Faithful Shadow by Kevin J. Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

forward, lifting her from beneath the arms to hold her, running a hand through her hair. “Really, I didn’t mean to upset you so much. Just a big mistake.” Richard couldn’t stand to see her cry. More than the notion of upsetting someone he cared about, there was nothing he hated more than a woman’s face after she’d been crying. Their cheeks became red and blotchy, their noses stuffy and swollen. Their breath took on a warm, attic-like smell.
    “You’re lucky you’re cute.” Kelly pulled away and wiped her tears with the back of her arm. “But you’re still a total asshole for doing that.”
    “I already pleaded guilty.” Richard held out his hands as if expecting handcuffs.
    “I was going to let you have your way with me tonight, but after this…”
    “Oh, now that is just cruel and unusual punishment.”
    “You’d better redeem yourself then, oh brave protector.” Kelly crooked her arm.
    Richard stuck his arm through hers and they walked out the back door together, turning from the parking lot to head toward her cabin.
    “Is Sonia going to mind?” Richard asked, not really caring. Sonia had asked Kelly numerous times to either hang out in the bar for a few hours or take a hike while she finished up some “business” inside.
    “No, they’re up at the thermal pools.”
    “Did you want to go? I don’t mind.”
    Kelly smiled, the sweeter side of Richard already making her forget the terror from just a few minutes ago. It wasn’t even so much that he offered to take her up there after he, too, had worked a long day, but that he really would do it. Instead, she opened the door to her cabin and pulled him inside.

10
    M arco hated everything about camping, from the moisture that dampened his clothes in the morning to the horrible night’s sleep he was guaranteed to have. There was nothing pleasant about it. He rolled onto his side and looked at Janice, his scowl shifting to a smile. He’d already awoken with a major case of morning wood, and looking at Janice asleep in her bag, he sure wished he could have used it. She was asleep on her back with the bag unzipped. Her shirt had pulled up just enough to expose all of her stomach and the tiniest underside of her right breast. Marco looked at Stew and Sonia, but they were still asleep. He turned toward Doug and Rowena and was startled to see both their bags were empty. Took him for a loop. Marco bit his bottom lip and turned toward Janice, moving his hand over her shirt like a skilled thief. He gripped the bottom of her shirt with his fingers and began lifting, leaning down as he exposed more of her bare breast.
    Janice let out a soft grunt and rolled onto her side, pulling her shirt from Marco’s grip and hiding the show. Marco leaned over her and pulled back, slapping his sleeping bag in frustration. He’d wanted a peek at those perfectly round tits for weeks, now he had a chance and it just literally slipped through his fingers. He stood and headed over to the cooler, digging through freezing water with only some lingering ice to grab one of seven remaining beers. He popped the top and took a seat on a nearby log as Stew sat up.
    “What time is it?” Stew asked, running a hand through his short hair. He let out a long and deep yawn, ending with a wet burp.
    “Do you see a watch on my wrist?” Marco held up his left arm and shook it. “Sonia’s got a watch on.”
    “No telling where it is after last night.” Stew nodded with pride. “For all I know I probably ate the damn thing.”
    “Well shit it out and get the time, because I can’t be late again. That dick Parsons is on my ass for having bad attendance.” Marco took a swig, shaking his head over the annoying pep talks his manager had given him. “Hate that dude.”
    “You can’t blame him too much, you’re never there,” Stew mocked, letting out a single laugh. Marco was a terrible employee. He showed up drunk or stoned, if he showed up at all. Stew got himself a beer and sat