Chapter 3 – may god forgive me

A whole month had passed and I didn't see any of the Geckos, until the 11th February I was washing my father's car when I happened to glance up and see Richie, leaning against the door, a cigarette loosely hanging from his perfectly pouty lips. I smiled shyly before ducking my head down and focusing on cleaning the already sparkling tires of the car. The sun beamed down and I wiped my hand across my forehead. The temperature had increased over night giving us a 30c temperature.

Suddenly the sun was being blocked by a shadow I looked up and saw Richie standing there with a smile

"Hey"

Standing up slowly I drank him in, he was dressed in black slacks, with a white button up shirt all the way to his neck and a black blazer. His hair had been styled so it was sleeked back and he still wore his glasses. My poor heart skipped a beat

"Hello"

He offered me a cigarette I shook my head

"No thanks, dad said I shouldn't smoke it's bad for you"

He chuckled and took a huge puff of smoke before slowly blowing it out, how could something so simple become so sensual?

"Kate"

O god my friends quickly ran up the path they stared at Richie

"Well looks like Kate been keeping you a secret" Ann stuck her hand out, but Richie didn't take it if anything he looked slightly confused before his eyes widened he reached for something in from the back of his pants

"Whoa" Seth rushed up and grabbed his brother, when they turned I held in a gasp as I saw a revolver I quickly looked to my friends who were too busy looking at Richie and Seth

"What the hell" Brianna whispered

Seth and his brother were arguing quietly, Seth wore something similar to his brother only his shirt wasn't buttoned to the top giving me a glance of his delicious neck. I heard Richie whisper stuff like 'they're not what they seem'. Looking to my friends, I told them to wait in the house. Sighing heavily Richie looked at me with the same intense look he gave me when I helped him shave.

I eventually had to look away

What was this man doing to me?

(+)(+)(+)(+)

Momma didn't feel right about Richie once my friends had told her what happened, she told me if Vanessa or Seth was there she didn't mind me going round but she didn't want me going there alone with Richie

"He seems…a little unhinged sweetie" momma stroked my hair I turned away

"I thought we weren't supposed to judge? And when I went round the other month he was fine"

"Baby, please" momma whispered I closed my eyes and sighed

"Fine momma"

She nodded happily and kissed my forehead

I walked out the house and sat down on our front porch

"Hey Kate"

Snapping my head up quickly, Seth was at the end of the driveway with a couple of bags of food I quickly fixed my hair and stood up

"Hey"

He gave me a little smile before slowly walking up to me, I wanted to see him shirtless really, really bad. May god forgive me

"Everything ok?" his tilted to the side I nodded, I don't think he believed me. He sighed and sat down next to me on the porch "What's up kid?"

Kid, I have never hated that word so much in all my life

"Momma doesn't seem to trust your brother"

He again sighed and set the bags down "She's right not to, we're not good people Kate, neither is Richie"

I looked at him a little confused, from what I've seen of them they seemed decent enough, apart from the revolver which I wanted to ask him about "Richie is a tortured soul Seth, that's all"

The way he looked at me, I think he was a little shocked I defended his brother "you're one of a kind aren't you princess" he moved some hair from my face and I held my breath to hold in a girly sequel in delight.

He was touching me, and it was only a simple touch, but so much better than I had actually imagined

He left his hand on my shoulder I could swear he could feel my heart beat harder against my flushed skin he shook his head and dipped into the bag

"Cookie?"

I grinned and took it from him "Thank you"

Removing his hand from my shoulder he dipped into the bag. He took his own cookie out and we started talking. He told me all the places he and his family went

New York, Chicago, New Orleans

He showed me the tattoo when he pushed his blazer off his shoulders he rolled up his sleeve

"wow" the unusually pattern reminded me of flames "can I touch it?"

He gave me a smirk "do you say that to all the boys?"

I was confused before I blushed he gave me a deep laugh

"Kiddin' sweetheart" he moved his arm closer to me and I touched his skin.

I couldn't believe I was touching him. His skin was smooth apart from a few scars I frowned; wanting to ask him how he got them but that was too personal I just enjoyed the feeling of his skin on mine.

"I want to get a tattoo" I told him, never taking my eyes away from the tattoo, which indecently, I wanted to lick from his wrist all the way to his neck

"O yeah" he took his arm away and I think I might have deflated a little with disappointment "the preacher will let you do that? I thought there was some rule like 'thou shall not ink my body' or some crap"

I giggled; I was rewarded with another smile

"Leviticus 19:28 - Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you" I recited

He shook his head

"Don't tell my dad"

He looked at me a little surprised he looked between the front door and then me, he gave me a wicked smile the mischief playing on his eyes "You're going to go behind your daddy's back"

Biting my lip he gave a load heart-warming laugh, slapping his hands against his legs "damn" licking his lips he looked at me in delight I think I might have gave a dreamy sigh "well when you decide to get one" he pointed to himself "you come to me, I'll take you" he winked at me. WINKED.

I nodded quickly "absolutely"

Finishing his cookie he wiped the crumbs of his shirt

Before I could even think my hand reached up on its own accord and wiped a stray piece of cookie crumble from the side of his mouth we both froze for a fraction of a second.

Seth looked between my eyes and my lips

O my god! Was he going to…

He snapped out of it when the front door opened

Momma stood there, a confused look on her face

"Seth?"

He gave her a little salute "Mrs. Fuller" he picked up his bags "so remember what I said Kate"

I nodded and smiled brightly "I will"

Rushing into his house I saw him tip his head back and groan

"Richie, how many times do I have to tell you to close the damn door?"

I heard his brother shout something back but didn't hear it I chuckled and rushed past my mum and into my room, closing my door behind me I leaned onto it and did a little dance with glee.