JULIET's POV
"There's nothing," Dove huffs as she leans back in her chair, more frustrated than I am.
We've been poring over old news articles and searching the internet for any sort of clue but have come up with less than zero. Well, except that the home is owned by some company that owns a handful of mini mansions around here, some I didn't even know exist because they are nestled back into the woods. Hiding in plain sight is what Dove had said.
I let out a long sigh, knowing we aren't getting anywhere tonight. "I'm not giving up," Dove mumbles, more to herself than me. She has a determined look on her face.
"We should call it a night," I tell her, knowing the sun will be coming up soon and we don't want to get caught sneaking out of the library in broad daylight. I know Dove has a key to the place, but it doesn't mean she's supposed to be here at all hours. I don't want either of us to get in trouble.
She looks at her watch and must have the same thought as me. She squeaks then stands up so quickly she almost knocks over her chair. "Mr. Benson always gets here super early. We have to get out of here."
We get our shit together and haul ass back to our dorm room. When we finally crawl into bed, Dove is out like a light and I can hear little snores coming from her side of the room. As for me, I'm still wide awake and unable to get any sleep. My mind won't stop focusing on Kane and wishing I knew more about him. I keep wondering why this ache inside of me isn't going away.
After an hour or so I give up trying to sleep and throw the covers off me. I dig through my closet to find something to wear but do my best to be quiet so I don't wake up Dove. I grab my yoga pants, sneakers and a hoodie. When I'm dressed, I pull my hair into a ponytail and slip out quickly because I know if she wakes up she'll try to stop me.
Maybe there's a last name on his mailbox or something. If we had a last name, maybe we could find out more about Kane. At least that's what I tell myself while I wait for my taxi to pick me up.
As the driver pulls up to the gates, I notice that ache in my stomach has started to ease now that I'm back here. I hop out of the taxi and walk up to the gate. I stand there like I did just hours ago, but this time there's no fear. My fingers wrap around the bars, and before I can think about what I'm doing I'm climbing the gate all over again. Something is pulling me towards this house. Towards Kane.
When I hop down I make the long walk to the front door and knock. I'll ask if I left my cell phone here. I repeat it over and over in my head so I don't forget when the door opens. But after a few minutes go by I'm disappointed when no one answers. It's probably for the best because I'm knocking on the door at five in the morning like a crazy person. Still, I can't pull myself away. In an act of complete lunacy, I grab the door handle and to my surprise the thing freaking turns. The door slowly opens with a loud creak when I push on it.
"That's not creepy at all," I mumble to myself as I step inside and shut the door behind me. I should probably be more afraid, but I'm utterly calm. That weird feeling that had been hanging all around me since I left here is gone, and weirdly it feels like I'm home.
I stand there a moment and look around. This place is more than beautiful, and I wonder about the rose garden Kane told me about. It's a dream house, really. It's unlike anything I've ever seen in my life or ever thought I would. It reminds me of a grand estate built in the nineteen twenties.
I wander around, taking all of it in until I'm back at the library once again. I step inside, hoping to see Kane, but it's empty. Even the fireplace that was once lit is now cold. I sit down in the same chair Kane put me in and I wonder what the hell I'm doing. I'm trespassing this time, but still I sit here, unmoving.
"Juliet." My name is whispered, and my head snaps up to see Kane standing in the doorway of the library.
I stand. I don't know how long I stare at him before I'm fumbling my excuse. "I was looking for my phone," I tell him.
"That's a lie," he says, his voice deeper now.
"I really can't find it," I offer lamely.
It's true, but I'd forgotten all about it once I'd stepped back into the house. It's not the only thing I've lost today. I think I've lost my mind and my sense of self-preservation. Like a flash he's in front of me. Before I know what's happening, he's pulling me into him as he leans down and kisses me.
His lips are softer than I thought they would be. I'm frozen as I try to catch up and move my mouth against his. His hands come up and he pulls the ponytail from my hair. I feel his tongue graze mine and he tastes like chocolate. My hair falls free around us, and he digs his hands into it. He holds me steady as he bites at my bottom lip and I gasp. A thrill runs through me as he licks the stinging spot there before sliding into my mouth. He pulls my hair a little harder, making my head tilt back so that he can dominate me. I'm lost in his kiss and owned by his hold. It's unlike anything I've ever felt, and I'm dizzy with lust.
I wrap my arms around his neck, meeting his kiss, and he groans. He sounds almost desperate as he pulls his mouth away from mine. I cry out at the loss, but he doesn't stop. His lips move to my neck and he licks and sucks my delicate skin. I'm lifted up in his arms, and I wrap my legs around him. I'm holding on tight as he makes my body come alive with every touch.
Bite me, I think when I feel his teeth graze me. He sucks on the place below my ear and nips at my neck. He lets out another loud groan as I try to move against him. I shamelessly hump him until my back hits a soft surface and I know we're on the sofa.
"What's happening?" I breathe. My mind is so fuzzy I can't catch up, but I'm not sure I want to. But just as fast as he was on me, now he's standing across the room with his back to me. One of his hands is planted on the wall and he's breathing heavily.
I sit up and bring my fingers to my mouth, still feeling him there. I lick my lips. What happened? Why did he stop?
"Kane?" He doesn't answer me, but before I even say the words, I already want to take them back. "Maybe I should go."
"No," he snaps. The word is a command and it makes me tingle all over when it should scare me.
"It's really late…or early. I haven't been to sleep yet," I admit.
"You'll sleep here. I don't want you in cars with strange men," he tells me finally as he turns a little to face me.
He holds a hand out, and I walk towards him. An invisible thread pulls me to him, and I swear my body is no longer my own. I should go, but when his hand takes mine those thoughts leave my mind and there is only him once again.
"Did I wake you up?" I ask as he leads me out of the library. He doesn't seem concerned that I came into his house without permission and wandered around.
"No, I was just going to bed and I smelled you."
"Smelled me?" I glance over at him, but the house is dark. With no lights on I can barely make him out.
"Heard you," he corrects.
"I didn't want to leave." His hand tightens around mine. "But…she…wanted me to leave, and I thought maybe you told her to get rid of me or something."
"I didn't want you to leave either. It doesn't matter now. I would have found you today, but it looks like you came back to me." I can hear an almost wistfulness to his tone. He makes it sound romantic.
"You would have come looking for me?" I push, wanting more.
The idea that someone cares enough to come looking for me makes that ache I was feeling completely disappear. I've never had that before. Except maybe out of obligation. It was someone's job to look for me when I was in the foster system because they didn't want to lose their paychecks or explain why they were missing a kid.
"I would have found you." He says it with so much certainty I believe him.
He pushes open two double doors that lead into an enormous bedroom. He puts his hand on the small of my back and walks me in. This room feels warm and safe, just like Kane. I turn around to smile at him, and that's when I see his entire face for the first time.