7. Sarra

7

Sarra

I was up before six like I am every morning. I walked around, exploring the other rooms—there were a lot of bedrooms. I found the kitchen and made some coffee. I sat at the table, wondering if the alarms would go off if I opened the door. I've always enjoyed my coffee outside at sunrise.

Last night's storm was incredible. The lightning got closer and closer before we went inside. I turned when I heard a noise and saw Reaper watching me. He was as gorgeous as he was last night. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and his body glistened with sweat. I felt a strong urge to reach out to him.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" I asked.

"I'm going to shower first. You're up early."

"Yes, my body is on a timer. I always wake up early. I'm used to running every morning. Sitting for long periods writing can put weight on me if I'm not careful."

He looked at my shorts and hoodie, which were my running gear. "Are you planning on running?"

"Yes, I thought I would run five miles today."

"You can use the treadmill downstairs if you want."

"I've never liked running on a treadmill. I'll run outside. Thanks anyway."

"It could be dangerous for you to run outside."

"Really, do you actually believe anyone will find me way out here?"

"Do you want to take the chance that no one will see you?"

What I wanted was for him to put on some clothes before I stood up and ran my nails down his back, letting him know what I really wanted. I was sure if we had sex, I could lose some calories that way.

"I don't want to argue about it, but I refuse to be locked up in the house the entire time I'm here," I said, getting angry that he thought he could tell me I couldn't run outside.

When he didn't answer, I glanced at him and saw he was looking at my shorts. I knew they barely covered my ass, but they were the best shorts for running.

"Don't you think those are a little too short?"

I couldn't help it; I grinned.

"They might be a little too short, but my legs are free to run. After all, I'm not running naked," I said, smiling.

My breathing was becoming labored because I wanted his hands on me. I wanted him to claim me. When I dreamed of him all these years, he claimed me when I was seventeen. In my mind, I knew how his hands felt when he ran them over my body. I wanted to feel it again.

"Are you okay?"

He had to ask me again before I heard him. "Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because you are barely breathing."

I stood up. "I'm going to run," I said, walking toward the door.

"Give me a minute, and I'll run with you," he said, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge. He handed one to me and downed the other. He grabbed another one, walked to the back of the house, and returned with a tee-shirt.

"Hellen, unlock the house," he said as he tied his shoes, a different pair from what he had on before.

"Are those your running shoes?" I asked, trying to distract my mind from his hands.

"Yep, how are yours?"

"My shoes are good. They are a little old but comfortable."

"Hellen, lock the house when we leave."

"I will lock it when you leave and unlock it when you return from your run," Hellen replied.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome; let me know if you need anything else," Hellen said.

I shook my head. This was crazy, talking to a robot who runs the house. "Does Hellen know everything that goes on in the house?"

I heard him chuckle. "No, she's only active when you say her name. It's not like she watches everything that goes on. At least, I don't think so. I've never thought about it, but she hears when we talk to her. So damn, I guess she can hear everything we say."

I giggled—I couldn't help it. I didn't even have electricity at my house, and here was artificial intelligence running this place. I was sure there were many more homes with smart technology, but I had never seen one before.

I liked running with Reaper. He didn't push me; he just ran next to me at my pace. We ran for about five miles before stopping.

"Have you always been a runner?" Reaper asked.

"No, I started running with my cousins. Beau said I might need to outrun someone, and he wanted to make sure I could do it."

"He's right. You never know when you'll have to outrun someone."

"I wonder if they're any closer to catching the guy who wants to kill me," I said.

"We'll call them tonight. Don't mention where we are on the phone," Reaper advised.

"I won't. I've never lived where the land is so flat before. I hope a giant twister doesn't come here."

"We have the basement."

"Oh yes, the basement. Do the walls close in around you down there with no windows?"

"No. I've been under the ocean in a small submarine for weeks at a time, so I'm used to that stuff. What about you? Do you have a problem with not having windows?"

"Yeah, I don't know why, but it must be because of that damn shed."

"Sometimes, it's a good thing that you can't remember everything. Maybe you had to hide out somewhere when you were little. Did you have anyone to talk to?"

"When I was sixteen, I met someone. I always talked to him until I turned twenty-three, and he went away."

"Why didn't you talk on the phone after he moved away? Was he your boyfriend?"

"I didn't have his phone number, and I didn't give him mine," I said. I didn't mention that it was him I spoke to in my dreams every night.

"Twenty-three, wasn't that around the time you met your cousins?"

"Yes, I met them a few months after Mam died. I missed her so much, even though she wasn't pleasant to be around. I forgot that she stole me from my family. But she was my aunt and my family, too."

"What if she killed your parents?"

"I can't believe she would do that. I pray she didn't. I remember more things now, and she was unstable; seriously, she wasn't all the time, but then she would lose it. I don't like talking about her because I don't want her to come back from the dead."

"Are you thinking she might still be alive?"

"It scares me just thinking she might be alive, but she could be. When you asked if I saw her body, it made me think. And if she is, she'll be hunting for me. Remember I told you Mam never wanted me to leave the swamp. By now, if she is alive, she knows I'm not where I'm supposed to be."

"You don't have to be scared of her. I'm here, and I won't let anyone near you. Maybe she thinks you died in the fire. Are you ready to eat breakfast?"

"Yes."

"Hellen, unlock the door." I followed Reaper inside, smiling.