Free Bitten: Dark Erotic Stories by Susie Bright Page B

with her aunt, which was about as close to living alone as Mariah wanted to get. Her aunt never asked questions and hardly ever talked.
    Mostly Aunt Helen spent her time in her study with the door closed, talking on the phone—at least, that was what Mariah assumed at first.
    To test this theory, Mariah lifted the hall phone off its cradle while Aunt Helen was talking in her study.
    Dial tone.
    Then there were those moments when other noises came from the study. Occasionally other voices. Aunt Helen always came out alone, though, and when Mariah peeked into the room afterward, there was never anyone else there.
    So, okay, maybe Aunt Helen was crazy. So she talked to herself, sometimes in other voices. She was still the perfect companion for someone who wanted to brood.
    “I’m going to meet with the gals tonight,” Helen said on Thursday after Mariah had lived with her a week. Helen gave Mariah a strange look, sort of a pleading-but-don’t-notice-me look.
    After a week of living with Aunt Helen’s silences in her presence and conversations when Mariah wasn’t around, Mariah had grown adept at interpreting Aunt Helen’s looks, but this one baffled her. She thought it through, decided Aunt Helen was afraid Mariah would ask to go with her. Mariah said, “I’ll be fine here alone, if that’s all right.”
    Aunt Helen smiled. So Mariah had guessed right. Whoever these gals were, Aunt Helen didn’t want to introduce Mariah to them.
    “I won’t be home until after midnight,” Aunt Helen said.
    “Go,” said Mariah. “Have a wonderful time. What will you be doing?”
    Aunt Helen looked vague. “Oh, swapping recipes, probably. Playing cards. Sharing tips on how to take care of things. What we always do.”
    “Enjoy,” said Mariah. “I’ll stay here and relax. It’s so nice to be able to relax, Aunt Helen. Thanks again for offering me sanctuary.”
    “You’re welcome, sweetie, of course. Glad to do it. You’re an excellent guest.” Aunt Helen smiled again, her best befuddled smile. “Take care of yourself.” She kissed Mariah’s cheek, grabbed her oversized tapestry handbag, and headed out the door.
    Mariah waved.
    “Oh, and you could watch television in the living room,” Helen said as she stood on the bottom porch step, “or sit on the porch swing— the fireflies are nice tonight—or take a little night swim if you’re so inclined—the water’s quite warm after sunset this time of year, though mosquitoes are a problem—that would be good. You could take a nap. Or fix yourself a snack in the kitchen.”
    What was this flood of words about? Mariah wondered.
    “If you’re interested in a book to read, there are some exciting novels in my bedroom. Feel free to borrow them. Good night!” She vanished into the warm, gentle darkness.
    Fireflies spangled the wisteria vine and drifted over the meadow grasses. The breeze rustled leaves in the oak trees beyond the driveway. Mariah waited to hear the start of Aunt Helen’s car engine, but it didn’t come. Maybe Aunt Helen was walking to her meeting with the gals. Without a flashlight. Well, she’d lived here for ages, longer than Mariah had been alive, and she probably knew the roads in the dark.
    Mariah sat on the porch swing, set it rocking with her bare foot on the floorboards, and considered all of Aunt Helen’s suggestions. Aunt Helen had never tried to direct her activities before. What was that about? She’d catalogued an action for every room in the house … except the study.
    If Aunt Helen had told Mariah to stay out of the study, Mariah would have been eaten alive with curiosity. Maybe Aunt Helen knew her well enough to know that.
    She hadn’t specifically said Mariah wasn’t supposed to go in the study.
    Mariah swung for a while. It really was a beautiful night. The moon rose over the trees, full and round, its light dimming the fireflies and silvering leaves, grass blades, floorboards, and Mariah’s toes. The air smelled of