My mom needs this work gig, and she is happy for the first time in ages after meeting Ben Magoo.If I say anything to upset Theron, it might result in us being sent away.
I feel the windows to my soul—my eyes—close down like shutters.
No matter how hard he tries to influence me, I mustn’t let him.Something about those teethcreep me out for a reason.
Time to pretend everything is normal and get out of here.I really need to be alone so that I can process this.
I smile and pretend to laugh.
“Yes.They are pointy.”Leaning against the rockface, I stand up and make sure to keep my eyes staring at the ground.“Let’s go down to the creek.I want to have a dip in the water.I feel…”—again, I do not want to offend him—“a bit yukky and sticky.”
Theron’s eyes narrow as he tries to calculate my mood.
My God, but he looks terrifying when that thin veneer of charm no longer hides him.
The long, glistening canines I saw hiding in plain sight tell another story.In all fairness, I only saw one, but it stands to reason that he has a matching fang on the other side.
I like to bite, sweet Aila.I love to satisfy the hunger that gnaws my insides.You are a tasty morsel that I want to gobble up.
He doesn’t need to say the words out loud.I can hear them in my mind.
Pulling up his jeans, Theron speaks naturally and acts naturally.“Sure thing, darlin’.Reckon I might join you just now.Guess we really worked up a sweat together.”But he’s not fooling me.I know every fiber in his body is stretched taut as he fumbles to pull the wool back over my eyes.
I pick up on Theron’s reluctance to leave the shadows.
“You like swimming?”I think he can tell how shocked I am that he accepted my invitation.He knows I want to flee into the sunshine, far away from this murky deception.
Let me go.
His answer is clear.No.
Theron’s hold over me is relentless.I must do as he commands.I can’t stop myself from looking up?—
He captures my vision and holds my gaze.“I like swimming if that is what you want to do, Aila.”
A wave of relief crashes over me as I give in to his ruthless domination over my mind.
Without bothering to zip himself up, he strides over to me with a cocky swagger.Taking me in his arms, he brushes the hair away from my face and stares deeply into my eyes.
“Don’t leave me hanging, darlin’.”
Too late, the last vestige of my rebellion crashes down.The defenseless feminine part of me that craves affection succumbs to Theron’s charm offensive.
He’s so desirable.He looks so damn hot with his jeans slung low on his hips and his zipper gaped open, giving me a glimpse of where his happy trail ends, spreading into a dark thatch around the root of his thick…
My train of thought goes walkabout whenever I think about how hot he is.“Did I leave you hanging?I wasn’t aware of it.”
All my doubts and fears evaporate as he stares down at me with his amber eyes.
“I said that I love you.Or have you forgotten?”Or are you choosing to ignore it?
That is the subtext of what he is saying.
I want to make a joke and avoid answering the question, but trying to break off eye contact with this man is so difficult.Shrugging it off only makes me more confused.
“What do you want me to say?”My limbs feel heavy.And I’m tired.I think I should sleep.
“Tell me that you love me, Aila—but only if you mean it.”
