Free Until Darkness Comes by Melynda Price Page B

anything.”
Olivia hesitated a moment before accepting the paper. Her fingers brushed against his when she took it, sending a rush of heat tingling up her arm. Surprised, she snatched her hand back as if he’d shocked her and quickly shoved the paper into her jacket pocket. “Good-bye, Liam,” she said, turning to walk away.
Olivia still stewed over her conversation with Liam as she walked in through the front door. She threw her jacket and bag on the couch and proceeded down the hall, into the kitchen. She pulled a roast out of the fridge and threw it into the oven. Her parents would be home soon, and tonight was family night.
Shit! She smacked her hand up against her forehead, remembering, too late, it was her turn to pick the movie. She was supposed to stop by the video store on her way home, but she’d completely forgotten. Not that she could have stopped anyway, because her ride hadn’t come back to pick her up after school.
How rude. He knew I didn’t have any way home and would have to walk. He shouldn’t assume I would catch a ride with my friends. It would have served him right if I had accepted a ride home from Liam. Liam had been there for her when her own boyfriend wasn’t even considerate enough to give her a ride home. Ashley was right—he really was a big d-bag sometimes. Olivia picked up the phone and called her mom, asking her to pick a movie on the way home.
She had a hard time concentrating on the movie that night. Max wasn’t returning any of her text messages, and she was getting more and more worried about him. What if he really had been hurt?
“You’re chewing on your bottom lip. Is there something wrong, honey?” her father asked.
“I’m fine, Dad,” she denied. “Do you think it would be all right if I ran out for a little bit? It wouldn’t be more than an hour. I just want to check on Max.”
“Sure, is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I think so. I just need to talk to him for a few minutes.”
Olivia tried calling Max again as she drove over to his place. The lights were off except for the single light in the living room. The place looked empty. Where could he be? She pulled into his driveway to turn around. A flicker of movement from the curtain caught her headlights, and Olivia parked the car. She sat there a moment, letting the SUV idle as she stared at the window. Maybe it was just her imagination. If Max was home, he would have taken her calls, and the house wouldn’t be so dark.
The curtain moved again, this time she was sure of it. Olivia climbed out of the Jeep and walked up to the front door. She knocked, quietly at first—no answer. She rang the doorbell—still no answer. After a minute of standing outside in the brisk night air, she wiggled the doorknob— locked.
Huh. She waited another minute before turning back to the Jeep. She climbed inside and drove home, unable to shake the uneasiness that settled in the pit of her stomach. Something just didn’t seem right…
***
“Shh…” Max whispered as he held the woman pressed against the front door. His hand clamped tightly over her mouth, smothering her whimpered cries. Her tears rolled down her cheeks, collecting around his fingers. Her nostrils flared as her breath came in fast rapid bursts, tickling the fine hairs on his hand. The tangy scent of her fear clung to the air so thick he could taste it. The bittersweet flavor made his mouth water for more.
He physically restrained himself from opening the door as Olivia knocked outside, wanting so badly to pull her in to join the party. Max slid his hand away from the woman’s mouth as Olivia climbed back in the Jeep. Watching her through the spilt in the curtain, he leaned in close and slowly dragged his tongue up the woman’s cheek, reveling in the salty taste of her tears while imagining it was Olivia in his arms. His body stiffened as desire shot through him like a bolt of lightning.
He shouldn’t have brought the female here. It was careless, and he was