Chapter 32: Knee Time

On tremulous legs, Shasta made her way into the living room. The ticking of the clock on the mantle echoed like the report of gunfire in the stillness of the cabin. Blake was nowhere to be seen. Still damp from her shower, she felt chilled by the evening air. Goosebumps covered her bare flesh, and her nipples were tight points, but whether that was from the cool evening or from nerves, she couldn’t say.

Nervously, she swiped her palms against her bare thighs and lowered herself to her knees beside Blake’s leather chair. She heard her own breath hitch as she closed her eyes and tried to relax.

At that moment, the door opened and closed behind her. It took every ounce of self-control to keep from looking up. Blake’s footfalls were solid while Bear’s paws clicked across the kitchen floor, and she heard Blake murmur something to the dog. Then Blake’s footsteps returned and stopped behind her. Shasta strained to hear what he might be doing, breathing as quietly as possible.