Page 74 of Wicked Nightmare

"Cam?" Lakey's voice snapped me back. "You okay? You looked like you were a million miles away."

I swallowed hard. "I'm good, baby. Just thinking about how we're gonna make these fuckers pay."

Her hands started working my thighs, kneading out the tension. "Mmm, I like the sound of that," she said, planting a kiss on my neck.

I put my hands on hers, squeezing before letting go so she could keep working on a knot in my quad. "We're gonna send the lot back to hell. And then when we arrive at those flaming gates, we'll track them down all over again."

She stood, flexing her fingers before sitting down to face me, straddling my lap. "You always did know how to sweet talk a girl, Axley."

I pulled her close. "And don't you forget it, sweetheart. Now, how about you tell me what ideas that pretty little psycho brain of yours is cooking up?"

I looked at Lakey, seeing the mischief and mayhem. But beneath it all, I could sense her exhaustion. The Steven situation had taken more out of her than she'd admit. Time to switch gears.

"Actually, you know what? Fuck the planning for tonight," I said, gently lifting her off my lap. "I've got a better idea."

I went to our beat-up liquor cabinet, fishing out a dusty bottle of peach schnapps and setting it on the counter.

"No fucking way," she breathed. "Is that...?"

"The same shit we stole from Mrs. Hannigan's cellar when I was fourteen? You bet your sweet ass it is," I said, grabbing two mismatched glasses. "And that's not all."

I reached behind the TV, pulling out a worn VHS tape. Lakey's jaw dropped.

"'The Goonies'? Cam, you sentimental asshole," she laughed, but I could see the emotion in her eyes.

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for the classics," I shrugged, popping the tape into our ancient VCR. "Now get your cute little dimpled ass over here."

Lakey flopped onto the couch, accepting the glass of schnapps with a smirk. "You trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me, Axley?"

I settled in beside her, draping an arm around her shoulders. "Please, like I'd need to get you drunk for that."

As the movie started, she relaxed against me, the tension melting from her body. She sipped her drink, a soft smile on her lips.

"Remember when we used to dream about finding pirate treasure?" she said, her eyes fixed on the screen.

I ran my fingers through her hair. "Yeah, and now we're chasing down psycho cult leaders instead. Funny how life works out, huh?"

Lakey snuggled closer, her voice taking on that rare, vulnerable tone I only ever got to hear. "I wouldn't want it any other way, Cam. You and me against the world, remember?"

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, my chest tightening. "Always, baby. Always."

As the movie played on, I found myself watching her more than the screen. The way her eyes went wide at certain scenes, the little snort she'd let out at the cheesy one-liners. It was fucking adorable. This was the Lakey nobody else got to see. Not the killer, not the dancer, not the nut with the karambits. Just the girl who stole peach schnapps and loved pirate movies and fit perfectly in the crook of my arm.

"You know," I said, tracing lazy circles on her shoulder, "if we ever did find buried treasure, I bet you'd make one hell of a pirate queen."

Lakey looked up at me. "Oh yeah? And what would that make you? My loyal first mate?"

"Nah, baby. I'd be the rival captain who steals you away."

"Mmm," her lips brushed against mine. "I'd like to see you try."

The kiss started slow, a gentle exploration that quickly turned hungry. I tangled my hand in her hair, pulling her closer as she climbed into my lap.

"Fuck the movie," Lakey breathed against my mouth.

I laughed. "Thought you'd never ask."

My hands slid under her shirt, tracing the landscape of scars and soft skin. Every piece of her meant everything to me. Sometimes I forgot that in our everyday. I kissed the scar on her collarbone, remembering the night I'd stitched it up in a dirty motel bathroom.