Senseless Attraction by Lila Rose

her arms full of Barbies.
          We sat down at the table, Kane and me at one end and Dommy at the other. Kane and I spoke about what needed to be done, and with time, I started to relax. I think what helped was Dommy being there. Every now and then, she would come up and ask me for help to undress or redress one of her Barbies. I did it without thinking and kept the conversation going with Kane at the same time. After the second time of her coming up, she no longer asked for help; I just held out my hand and she'd place one of her dolls in it.
          Two hours later, I called it quits. I wanted to head home to spend some time with Momma before she went into work, because then I'd have to get ready for the movies. Jessie had mentioned on the phone last night that we should actually go to the cinema to see one of the latest movies, instead of watching the same things over and over on DVD.
          But first, I promised a certain little monster that I
     would read to them.
          “All right, Dommy, where do you want me to read to you?”
          “Oh, in my room, please.”
          Kane laughed at her excitement. “I'll finish this; you had better start before she bursts something.”
          Nodding, I followed Dommy out and to her room.
          I was halfway through the book, with Dommy sitting as close as she could get next to me on her bed, when Kane appeared in the doorway. I didn't stop reading. I was on a roll and getting to the good bit. I felt him enter the room, come over to Dommy's bed, and then lay down behind us. I glanced quickly behind me to see him stretching out his body and placing his arms behind his head as he smiled up at me.
          I rolled my eyes and continued. “Ready, Dommy? This is the best part. ‘Why, Grandmother, what big eyes you have,'” I said in a little girl’s voice. Kane laughed behind me. I turned to punch him in the stomach and went on, “All the better to see you with, my dear,” I said in a gruff, deep voice, and again, Kane laughed.
         “Shush, Kaddy,” Dommy scolded. He shook his hands out in front of him, as if to say he'd be good.
          Yeah, I’d believe it when I saw it.
          I cleared my throat and began again, “Why, Grandmother, what big ears you have. All the better to hear you with, my dear.” I turned the page. Kane sat up to look over my shoulder at the book, and then he ever so gently moved my hair out of the way by tucking it behind my ear. If it was Josh, I would have been fine, but with Kane, that small touch took my breath away.
          “Kane, stop it; you’re distracting her,” Dommy cried. I blushed.
          “Sorry again, squirt.”
          I had to clear my throat again. “Why, Grandmother, what big teeth you have. All the better to eat you with. The wolf dove out of bed to chase Little Red Riding Hood around Grandmother’s house. Just when he was about to catch her and gobble her up, the door burst open, and there stood the woodcutter. With one strike of his axe, he cut the wolf’s head off and saved the day. Then they both heard movement coming from the cupboard, so they went over to it and opened it carefully, and there was Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother safe and sound. The end.” I closed the book and placed it down on the bed. “Well, what did you think?” I stared down at Dommy.
          “I think you are the best reader in the whole wide world. Isn't she, Kaddy?”
          “Yeah, especially with those voices.” He laughed.
           I glared. “The book’s only good when you do it like that.”
           He smiled, but it quickly faded and he sat there just staring at me. I wanted to look away, but I didn't. He reached his hand out and ran the back of it against my cheek. My breath hitched from the touch. Shivers coursed through my body. I felt sick because I wanted more than just that small touch.
          Why did he get my blood