Page 108 of Haunt the Mall
“She suspected my true intentions were to clear out the basement.” He palmed my hip and neck, holding me flush against him with exhilarating control. “My true intentions are much more devious,” he said.
“Get laid?” I grinned.
He nipped at my jaw, and I gasped, grinding against him.
“We shouldn’t ruin our makeup yet,” I said.
“As you wish, mistress.” His eyelashes tickled me as he placed a chaste kiss to my cheek.
I groaned and leaned into him. If it wasn’t Halloween, I’d ruin my lipstick on him in a heartbeat.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I tensed, and Victor tightened his grip on me.
It wouldn’t be Sam. He hadn’t contacted me since our little game. Still, once in a while, that fight or flight instinct kicked in. I patted Victor’s hand and showed him my screen. “It’s the video doorbell thing. It’ll probably be buzzing all night.”
Mom had gotten me the newest system with motion detection for extra security. Dad had installed it, and Tori got me a case of candy apples as an apology. We’d had a decent night sharing them. I’d saved an apple for Victor, which didn’t go unnoticed by my family, but they managed to be low-key and let me change the subject pretty quickly. I wasn’t going to move in with Victor right away, but we spent almost every night together anyway.
I clicked the doorbell notification. The security camera showed a dad and his young daughter in a cow costume walking up the sidewalk.
I tucked my phone into my skirt pocket. “Our first guests. Are you ready?”
He nodded.
I skipped down the hall, snagged the giant bowl of candy, then yanked open the door. “Happy Halloween,” I cheered.
The little girl in the cow costume gaped at me. Her dad’s jaw went slack too. Black widows had that effect on people. I bent over and shook the bowl at the kid. “Would you like some candy or would you prefer to graze the lawn?”
Her dad nudged her. “What do you say, Maxine?”
“T-trick or treat.” She clawed at the shiny wrappers, then dropped one into her pumpkin pail.
The dad dragged his gaze from my boobs and grinned. “That’s quite an outfit. You look amazing.”
“Good enough to eat,” Victor rumbled, hugging me from behind.
The little girl gasped at my Spider-Man’s vampire look.
I’d lined his eyes with charcoal and painted his cheeks and lips with rouge to give him a gaunt, just-fed undead look.
He grinned, baring fake fangs. “Don’t worry. I only drink blood if we’ve run out of candy.” He plucked a piece from the bowl, eliciting giggles from me and the girl.
The dad gave us a weird look and ushered his kid away, but she peeked over her shoulder and smiled at us.
I squeezed Victor’s arm. “Are we too scary?”
“No. You’re gorgeous. Besides, if people avoid the house, we get more candy.” He peeled open the caramel wafer and offered me a bite.
"Silver lining." I only took half the bar so he could savor the last bit, then closed the door.
Jinx waltzed down the hall to check on us.
“Hi, Jinx. Do you want a treat too?” I asked.
My cat froze and stared at me, his pupils shrinking despite the darkness of my multi-limbed shadows. All the hair his little body pricked out in fuzzy apprehension.
“Aw, Jinx, don’t be scared. It’s just me.” I knelt in front of him and extended my hand.
He sniffed my fingers and perked his ears. His pupils spread. He rammed his cheek into my palm and purred.