Her Last Kiss

The stranger crouched, a dark shape in the corner of the porch, primed to attack. Violent energy charged the air between them. “Whoa! Take it easy. I’m trying to help you,” she soothed, when all she really wanted to do was rail at him. Water poured from the sky and the slanted porch roof. Icy gushes fell on her head, slid past the collar of her coat, and made bitter tracks down her back and chest. She ground her jaw. She felt like a drowned rat. A fierce bolt of lightning lit the sky and highlighted the dirt and blood smeared across his face and the gashes on his cheek. The whites of his eyes were unblemished and stark against his black irises. He looked crazed, like a rabid animal. Was she crazy to let this man inside her cabin? She fished in her pocket for her keys. She didn’t feel she had much choice. Please don’t let this kind act bite me in the ass. Please don’t let my life suck anymore than it already does. The man wavered and leaned against the wall to gather his strength. His weakness reassured her. Surely, she could defend herself against someone in such bad shape. “You’re hurt. Let me take you inside where it’s warm,” she said. He didn’t acknowledge her. While she unlocked the door, he remained an arm’s length from her. Her clothes felt frozen to her skin, and her thighs felt numb. Tension ran through her body with the same force of her blood. She trembled and couldn’t keep her hand still to fit the key in the lock. A frustrated breath escaped between her chattering teeth. Thunder boomed and cracked overhead. Geneva jumped as the sound tore through her. His hand covered hers. Electric currents erupted from his fingers and shot up her arm, through her body. A magnetic force, sizzled, popped, and pulled her closer, so she didn’t have any choice but to lean into him. Heat erupted where their bodies touched and spread through her system. She relaxed into him, a hazy moment where she simply enjoyed the feel of him. Her lids lowered.