The Den by Jennifer Abrahams Read Free Book Online Page B

interrupted her internal struggle.  “Listen, Skyla, calm down.  I can call now if you want.  I mean, it isn’t a big deal or anything.  I know where she works and stays.  If she isn’t there, I can track her down.  The point wasn’t for me to visit Lucy.  It was to show you around.  I, well, I am not sure that you want to meet the people she hangs out with anyway.  They are … not the friendliest crew.  I am not sure that I want to introduce you to them or to Lucy, for that matter.”
    “Oh, I am calm.  I am fine.  I’m fine.  I just realized that I didn’t know you that well.  That’s all.  I guess I got a bit scared for a second.”
    “Scared of me?”  He pulled the car to the side of the turnpike and came to a stop.  He put it in “park.”  Skyla was ultra-aware of the other cars whizzing by them.  He took his seat belt off.  He turned in the seat.  He looked at Skyla.  Her heart began to race.  She took her seat belt off, too.  Alex put his hands on her hips and slid her closer.  He leaned in.  “I am not scary, Skyla.  I am really not.”
    Skyla could smell his after-shave.   It was musky and sweet at the same time.  He leaned closer to Skyla, and she leaned toward him.  Skyla breathed in the heady scent.  He was drawn to the pale skin right below her left ear.  He felt it with his thumb and put the other fingers of his hand in her curly hair.  He leaned even closer and brought his lips to that soft part of her neck.  He kissed it gently, using his tongue.  Skyla thought it was sweet, the way a first kiss should be if it were on the lips.  
    He stopped abruptly and gave a low-throated chuckle.  Then he brought Skyla square in front of him so that the steering wheel was against her back.  He put his hands at the nape of her neck.  Then he moved them up to her hair.  He grabbed it, not too gently, actually.  He pulled her in and kissed her square on the lips.  It was a hard kiss, and she felt his tongue too early.  Then he stopped, looked at her, and started again.  Skyla put her hand on his chest, a gentle urge to slow down.  He got it.  He became a bit softer.  It was real nice.  Then he stopped.  Smiled.  Leaned his forehead on hers.  Their noses touched.  Skyla breathed again.  She looked up and smiled. 
    He looked down at her.  “Ahhh, there she is.  Okay then?”
    “Okay then,” she answered without knowing what he meant.  She smiled back.
    He kissed her right cheek.  She slid off him to return to her side of the car.  He turned forward, pulled his seat belt on, and put the car back in “drive.”  He started back on the road and had to maneuver at a fast pace to merge with the passing traffic.  It was a few minutes before Skyla pulled it together enough to face front and put her belt back on.  They were off again, “Fortunate Son” blasting on the iPod.  No doubt about it—this would be a journey to remember.  Maybe even the trip of a lifetime. 
    The vegetation along the side of the road began to change into something wilder.  The bushes became thicker.  In some spots they were jade-colored and in others almost a fluorescent lime.  The evergreens were less robust and threw unexpected shadows over the highway.  Skyla imagined that Alex’s eyes would be truly green now, and she wished that she could look deep into them one more time.  They were well on their way to D.C.  Skyla had to admit it: She was excited to visit the capital.  She hadn’t been there since the seventh grade.  She remembered how a few students had thought it would be funny to dance with the Hare Krishnas.  “Not funny!” her mother screamed when she saw the pictures.  She was wrong, though, because Brooke and Skyla still laughed whenever they talked about it.  
    D.C. was going to be the first overnight stop.  Skyla could feel her nerves on edge.  It was as if a fuse were lighted inside her.  It was quite unusual for her to be affected to this