The fingers of his left hand type on the keyboard. His right hand is on the joystick. Suddenly, we’re looking at another view of the house, but this one is moving, and it’s going a lot faster than the Parrot I had in my hands today.
I feel a little dizzy, watching from this perspective. “What’s happening?” It’s as if he’s taken the drone from the pole and moved it.
“Another bug we have.”
“Bug?”
“Bugs. Electronics used to listen in on conversations and so forth.” His tone is distracted as he concentrates on what he’s doing. The bug that was heading toward the house now flies over to the side of it.
“Where’s it going?”
“Just watch and see.” When it reaches a dilapidated wood fence leading to the backyard, it stops. There are several people there, enjoying what looks like a barbecue. Ozzie presses one of the F-keys on his laptop, and suddenly sounds are coming out of his computer. Party sounds.
“Oh my god! It’s a bug! Like in the movies!” I clap my hands together like a small child. When I realize I look like Sammy congratulating himself on the toilet, I stop.
“Yeah, except this one is the real deal.” He pushes another button. “So now we record everything and analyze the data later.”
“Can I help with that part?”
“I’m counting on it.”
I go a little warm inside. He’s counting on me. Cool. Hopefully, this bug will pick up something good. Assuming it doesn’t get discovered, of course. I’m not sure how it could be missed, though. I mean, I can hear them partying it up, but that doesn’t make them blind.
“Aren’t they going to notice a drone sitting on their fence?”
“Not this one. It’s the size of a dragon fly and looks a lot like one.”
“Whoa. That’s kind of spooky, actually.” I look around my room, wondering if there are any bugs hiding around here.
He turns his head to look at me, removing his hands from the joystick and computer at the same time. “Did you want to talk to me about something a minute ago?”
Suddenly the conversation with my sister comes flooding back, and I go from being fascinated and impressed to nervous again. “Uhhh, heh-heh . . .” Ack! My brain and my mouth have disconnected!
“Are you okay?” Ozzie asks, frowning at my expression.
“Yeah, sure, I’m fine.” Phew, thank goodness, the brain is back online. Now if I could just get my blood pressure to calm down I’d be stellar.
I get to my feet and back away from him, stopping when my calves hit the edge of a chair. I sink down into it, hoping I don’t look as nervous as I feel. “Just had a chat with my sister. Thought I’d come down to see what you’re up to.” I glance at the clock. “I normally don’t go to bed until after ten.”
“Me neither.” He leans back in the office chair, making it squeak in time with his slight rocking moves. “I guess we have a couple hours to kill.” He looks me up and down. The way he’s rocking makes it look like he’s nodding his approval.
Whoa. Powerful stuff.
I can’t hold his gaze. My eyes wander the room. “Yep, couple hours or so. We could watch TV.” I shrug. I’m cool. I’m casual. I can watch television with a hot guy for two hours and keep my hands to myself. I’d better pop some popcorn, though. Keep the hands busy.
“We could.” He nods slowly. The chair has stopped moving, so I know he’s doing it on purpose this time. I think he might be holding back a smile; it’s hard to tell.
“We could . . . play cards,” I offer.
He stops nodding. “We could do that, or . . .”
I shrug and my mouth opens, words spilling out. “Or we could just sleep together. Get it over with.”
Oh my god! I just said that out loud! Help! I’m going down like a clown to Crazy Town!
“That’s always an option,” he says just as calmly as he said we could play cards.
What. The. Hell!
I turn my gaze toward him and find him smiling.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I say, a little breathless from my nerves being shattered. I’m sweating too, of course. Hopefully not enough to be noticeable.
“How am I supposed to be looking at you right now? You just propositioned me.”
“No, I didn’t.” I frown like he’s the crazy one and not me. I doubt it’s very convincing since I’m pretty much wearing a name tag that says, “Hello, my name is CRAZY.” I look off to the side, convinced there’s something very interesting that needs my attention on the bookshelves.
“I might be a little rusty in this area, but I’m pretty sure you did.”
“What area?” He has my full attention now. Is he confessing that he hasn’t had sex in a long time too? Just like me? Are we both coming off a long, dry spell?
“The area of having women throw themselves at me.”
I stand, outrage pouring out of my every pore. “I did no such thing! How dare you!” I’m so embarrassed! Humiliated! This is awful! My worst-case scenario was nothing this disastrous! Run away!
He jumps up too and lunges for me, grabbing me in a bear hug before I can escape. He’s laughing, the bastard.
“I’m just kidding!” He buries his face in my neck as I struggle to get away. “Calm down, Bo Peep, before you hurt someone.”
“I’m going to hurt you as soon as you let me go.” The sting of his earlier tease is easing, quickly being replaced by the warmth of his touch. Our bodies are connected from toes to nose. I’m still going to slap him, of course, but then I just might do something else after.
“Aw, you don’t want to do that, do you?”
My struggles mostly cease. “Kind of.”
He kisses the delicate skin of my neck, ending my resistance completely. “Are you sure about that?” he asks in a whispery voice.
I sigh with delight and defeat. “I’m not sure about anything where you’re concerned, Ozzie. Seriously. You’re confusing the hell out of me right now.” He’s a complete stranger, but he’s not. A big mountain man with a horrible beard, but not. Dangerous, but not. Ack! Something better start making sense around here . . .
“Good. I like confused.” He growls and takes a small bite of my neck.
“Ow! Watch it.” I push on his chest, pretending I want to get away.
He knows it’s all an act, though. We both do. Besides, I’m not going to get away from this cage made of pure muscle until he wants to let me go. Hopefully, that won’t be happening for a long time. The word forever flits through my mind.
He’s kissing me again, slowly sucking the spot he nipped. Shivers go up and down my spine and everything feels like it’s catching on fire. My system is going haywire. His kisses continue up my neck, where he licks the skin near my ear, before reversing direction and going down to my shoulder. My pulse is racing and my breath coming faster. My nipples grow hard under my bra, and other parts of me down below start to ache.
He groans. “Mmmm, you taste so good. I wonder . . . do you taste this good everywhere?”
Now my crotch is on fire too. Great. How am I going to say no to him now?
His left hand slides down my back and grabs my butt, squeezing and then using it to pull me against him. He’s as hard as a rock. I can feel his arousal through all our layers of clothing, and he’s just as big there as he is everywhere else. Oh my god.
A weird beep I’ve never heard before sounds out in my front foyer.
Ozzie freezes in place for two seconds, and then his hands drop away from my body. He steps back, every fiber of his body screaming the fact that he’s on alert.
I stand there like a mannequin posed in a sex-shop window. My eyes remain half shut for a few seconds until I realize that he’s walking away.
“Wha . . .?”
“Shhhh.” He holds a finger to his lips as he walks over to the foyer.