Like her hand, Cleo’s voice trembled. “I guess that’s all she had for tonight.”
Maybe, Sonya thought. Maybe. But like the terminator, she’d be back.
It made a point, though, she decided, that they finished the movie. And rehung the posters. They dealt with popcorn bowls, let the dogs out. All the normal, ordinary things people did in normal, ordinary lives.
Cleo went up first. After they brought the dogs in for the night, she and Trey followed.
“You said you’ve watched movies down there before.”
“Yeah. And no, nothing like that. I’m finding it hard to believe she didn’t hassle Collin, at least off and on, but he never said much about it.”
“I think it’s me. She was done with Collin, wasn’t she? If she managed to find a way to kill Johanna, get her ring, he didn’t really matter. I’d be next in line. Or Owen, any of the Poole cousins if he’d left the house to them.”
“You’re not a bride.”
“No, and maybe that’s why she doesn’t like me being here. On the other hand,” she said as they walked the long hallway, “we know of at least two others—Molly and Jack. No, three, with the cigar smoking man. Non-brides, and still here. There are probably more.”
“A house this old? It’s held a lot of life, and death. I’ve spent a great deal of time here, and sure, there have been things—I told you about a couple—but nothing like that show tonight, or in the basement, in the Gold Room.”
“And what’s changed?” As they walked into her room, Sonya turned to him. “I’m here. Living here, working here, determined to stay here. I’m not what she wants.”
“Maybe not, but I think it’s more than that. You’re what the others want, and need.”
“To find the rings.”
“That’s the recurring theme. Find them, break the curse, get rid of Dobbs. And no more dead brides.”
“But when I’ve seen her—on the other side of the mirror—she’s wearing them.”
“All seven?”
“No.” She paused to consider. “So far, I’ve seen them in order. Astrid, Catherine, Marianne, Agatha. Four rings total, so far. Do you think something could change when I see her with all seven?”
“I wish I knew.” He ran his hands down her arms, then back to her shoulders. “I wish there was more I could do to help get you through this.”
“You’ve helped a lot.” She leaned into him. “Like this helps. It’s nice to know that when I really need it, I’ve got somebody to lean on.”
“Anytime.”
“You kept me from jumping up and screaming during the movie.”
“Why give her the satisfaction?”
“That’s exactly right, but I was close to giving her plenty of it.” Tipping back her head, she rose on her toes enough to meet his mouth with hers. “Now I’d rather give you plenty of it.”
“How about some give and take?”
When he ran his hands under her sweater, up her back, she boosted up to lock her legs around his waist. “You have the best ideas.”
Tonight, she wanted the heat and the movement, the fun of being able to give and to take. His hands on her body, his lips on her skin, lingering, lingering until everything in her ached and burned.
For more. Still more.
All hunger and greed, she rolled with him, urging him to take more, still more, even as she did.
She was like a brush fire under him, over him, around him. Hot and quick and dangerous. He told himself he let her set the tone, the pace, but he wasn’t sure he had a choice. Tonight, she consumed.
Urgency elicited urgency. He, breathless as she shuddered under him, gripped her hands with his. As he drove into her, he watched her face, watched the shocked pleasure flash over it. Watched her eyes go opaque as her breath caught, then released on a moan.
Though she shuddered, she moved with him, beat for beat on a fast, reckless climb. At the crest, their entwined fingers vised together, and held tight.
* * *
At three, the clock sounded, and Sonya slept on. Trey lay awake beside her listening to the music drifting up the stairs.
And from somewhere deep in the house, the sound of a woman weeping.
* * *
It surprised her when Cleo stopped in the library doorway before nine the next morning.
“You’re up early for Cleo.”
“I want to give the painting some time today, so gotta get started. Trey’s already gone?”