Free In the Dark by P.G. Forte

bear this morning, isn’t he?” Heedless of the danger she was placing herself in, Desert Rose leaned over his back to press a warm, wet, entirely too sloppy kiss on his cheek. Her hair brushed against his face setting his nerves on fire.
    Conrad shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to dislodge her. It didn’t work.
    â€œYou really might wanna think about getting up, you know,” the girl said as she began to bounce up and down on the bed.
    Deep breaths , Conrad thought, calm down . The scent of her filled his nostrils. Her blood called to him to take it. No. Think about something else . Like her innocence, the tears she’d almost shed for him, the sweet trust in her eyes.
    â€œIt’s getting to be almost noon here.”
    â€œYes.” Conrad sighed. He was almost in control again. “It does that. Same time each day. Now, stop bouncing and shut the curtains.”
    â€œBut, how come? Don’t you wanna let the sunshine in?”
    His control dissolved. Who did she think she was, anyway—some new front man for The Fifth Dimension? “I said shut the damn curtains. Now!”
    â€œOkay, well, you can stay here and sleep, if you want. I’m gonna go out and enjoy this beautiful day. So I guess I’ll say good-bye now.”
    Now she had his attention. She couldn’t be serious? Half turning, he squinted and looked her over. Yes, apparently, she was. She was already dressed, right down to her boots. Her face looked hazy, but he supposed that was just an effect of the light. “Where, exactly, do you think you’re going?” he demanded in what he hoped she’d recognize as an ominous tone. Had he told her she could leave? He didn’t think he had.
    His question seemed to surprise her. “Nowhere, really. I’m just, you know, going .” She shrugged. “But, um, I was thinking we could, you know, maybe see each other again sometime?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” He briefly considered forcing her back to sleep. He could do it, of course, but it would be an effort. Besides, it was probably better if she did go. These days, he almost always slept more soundly alone.
    â€œN-no?” The girl’s eyes widened into an expression of forlorn dismay. “B-but, I thought maybe—”
    â€œNo,” Conrad growled, annoyed at having to repeat himself. “We will not ‘maybe see each other again sometime’.” What had the girl been thinking? “I will be seeing you again, right here, next weekend. There will be no maybe about it. Is that understood?”
    â€œOh.” Her cheeks flushed. Half-smiling, she murmured, “Well, gee, I guess I could do that. If I’m not too busy or, you know, if I don’t forget all about you by then.”
    Another angry snarl lifted Conrad’s lips. “Do you honestly think it’s a good idea to annoy me like this?” He’d never taken well to being teased—and certainly not in the morning. The morning! He couldn’t even recall the last time anyone had dared wake him at this time of day.
    â€œOkay, okay.” She was smiling wider now. “I’ll see you next weekend. Happy now?”
    â€œNo,” he grumbled, closing his eyes again. “But shut the curtains on your way out and I might begin to be.”
    â€œFine, then. Be that way.” She heaved a long, exasperated sigh as she got off the bed. A moment later blessed darkness reclaimed the room. Conrad relaxed in relief. His conscience, however, was not as easily assuaged. As he heard his bedroom door begin to close, he knew he could not let her leave so soon.
    â€œWait,” he commanded as he threw back the covers and got out of bed.
    â€œWhat now?” She paused in the doorway while he shrugged into his dressing gown and crossed to where she stood. He pulled her back into the room and shut the door. Then he pushed her against the wall and kissed her thoroughly, giving