Ahead of the Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

scanned the room.
    The walls were made of old, dirty reddish-brown bricks. Some looked like the cement had been sanded or chiselled off, giving them a sort of rustic beauty. There was minimal furniture, just a large black leather chair, shoe rack, two single shelved round bedside tables, a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe. They were all a deep-cherry almost-black wood. The floor was a nice touch; white-grey wood that made the simple space seem much larger than it was, and contrasted well with the dark furniture. It was all so clean and stylish— too clean and stylish for a guy. There wasn't one thing out of place .
    I couldn't help but hope I hadn't been kidnapped buy some crazy OCD clean freak, or wound up in a magazine spread. I dismissed the first thought as quickly as it came. The crazy ones wouldn’t work at a bar, they’d get too sticky. I hoped, at least.
    I braved the possible exposure and headed for the chest of drawers. I winced slightly when my right foot came in contact with the cold wood floors. The memory of how I managed to hurt my ankle as still lost in a foggy mist.
    I pulled out the top drawer out and discovered gym/bar guy was into boxer briefs. I nodded my approval and closed it before I felt too much like a peeping Tom.
    The second drawer was the winner. I pulled out a plain grey T-shirt that thankfully covered my bum. The bottom drawer had tracky bottoms in it, but as soon as I tried to step in some I almost fell on my face. I gave up and folded them back way. They looked too long, and probably wouldn’t have stayed up anyway. I took a deep breath in an attempt to clear my fuzzy head and braved for what I presumed would be a walk of shame.
    I creaked opened the bedroom door and found... ah, what’s-his-face, standing in a fully decked out stainless-steel kitchen, bare-foot, and in nothing but a pair of baggy sweats. I swallowed, hard. His back was all hard lines, right down to his sweats, and more dimples... oh my! My eyes instantly snapped up when he started to turn around, and I found an amused pair of eyes. My cheeks warmed as his eyes traversed my scantily-clad body.
    “I umm...couldn't find my clothes...sorry,” I mumbled, indicating the shirt I was wearing. I shuffled from foot to foot uncomfortably, and winced, again.
    “I found this in, one of your drawers. You, you’re too clean, there wasn’t anything else to put on and I couldn’t find mine ... sorry.” I trailed off looking down at my bare legs and trying desperately not to blush.
    “Oh, aye. It’s no bother-like. I checked on ye, ye know, to make sure ye were still breathing and all.”
    “Checked? As in...We didn't...You didn't...I mean...What do you mean?”
    He chuckled lightly at my terrible attempt of asking what happened. “Nae, we dinnae sleep together. I prefer my women conscious like.” He chuckled again, and I frowned.
    “Ye don't remember much, do ye?” I shook my head, slowly. I was too confused to comment.
    “Aye, get us another mug, third cupboard on the left. I’ll make ye some coffee and fill ye in.” I did as I was told, stretching up to reach the shelf as a thought struck me mid-stretch.
    “If we didn't sleep together, then why was I naked? In your bed, and where are my clo ...”
    I’d turned around to find him staring at me—well, to be exact, my slightly revealed bottom. The T-shirt I had borrowed had ridden up to show off the under-curve of my bum. His cheeks warmed ever so slightly as his eyes flicked up to mine. I shot him a quizzical look while straightening the T-shirt back into place and passed him the mug.
    “Two, with cream.” He took the coffee cup and avoided my eyes as he spun around.
    I tried hard to smother the smirk threating to break free on my face as realisation hit me. It wasn't from lack of interest, then.
    “Like I was saying. I checked in on ye to make sure ye were alive. I dinnae see anything, mind,” he added quickly.
    His face warmed a little more. It made me think he