Free Gravity (Artistic Pricks Ink Book 1) by Cat Mason

ceiling isn’t answering me anytime soon, I figure that’s a no. Stepping into the kitchen, my feet nearly slip out from beneath me. Fucking soap. Stepping back onto the hall carpet, I pull off my sneakers and socks hoping bare feet will be better. Gripping the counter to steady myself, I move around the room to the pantry for towels.
    Making it around the room, I yank open the pantry door. Standing up on my tip toes, I grab the mop off the hook and a handful of towels from the shelf to clean up the water. Spreading a towel on the floor, I step onto it in an attempt to keep from falling on my ass. I start mopping up the excess water, wringing and rising out the mop into sink as I work my way toward the doorway.
    Stopping at the fridge, I move the trash can to clean behind it and it happens. A huge spider shoots out from underneath making me jump. Its furry legs scrambling across the tile and I lose my shit. “No!” I scream, turning to run like hell. My foot slips on the still slick floor at the doorway and I land hard on my back. My head bouncing off the tile making everything spin in front of me, but the threat is still here. Somewhere. Rolling to my stomach, I attempt to get up before that little motherfucker comes at me.
    What? Those eight legged bastards are terrifying.
    There’s a bang and a loud crash followed by shouting all taking me by surprise. While the room spins I scramble across the floor. My arms flail in every direction desperately trying to make sure it doesn’t get on me or God, in my hair!
     
     
     

 
     
     

     
     
    “Stay the fuck away from me you disgusting bastard!” Ki screams making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up in warning.
    What the fuck is going on?
    Without knocking, I shove through the front door. “Ki!” I shout, tossing her keys and the brownie box to the couch as I run through the living room. “Kionna?” I shout. Why isn’t she answering me? A million scenarios race through my mind as I run down the hallway. Stopping at the doorway, I see Ki scrambling across the white tile kitchen floor on all fours. The trash can and a mop are knocked over beside the refrigerator and a pile of wet towels. Her face ashen, filled with terror. “Where the hell is he?” I ask, clenching my fists at my side. My eyes roaming around the room for her attacker.
    Looking up, she raises up onto her knees. “I have no idea. When he ran out from under the fridge, I slipped on the wet floor. He has to be hiding somewhere. The little bastard.” She shudders, her hands shaking.
    “Wait, what?” I ask in confusion. She has to have hit her head pretty hard. Watching Ki carefully; I pull out my cell phone from my pocket, ready to call 9-1-1 if necessary.
    “The spider, it was coming straight at me. It was huge!” She exclaims, trying to stand to her feet.
    I force my laugh back. She was scared shitless over a harmless spider? “A bit dramatic for a spider, don’t ya think?” I ask, biting back a laugh. “You sounded like someone was trying to kill you.” Taking a step closer to her, I shake my head. “That was all over a tiny bug?”
    “Little my ass. Did you miss the part where I said it was huge?” She bites out, glaring at me. Squaring her shoulders, Ki takes a step forward, jabbing me in the chest with her finger. “It. Charged. Me.” Poking me with each word to drive the point home. “Do you realize that all spiders contain venom, and nearly every one of them can bite? How does it make a big, strong, man like you feel to know one bite from a monster even as small as a dime can possibly kill you?”
    “You’re giving spiders a bad name.” I chuckle, looking down into her eyes.
    “They do that all on their own,” she defends, crossing her arms over her chest. My eyes dropping to where her arms now angle her tits right at me. The front of white shirt is totally soaked so that the pink lace bra I saw a glimpse of earlier now is now in clear view.
    “Jesus Christ,” I