Homeward Bound (Journeyman Book 1) by Golden Czermak

eyebrow in agreement.
    “Not just the ladies darlin’,” he corrected. “ People scream. Better watch yourself. Don’t get lost and become… prey.”
    It was suddenly very warm. She found herself looking straight into his eyes, unable to pull away, eagerly wet underneath her jeans.
    “I don’t get lost easily,” was all she could manage to say.
    “We’ll see.”
    At that moment, Joey walked by the archway separating the kitchen and dining room. He was carrying a couple of empty bags to the storeroom for supplies. As he passed, he stopped about halfway and saw two silhouettes; Adrienne pinned with Gage looming over her. His hulking back and shoulders were easily twice her width, arms triple the thickness. Joey spent some time studying them, transfixed by Gage’s shape for what seemed like forever. He realized he should leave before he was seen, but as soon as he started again, the floorboards turned him in.
    In the low light Gage looked up and he zoned in, eyes drifting from Joey's disheveled hair down the open flannel shirt laid over a lightly furred chest, past the bulging jeans all the way to his muddy boots and right back up again.
    Oh how he loved to make people scream. He tossed Joey a wink, which sent him on his way.
     

     
    ADRIENNE LAID BACK IN her comfy bed wondering what had happened earlier.
    She had heard a little creak and soon after, Gage had pulled himself away from her and went back upstairs. She took a moment alone at the kitchen table to finish off a glass of water before somehow ending up back in her room. The journey back up here was a blur as he would not leave her mind, filling it with an endless cycle of thoughts and possibilities.
    The rain beat against the roof, the normally restful sound causing a calamity in her soul. Part of her was outside, dancing by herself joyously in the rain. Another was tucked up underneath a tree locked in a passionate kiss, while yet another was here in her room gazing out at all the dancing and kissing going on. She focused in on that piece, searching for an answer.
    As she looked upon herself from the outside, she had the most difficult time understanding what feelings she could read on own her face. Was she content to be up here alone? Was she sad? Did she long for the time under the tree with another, or for a solo number in the rain?
    Why was this so damn difficult?
    Speak to me Adrienne!
    There was no reply.
    Frustrated, she got out of bed and propped herself up against the window sill. The steady beat of rain drew her attention back out the window where she found herself again, dancing solo. As she watched, she felt pretty satisfied. That is, until a figure walked up to her and a hand grabbed hers, bringing her close. It was Gage, soaking wet from the rain as well. Together they held each other in the deluge, perfectly still with no other motivation to move. Immediately all felt right.
    That was all she needed to know.
    She crept down the hall as to not wake Joey up, though the heavy roar of the storm would have muffled any noise she would make passing by his door. Before she knew it, she had arrived outside Gage’s room. The door was cracked open and there was a small amount of lamplight coming from inside.
    She pushed the door open and peeked inside. She was nervous that she was even in his room, especially so when she saw the sight of what sat on the edge of the bed. Gage was there with arms rested on his thighs, looking down in deep thought.
    This is a mistake, she thought, inching back out of the room. While she retreated he happened to look up; little did she know he had been wrestling with the same things.
    “Hey there,” he said softly. “Whatcha up to?”
    “Oh, um. Just checking to see if you were alright. You left in a bit of a hurry downstairs.”
    “I’m good,” he said, leaning back onto the bed. His body looked amazing in the soft light, every single cut and line calling out for attention, especially those tempting v-lines that