Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key) Read Free

he swallows. Wanting to follow that sip all the way down— “Ye gonna eye fuck me some more, princess, or shall we part from this shit hole and go somewhere? I’ll let ye have yer way with me all night long.”
    My mouth still hanging low, I twist to look at whoever is sitting next to me. Huh. It’s another dude. I turn back. Okay, so he is talking to me. “I’m a… I’m a…” If this was an audition to play the role of a gaping fish, I’d be nailing it. Adding to my uncomfortableness, he leans in, his warm breath hitting my still chilly earlobe. “What shall it be, princess?”
    Oh God, his voice. Have I mentioned he has an accent? And it’s like a sundae with both caramel and hot fudge, cold lemonade on a hot summers day, salted French fries right off the fryer— Focus, Addie . Vibrating sex voice or not, he’s not the guy I want to or should share my birthday kiss with. And definitely not one Dad would approve of.
    Trying to pull it together, “Um, yeah so, I’m just gonna have me a drink here and be on my way, alright, mate?” Oh my God, now I’m Australian?! I will die alone. I shake my head and turn toward the bar, needing a time out from this intense stranger.
    “What can I get you doll?” the bartender asks, placing his hands on the bar.
    “I’ll just have a beer. Anything on tap.” Beer is the closest form of alcohol my parents keep in the house, so I order what I know.
    “Sure thing. Can I see an ID?” Ugh. I hate this part. I should have just ordered water. “Yeah, of course. Duh. Only of age drinkers come to bars,” I give him the universal “Pfft” face and reach for my purse. You’re twenty-one now, Addie, chillax. I can totally be in here. I grab for my bag and realize the man hunk next to me has scooted in closer, his nearness causing my skin to shiver. Shit. What did I get myself into? I should have just gone home. Signed up for an online dating website. If I wanted to drink so badly, I should have picked up a six-pack on my way home, anything but this intense guy sitting next to me. To be honest, there was something familiar about him that drew me in. Like I knew him, but I would have remembered someone as intense as this guy. It’s probably because he’s your typical hot guy, rough around the edges, with that bad boy persona. The one with the accent that all girls fall for, and then end up hacked to pieces in an alleyway by the end of the night. Thankfully, that thought reminds me that something about him does scare me. Like I should be afraid. My dad’s warning once again brews to the tip of my mind. The typical whatever ye do, don’t talk to stranger’s speech.
    Come on, Addie, you’re not a kid anymore.
    I shake it off. I need to stop letting his fantasy world of crazy stop me from living my life.
    As the bartender places the beer in front of me, I grab for it, giving any reason not to have to make conversation. Maybe if I just ignore him, he’ll lose interest and leave.
    “Why don’t ye hurry up with that drink? I am eager to claim my little prize that so naughtily fell into my lap this evening.”
    I choke on the liquid in my mouth.
    Whoa! Hello, serious potty mouth. Too bad survey says, I’m a huge wimp and I’m going to forfeit this round. Bad idea. Bad idea. Bad idea. Even if I was dying for an adventure, there is no way I will go through with this. Tomorrow I will try picking up a guy at the movie theatre. Or the library.
    I take another sip struggling to get the beer down, but when I finally do, I pivot to face him and jump a tad at how close he is to me.
    “Whoa. Um, yeah, so… I’m sorry, but I don’t think…” I begin declining his offer, but my words trail off as our eyes meet. Immediately, he has this hold on me, one that forces us to keep eye contact. He makes me feel as if he’s not just staring at me, but completely through me. I try to pull away, but I can’t. My mind won’t let me. The more he holds me visually captive, the more I feel