Kendall sat on the toilet in shock. Holy crap, they’d finally done it. Her head and body were buzzing like a hive of bees. What was she going to say when she went back inside? Wow, that was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. Or Let’s try the other wall and see if it’s as good.
She leaned over, elbows resting on her legs, head in her hands, waiting for the buzzing to stop. It didn’t. The dream must have triggered her emotion, killed her inhibitions. It had felt so real, like she was really there. This wasn’t her first experience with sex, but the other times had been nothing like this. Most of them had been uncomfortable because of her sixth sense, all that skin rubbing together. And once when a condom broke, it had actually hurt her mind. But Jake… She’d felt his sensations along with hers, making it super intense, but in a good way. A really good way.
But they shouldn’t have. What about condoms? It was stupid to have sex without one. She trusted Jake on some internal level, in some way she couldn’t even explain, but he sometimes seemed callous about sex. And just because he thought he was clean wasn’t a guarantee that he was. She was on birth control—she wasn’t sure why since she so rarely had sex—but birth control failed lots of times. Orphanages were filled with kids as a result. Like Jake.
She decided to take a long shower, hoping to sort her thoughts before she faced him. She had dried off and dressed when she heard something outside the bathroom window. It had sounded like a curse. Surely he wasn’t spying on her in the bathroom. Turning off the light, she opened the curtains a crack and peered out. The night was quiet, the moon soft. Saint Michael’s Tower rose from the Tor like a scepter. Something moved in the bushes near the window, and she saw a figure moving along the wall. She couldn’t tell who it was, or whether it was male or female. The figure moved to the far bedroom and appeared to be trying to look in the window. Jake snooping again?
Then the figure rose from its crouched position, and Kendall saw that it was a woman with red hair. Brandi. Kendall hurried from the bathroom and down the hall to the front door. She slipped outside as quietly as possible, keeping close to the side of the house. Easing around the corner, she saw Brandi, or whoever, hurrying away. From her movements, Kendall would have bet it was Brandi. Kendall was torn between going after her and going back to get Jake. Jake was better at tracking, but there wasn’t time to spare.
Kendall heard a twig snap. She whirled as Jake stepped out of the shadows near the house.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Chasing you. I’m not letting you run away from me.”
“I wasn’t. I heard something outside. Someone was looking in one of the bedroom windows. I thought it was you until I saw the red hair. I think it was Brandi.”
“Damn, I knew that was her earlier. Which way did she go?”
“She ran into the garden. I think she went toward the fountain. Do you think you can pick up her tracks?” She knew he wanted to ask her more about Thomas and Iraq.
“I’ll try, but you need to go back to the house.”
“I’m staying.”
“You’re not wearing shoes.”
“I’ll manage.”
He kicked off a boot and removed one sock, then did the same with the other foot and handed them to her. “Wear them. It’s better than nothing. I don’t need you getting sick on me.”
“Do they stink?”
He scowled at her. “Haven’t you heard it’s rude to look a gift horse in the mouth?”
“Sorry. I was just…” being sarcastic to get them back on familiar territory after what they’d just done in the bedroom.
“I know. Come on.” Jake entered the garden, eyes searching, body alert.
Kendall followed close behind him and looked at the trees and tall grass on the other side of the garden. “I don’t know how you can see anything.”
Jake touched a branch. “This way.”
She followed and saw the branch had been broken.
“She’s in a hurry,” Jake said, studying signs in the branches and on the ground that she couldn’t see.
They followed Brandi’s trail—Jake followed the trail, Kendall followed Jake—to the road. She looked at the street. “This is Well House Lane.”
“We’ll never find her tracks here at night. Too many people and vehicles have been here. Let’s head back. I’ll come back tomorrow in the daylight and see if I can figure out where she headed.”
“I think she was trying to look inside the bedroom at the end of the hall,” Kendall said.
“Halle said that’s the caretaker’s room.”
“You think Brandi is spying on the caretaker?” Kendall asked.
“According to Halle, he’s in London.”
“Brandi must know about the Blue Chalice and she’s trying to sneak in.”
“I think someone snuck in, but not Brandi. I heard a man talking in that room earlier.”
“You sure it wasn’t her?” Kendall asked.
“Yeah, it was a man’s voice.”
“Maybe you’ve got the rooms mixed up. It might be Larry’s.”
“No,” Jake said. “It’s not his room. I make it a point to know who’s in which room.”
“The caretaker could have returned,” Kendall said.
“Halle said he hadn’t. So who’s in that room, and why is Brandi interested in it?”
“Nathan knew we were coming here to find the chalice. He might have gotten here first and started searching for the chalice.”
“Then why didn’t he answer when I knocked? We need to get inside that room,” he said.
“We need to find Brandi too. She must be staying someplace nearby. I can’t imagine her camping out in the woods.”
“We’ll check the local inns. See if someone has seen her.”
They cut over to the road since it would be easier than walking through the trees and grass. Jake’s socks were loose on her feet and they were getting damp from the dew, but she was grateful for the protection.
She felt more apprehensive as they neared the house. How could they sleep in the same room after this? When they reached the door, she stopped. “You go on. I’m going to check the area where I saw her and see if I can pick up anything.”
Jake gave her a long look. “I’ll wait.”
“We need to wash your socks. I hope I haven’t ruined them. If you want to throw them in the washer now, they’ll be ready by morning.” Kendall pulled off his socks and handed them to him, hoping he’d take the hint.
He stared her down. “I don’t think Brandi is the only reason you ran away.”
“Why would you say that?”
“We just had sex and you’re acting as stiff as a damned statue.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve…”
“Me too, but you don’t see me running.”
“Maybe you should,” she said.
“Why would you say that?”
“Who wants to date someone who can look into his head?”
He hesitated for a split second. “Don’t you think that should be my decision?”
“I’m not good with relationships.” Or sex. Usually. She and Jake had been darned good. Better than good. Rocket-to-the-moon good.
“Neither am I, but there’s something between us.” He stepped closer, maneuvering them behind a bush. He touched her face then, a light stroke on her cheek with his thumb. “I know you feel it too.” He pulled her into his arms, settling one leg between hers. Her body started tingling all the way to her toes. “I can’t get you out of my head. You’re there when I’m awake, when I’m asleep. I don’t know what to do with you.” He lowered his head and found her lips. Her lips parted and she kissed him back. The ground started to shake and she grabbed his shoulders. Wow, some kiss. Lights flashed and she was even more impressed.