Page 55 of Haunt the Mall

My handsome Spider-Man would help protect me. He brought out the beast within.

He brushed my lips with a kiss and pulled back slowly enough my insides stretched with longing to go with him. “I’m sorry for scaring you,” he said softly.

“I’m fine,” I said. In his arms, it kind of felt like I could be.

He narrowed his gaze. “Do you scare easily?”

“No. Not with Bitsy pranks, at least.” I poked my tongue out at him.

He squeezed me harder and huffed a laugh, his hands wandering to my ass. “Good, because I was thinking about what we could do outside of the movies, and I might have found the perfect thing.”

“Oh yeah?” I rubbed myself against him. Did it involve my back seat?

“A haunted house,” he said, his dark eyes flashing.

“Ahhh, yeah.” I grounded my feet. Girlfriend-material probably didn’t fuck their guys in the back seat while setting up a second date. But he was dating me, so it was definitely a possibility.

He furrowed his brow. “Would that not be…satisfying?”

“No, I love scary things. A haunted house sounds perfect. Honestly.” I cupped his cheek and kissed him with tenderness, which was surprisingly satisfying in its own right.

He savored each second—and so did I.

I loved his lips, the way he lingered in our embrace, his cold fingertips biting through my clothes and sinking into my skin. I loved being with him. I loved—well, I liked him. A lot.

I just had to get to know him outside the mall and movie preferences.

“I can’t wait,” I said, easing back.

His eyes crinkled around the sides. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“Do you want…” I was so tired. But I was also happy. And floating. And horny–again. “Do you want to come in?” I giggled, jerking my head at the back seat.

He moaned and hung his head on my shoulder, rocking our bodies against the car. “I have to get back to work.”

“Well, fuck.” I stroked his hair. It was soft, and not nearly as greasy as mine.

He kissed my neck, a low growl at the back of his throat. “We’ll make up for this unfortunate circumstance.”

“Yeah,” I muttered.

He nipped my ear.

I yelped a laugh and smacked his shoulder with his jacket.

Backing up, he grabbed his coat and bowed. His eyes shone with moonlight and mischief. “Until we meet again.”

“Farewell, Mr. Sterling.” I gave him a kiss before slipping into my car.

Victor stood by my spot and watched me go–all the way down to the stop sign. My faithful sentinel.

But as I turned to wave, he fixed his attention on the red car.

Maybe he saw it as a red flag, like I did. Or maybe he recognized it.

Either way, I lowered my hand and swallowed the nagging suspicion that moonlit magic didn’t always lead to a happily ever after.

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