening between the hall and the kitchen, unable to move, unable to think. Her whole world was caught up in his striking blue eyes. She’d never seen eyes so clear and pure in color.
                “Breathe,” he commanded and her lungs obeyed. She blinked and cast her gaze down to the checkered tile floor of the kitchen. How could someone affect her this much? Was it fear? Was it his demonic powers holding sway over her? Either way, it was more frightening than anything else she had encountered yet.
                When she looked back up, she saw Connor was just feet away from her, his eyes still penetrating. Amelia half turned to retreat back to the guest bedroom when he offered out one of the water bottles that he held in his hands.
                She stared at the water bottle, not knowing what to think or do. She needed him to think for her. How stupid she felt.
                “Take it.” And she did with a trembling hand. She wished with all her might that she didn’t feel such fear and apprehension coarse through her like it did now. She wanted to show Connor she wasn’t afraid, but how could she convince him when she couldn’t convince