Free Skulls by Tim Marquitz

She felt good against him and he hugged her tighter. A handful of her hair in his hand, he pulled it to the side and slid his lips to her neck. She moaned quiet and tensed, but surrendered a moment later when he nipped at her earlobe.
    Her hands ran over his back, but he barely felt them. Caught up in the closeness of Cass, all he knew was her. He nestled his face into her neck and ran his tongue gently over her throat. She arched her back and sank her fingers into his shoulders.
    Jacob felt flush as Cass breathed warm against his ear. He let his hand drift down and he pulled her hard against him.
    The music suddenly blared as the kitchen door was thrown open. Glenn burst into the room, his eyes wide.
    “Shit, man. Sheriff Tate’s here.” He ran to the back door and slipped outside without looking back.
    The music cut out just seconds after and Jacob heard a rumbling voice calmly relaying orders in the preternatural silence of the house.
    “Oh great, just what I need.”
    Cass, her face glowing pink, just laughed. “Don’t worry.” She poured her drink down the sink and encouraged Jacob to do the same. “He’s cool as long as you don’t have any drugs on you.” She raised her eyebrows.
    Jacob shook his head as he poured his beer out.
    The bottles empty, they set them quietly in the trash can and moved back to the counter just as the sheriff came into the room.
    “Evening, folks.” A wall of a man, Sheriff Arnold Tate had to almost turn sideways to squeeze through the door. His badge stood out, prominent against his barrel chest. His biceps were like cantaloupes, testing the limits of his uniform’s short sleeves.
    Cass smiled and Jacob waved to him, stiff-armed like a puppet.
    A grin broke out on the sheriff’s tanned face. Easy laugh lines rippled along his cheeks. His dark eyes glittered under his cowboy hat. If it weren’t for the tufts of gray peeking out from under the brim, he could have passed for thirty.
    “Had a couple of complaints about the music,” he said. “Gonna have to shut it down tonight.” He looked to Cass, then to Jacob. “Who’s your friend, Cassandra?”
    She pushed Jacob forward a little. He stuck out his hand. “Jacob Rile, sir.”
    The sheriff took his hand and gave a firm shake. His hand enveloped Jacob’s. “It’s nice to meet you, Jacob. No need to ‘sir’ me. I grew up around here. We aren’t that formal in the mountains.”
    Jacob nodded and reclaimed his hand. He stepped back to Cass.
    “Your parents know you’re out, Cassandra?”
    She grinned and shook her head.
    “Thought not. While I ain’t here to judge, you know they’d be upset if they knew you were here.” He went and shut the back door, locking it. “Y’all come on out front while I make sure everyone’s skedaddled, then I’ll give you a ride home, Cassandra.”
    Both Jacob and Cass sighed. Shoulders slumped, they followed the sheriff into the living room. Chris was there chasing the remaining partygoers from the house. His face was creased with annoyance, but he slapped on a bright smile for the officer. His shadow, Dee, was nowhere to be seen. Tate grinned at Chris as the last guest slipped out the door. “Just keep it down a little next time and I won’t get a call.”
    Chris groaned and nodded. He gave a sorry look to Cass and Jacob.
    The sheriff motioned for the two to go on ahead and strolled outside after, closing the front door behind them. He went to his squad car and opened the driver’s side door, clicking the lock for the back. He waved Cass and Jacob inside.
    “Sorry about the back seat, but it’s policy. Can’t have y’all up front.”
    “No problem,” Cass told him and hopped into the back. She pulled Jacob along behind her. He dropped onto the seat beside her and the sheriff closed the door. The metallic click of the lock was loud in the enclosed space. The plastic shield that separated the front and back seats echoed the sound back at them.
    Tate tossed his hat onto the