Read Online Time to Hide by John Gilstrap - Free Book Online Page B

his finger found her belly button, and she could feel him smiling. His hand worked its way down there and she felt his fingers pressing against her. It was wonderful, and her hips began to match the swirling, grinding motion of his. As she counted the rhythm of her pounding heart, she realized that for this brief moment, it was no longer regulated by her disease, but by the passion that swelled inside of her.
    Brad’s hand moved again . . .
    â€œNo!” she said, a little too loudly, and she rolled away from him and sat up.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he gasped. He might have been angry, or maybe only startled. It was hard to tell in the dark.
    â€œI don’t want to do this,” she said. As she pulled her robe closed around her, she wiped the stickiness from her hand.
    â€œHonest to God, I’ll be gentle,” Brad promised, and he moved closer again.
    â€œNo!” She said it more forcefully this time, and she stood. “I don’t want to do this.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I don’t want to.”
    â€œBut why ?”
    Even in the darkness, she could tell that she’d hurt his feelings. She turned so that she could better see his silhouette in the blackness. “It’s not you, okay? I swear to God, it’s not you. Jesus, I can’t count the number of times we’ve made love in my head.”
    â€œWhat, then?”
    Nicki didn’t want to answer. She knew how stupid it would sound. “It’s my mother,” she said, finally.
    â€œExcuse me?” Brad’s laugh came reflexively.
    Nicki hugged herself and stood, stepping away from the bed. “I made her a promise, okay? It was probably a stupid thing to do, but when she was in the hospital, I promised her that I would save my virginity for just the right guy—the guy I love more than anyone else in the world.”
    â€œAnd I’m not him?” Brad’s tone was hard to read without seeing his eyes.
    â€œI don’t know,” Nicki confessed. “How can I know for sure?”
    With a huge, frustrated sigh, Brad stood and gathered his robe from the floor.
    â€œAre you mad?” Nicki asked.
    He made a sound that might have been a growl. “Mad? No. Horny and frustrated, but not mad.” He walked to her and kissed her on the forehead. “What’s to be mad about?”
    â€œI’m sorry I’m such a prude.”
    â€œWe’ve got a long trip ahead of us, Nicki. All I have to do is convince you that I’m the guy.” He took a step toward the door.
    â€œAre you leaving?”
    He looked back at her. She could see his smile, even in the dark. “You need your rest, and I think it’s probably best if I sleep in the living room. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Nicki whined.
    â€œNo,” he said, with a firmness in his voice that she hadn’t heard before. “Don’t apologize. I made assumptions that I shouldn’t have. That’s my fault, not yours. I’m the one who should apologize.” He walked as he spoke, heading for the bedroom door and the living room beyond. He paused at the threshold. “I’m sorry, Nicki,” he said. “Really. Good night.”
    Nicki heard the door click as Brad closed it behind him.

    April 11
    He told! I don’t believe it! Derek ratted out the Posse. He told Georgen. You’re supposed to get transferred out if you rat out an inmate, but Georgen put him back into GP. Derek is terrified. When the Posse finds out, he’s dead.
    Christ, how could he have been so stupid? Everybody knows. Derek’s begging Georgen for isolation, but I don’t think he’s going to give it to him. Georgen’s having too much fun to give it to him.

Chapter Six
    W arren turned on the overhead light and smacked Carter’s shoulder hard enough to hurt. “Carter, wake up. We’ve got a lead.”
    Carter didn’t even