Kissing Trouble Read Online Free

doorframe.
    Julie swooped down. Her leg shot out and she kicked the figure off his feet. He went down and she kicked him straight in the ribs. She was rewarded with another exclamation, then a weak whimper that would have been amusing any other time.
    “Shaun?”
    The second voice from somewhere deeper in the kitchen had Julie sidestepping to press her back into the wall just outside the door for a second time. She swung the bat over her shoulder and planted her feet shoulder-width apart, bracing her weight.
    The second figure, blind in the dark and confused by the commotion, scuffled forward. Julie could hear their hesitant steps towards her. The first one snarled in pain when his buddy trampled on him by accident. Julie heard the second one stumble and catch himself on the doorframe.
    “Dude, what—”
    Julie swung without a second of pause. She kept her her aim low for the abdomen. It made contact with a satisfying thwack and a sound like a mouse being stomped on whooshed through the air as the second figure dropped on top of the other, earning a loud grunt of pain from his friend. He was shoved unceremoniously off and he collapsed on his side, cradling his abdomen and whining like an injured puppy.
    Breathing hard, Julie scuttled back, keeping a close eye on the pair.
    “Who are you?” she demanded. “What are you doing here?”
    Neither spoke. There was a sound like air being released from a balloon, but that was all.
    “Who are you?” she snarled a second time.
    Deep in the kitchen, a lock clicked. The terrace doors slid on their grates and then banged shut as a third person joined the party. Then a very bedroom-worthy voice vaulted through the room, cutting through the darkness to muffle the groans at her feet.
    “Very funny locking me out, you assholes.” The soft clip of feet beat against the silence. It was moving across the room, towards Julie and the two still trying to catch their breaths. “Guys?”
    Lights burst to life. Julie grimaced as the sharpness off it chased away the shadows and burned her eyes. The two on the floor groaned even louder. The one nearest her, the one that had gotten the bat to the gut, flopped over onto his back.
    “Run!” he squeaked. “ T-1000 ’s are attacking!”
    The footsteps were hurried now. A shadow fell over the two on the floor. Julie tightened her grip on the bat.
    “What the fuck—”
    Julie swung, determined to take the intruder down before they could get the upper hand.
    “Whoa!”
    He was quick. He ducked and Julie’s bat struck the doorframe inches from his head, chipping wood and sending slivers of pain shooting up her arms. She cried out as her weapon rebounded and flew out of her hands. It clattered noisily to the floor and rolled out of reach.
    Julie opened her mouth to curse only to be slammed into by a hard body. They both struck the ground, with her taking most of the blow. The impact, combined with the immense weight coming down on top of her, crushed the air from her lungs so she couldn’t even cry out. Her assailant took advantage of her momentary weakness by wrenching her arms over her head and locking them to the hardwood by the wrists.  Toned thighs settled on hers, anchoring her completely so all she could do was thrash uselessly.
    “Get off me!” she snarled.
    “Easy, love,” the smoky voice soothed, like he were pacifying a child who was having a wee tantrum.
    The light behind him shone through dark hair, tinting the tips a soft red. Shadows painted over his features so all she could make out was the glimmer in his eyes and the slight flash of teeth in what she could have sworn was a grin.
    “Who are you?” she demanded. “What do you want?”
    “Honestly? I wouldn’t say no to a beer,” he replied evenly. “Maybe a smoke.” He paused. Then added more seriously, “Definitely a smoke.”
    Confusion pulled at Julie. “What?”
    But whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the soft scuffle from above them. His head