Free Tymber Dalton by Out of the Darkness

watched for a moment until Sami laughed. “I’m sorry, but this stuff’s too stupid. I didn’t think to ask what the Absolute Premium channel package included.” She changed the channel and instead of a porno movie, they watched two lions copulating on an African savannah.
    “Oh, great choice, Sami, bestiality.” Steve guffawed and held his hands up in defense as she slapped his shoulder.
    “All right, Boy Genius, you figure out the damn satellite dish!” She flung the remote at him and reached for another slice.
    Steve examined the remote and channel surfed. From a Japanese baseball game to a Spanish telenovella, there seemed little worth watching. He figured out how to access the channel guide, and they started seeing recognizable programs.
    He made another selection, bringing up an ABC channel where a news journal show was already in progress.
    “Stop right there—that’s fine,” Sami ordered.
    He shrugged and put the remote on the coffee table before reaching for his slice.
    He wouldn’t tell Sami to save his life, but he was dying to get back to the computer. He felt the manuscript pulling him, his imagination flourishing in ways he hadn’t felt in years.
    But her mood had improved, and he felt guilty about spooking her the night before on top of all the other bullshit he’d put her through, so he forced himself to stay. Her grouchy mood was his fault, and he knew it. It wasn’t fair to treat her the way he had and saddle her with the bulk of the work to boot. He also knew he was lucky she hadn’t already left him, considering the way his temper had spiraled out of control over the past months.
    And if she ever discovered the secrets he’d been keeping from her for years, all the lies he’d told her, she would leave him immediately. And he wouldn’t blame her in the least.
    When she went riding, he’d changed the sheets and washed the dirty ones, getting them dried and folded and back in the linen closet before she returned.
    He didn’t understand his sudden need to be secretive about it. She already knew more about his midnight walk than he did, so what difference would it make?
    “Did you remember any more about your journey last night?” she asked.
    “What?” Her question startled him, being so close to his thoughts. He hoped his face didn’t turn a deep, guilty red.
    “Your little nocturnal mission. Where you went.”
    He shook his head. “No. Not a thing.”
    “I followed your tracks when I went riding. There’s a small clearing southeast of here. Looks like an old cemetery.”
    The hair on the back of his neck stood up. “A what?”
    “Cemetery. You know, the place you’re going to end up one day really soon if you don’t quit pissing me off and scaring the crap out of me in the middle of the night?” She wore a wry smile. “One stone marker, several old wooden headstones, and several piles of rocks, sort of like cairns.”
    He shook his head. “I had no idea I went there.”
    He couldn’t read the look she gave him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. “Well, that’s where you went.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Sami tolerated his nervous fidgeting as long as she could, both admiring his attempt to make her happy and irritated at him for acting like a child. “Why don’t you go on? I’ve got some stuff I want to do.”
    She watched him try to conceal his relief. “You sure?”
    She nodded, patting his leg. “Go, you earned it. I’m sorry I’m being a bitch. I’m tired, that whole episode freaked me out, and I want everything organized so I can get back to my work.”
    He kissed her, long and passionately. She felt a familiar stirring, feelings absent for far too long combined with months of longing for intimate contact.
    “Thanks, Sami. I appreciate it.” He was off the couch in a flash.
    And there went the feelings. She sighed as she watched his disappearing back. “Oh well.”
    She didn’t want to question what fragile progress he’d made since the move. Didn’t want