Free Ember X by Jessica Sorensen

hands in his ash eyes, which burn with intensity as he takes in the house. Jeans hang loosely on his hips, boots cover his feet, and a tight-fitted Henley shows off his rock-solid abs and lean arms.

    “That’s the guy from the cemetery,” I mutter aloud, taking in the sight of him in daylight.

    “What guy from the cemetery?” Raven watches him like he’s something delicious as he struts across the lawn. She fans herself. “Good God, he’s hot.”

    “We should get going.” I reach over and shift the car into drive for her. “I promised Ian I’d be back by dinnertime.”

    We’re parked in the middle of the street and it’s obvious we’re staring at the new neighbor. He starts to head across the lawn, but then stops in the middle, titling his head in our direction, and he watches us, an amused smile playing at his deep red lips.

    “Oh my God! He’s the grave robber.” Raven slams her hand on the steering wheel as it clicks. “We so have to go over there.”

    “Don’t even think about,” I hiss, but she’s already turning the steering wheel. “You just said it yourself—he’s a grave robber.”

    Her eyes sparkle mischievously and I slouch in the chair as she drives toward his house.

    “What’s your problem?” she asks, turning down the radio as she pulls up to the curb. “Don’t you want to find out who he is? And why he was digging up a grave in the middle of the night. I mean, maybe you misunderstood what was going on and now he could explain it to you.”

    I shake my head and shield my face with my hand, letting my hair fall forward. “Why? So you can date him?”

    “Or maybe you could?” She parks in front of the Jeep. “You really need to get over this fear of men, Em. We’re nineteen-years-old. We can drink and go to bars with fake IDs, get laid whenever we want to; yet, you’re so God damn terrified, you’ve never even kissed a guy.”

    “Because I can’t. Not because I don’t want to.” I’m growing annoyed with her. “Do you know what it would be like to kiss a guy… and feel his death course through you at the same time?” I shake my head when she rolls her eyes at me. “Nevermind. Can we just go? Please. We’re not going to make it back in time if we don’t get going.”

    “You are so freaking weird sometimes.” Pressing the button on the door, she rolls down the window and waves him over. “Lighten up.”

    He walks over with a swagger to his hips, his legs taking long strides, and there’s cockiness in the way he moves. Each step states self-assurance and sex pretty much drips off him as he bends down and rests his arms on the door, his dark eyes taking us in leisurely.

    “Hi there, gorgeous,” Raven purrs in a seductive tone as she slides her finger up his arm. “We noticed someone is finally moving into Old Man Carey’s house and we thought we’d come over and introduce ourselves.”

    “Old Man Carey’s?” He cocks his head, amused, but beneath it there’s anguish. “I assume you’re talking about my grandfather.”

    “Oh, he was your grandfather?” Raven presses her hand to her heart. “I was so sorry to hear that he died.”

    “You knew him?” the stranger asks with doubt. “Really?”

    “Oh yeah, I used to bring him soup all the time when he was sick.” She licks her lips slowly. “I was very heartbroken when he died.”

    “I bet you were.” His eyes focus on me, causing my adrenaline to surge. “Did you get your notebook back, Ember?”

    I pressed my lips together, shocked. I thought he’d deny he knew me, considering the circumstances that we met under.

    “I did.” I straighten up in the seat and tuck my hair behind my ears. “Thank you for dropping it off at my house.”

    “I could tell it was important to you.” His gaze penetrates under my skin as he leans in through the open window. “Did you get my message?”

    “You mean the poem?” I ask and he nods. “Yeah, I got it… It was sad and