Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
"Jesus, Lindsey!" she practically jumped out of her skin, backing away from Mick's door as she caught her breath.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...I thought I heard something and I was just..."
His voice trailed off as his eyes finally adjusted to the hallway's darkness so he could see her better. From what he could make out, her bare shoulder hung from her silky robe, hair ruffled messily atop her head. Still, in what little light there was from a window at the end of the hall, he could see the unmistakable outline of her cleavage peeking from a lace-trimmed nightgown. 
"What are you doing awake?" she asked when he was seemingly at a loss for words. 
"I was just going downstairs for a glass of water and I thought I heard footsteps so I...wait, what are you doing?"
"I..." she froze again, not sure if he saw her hand on Mick's doorknob or not, "I was also going downstairs to get a drink. I couldn't sleep."
"Oh," he nodded, "Come on then, we'll keep each other safe from the night ghosts."
With a smirk, she shoved him towards the wall as she brushed past him to the staircase. Okay, so this was a slight detour to her plan, she thought to herself, but he seemingly had no idea she was headed to Mick's room in the first place. So it was fine. She'd appease him for a quick glass of water, then sneak into Mick's room once they got back upstairs. 
Lindsey stopped as soon as the second the kitchen light illuminated Stevie in full. She looked entirely too sexy for a 3 AM water run. Did she just naturally wake up like that? Was she trying to torture him he wondered as his eyes trailed her chest, studying the way the black lace contrasted her pale skin. A smirk took over her lips as she watched his line of sight. 
"My eyes are up here, you know," she teased, brushing past him towards the fridge. 
"I wasn't..."
"Save it."
He chuckled, "Sorry, I just didn't expect to see you looking like that at 3 in the morning."
"Surely you've seen me before at 3 in the morning," she peeked from behind the fridge door to shoot him a playful look. 
"No comment."
She laughed, taking a pitcher out of the fridge and making her way to the cabinet to get them each a glass. Lindsey watched her closely, still unable to look away. 
"What?" she asked. 
"Nothing!"
"I can feel you staring, Lindsey."
A blush spread over his cheeks, but she decided not to call him out on it. Instead, she slid a glass of water towards him, taking a sip of her own as she eyed him above the rim of the glass carefully. She could see the wandering thoughts dancing fervently behind his blue eyes. 
"Can't sleep?" he asked, hoping to change the subject. 
"Nope. What else is new? Plus, my room is haunted."
"Do you want me to lay down with you?"
Her eyes widened, the only sound in the kitchen now her glass being set down on the countertop. He swallowed nervously, already kicking himself for letting the words slip out of his mouth. What was he thinking even suggesting such a thing? He was going to get it. 
"Lay down with me?" she questioned incredulously. "What does that even mean?"
"Nothing! I just meant, you know to help you fall asleep so you're not alone in there."