Eloise nods. “I don’t know what kind of pull Larkin has, but I never take any chances. I bought that piece-of-shit car because I like to be able to move around as often as possible. I hadn’t driven in four years, but I’ll forever be glad that the mom at the last house where I lived taught me how to drive. That car I bought was my home. It gave me a place to sleep. I never give anyone much information. I find jobs in small towns, usually in diners where the owner needs help and is willing to overlook the fact that I prefer to be paid in cash. I negotiate really low wages in exchange for free food and no questions.”
A million thoughts are racing through my mind. I need to know her last name so Mace can dig around. I suspect nothing was ever reported to the police. I doubt Larkin would have bothered. He didn’t need to turn her in for drug possession. That would only draw attention to him. Everyone in town assumed she’d run away. It was a closed case. No one cared.
“What’s your last name, Eloise?”
“Manning,” she mutters.
“I’m going to have Mace see if there are any warrants out for your arrest, Little one. We’ll go from there.”
She twists to fully face me and fists her hands against my chest. “I can’t get an ID or open a bank account because he’ll find me.”
“He’ll never find you, Little one. I promise.”
She swallows hard. “You’re going to kill him, aren’t you?”
“Definitely.” I won’t lie to her.
“But he’s a police officer. What if you get caught?”
“I won’t, angel. I never get caught.”
She uncurls her hands, grabs my face, and flattens her mouth against mine so fast it takes me a moment to react. My girl is kissing me. She’s not shy about it. She tips her head to one side and kisses me as though she has ten minutes to live.
I slide my hands around her waist and haul her closer, letting her lead things. There’s no way I’m going to stop her. For one thing, I’m putty in her hands. Her lips are so soft. Her little moans make my cock hard. Her hands roam up around my neck.
She kisses me until she’s breathless. We both are when she finally breaks free. “I’ve been wanting to do that,” she whispers.
“I’m glad you did, angel.” I nuzzle her nose with mine. “You’re welcome to kiss me anytime, Little one.”
“Will you have sex with me?”
This surprises me. “When you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.”
I fight the urge to groan as I lean back a few inches. “You’re not, Little one.”
She narrows her gaze. “How do you know what I’m ready for?”
“You’ve been through hell. You’ve only been safe for one night. You need time to heal before you make that decision.” Hardest words I’ve ever spoken since I’d love to carry her into my bedroom, strip her naked, and make her scream my name. But I won’t do that to her today. She needs time. She needs to know in her heart that she’s safe with me. She needs to know she’ll never leave me. Because I can’t possibly take her to my bed and survive her leaving me.
“I’m not injured, Cannon,” she argues.
I smile. “Emotionally, you are. And besides, how many men have you slept with, Eloise?” I know the answer. Or I assume I do. She never let that fucking Westin touch her. It’s extremely unlikely she’s even spoken more than a few words to another man since she escaped, and the chances she let one of those boys in high school get near her are nil.
Admittedly I wasn’t expecting her to tell me she just spent three-and-a-half years with a man who never raped her, but I’m fucking relieved.
She sighs and plays with the collar of my shirt. “I get it.”
My brows raise. “You get what?”
She shrugs. “You prefer to have sex with women who know what they’re doing.”
“No, Eloise. That’s not it. Not even close. I’m fucking glad that asshole never took your virginity. I’ll be humbled if you choose to give me that gift when you’re ready. I do not need you to ‘know what you’re doing.’ I’m not going to have sex with you because I’d rather make love to you. And I will, when you’re positive that you’re never going to leave. I don’t honestly think my heart would survive if I brought you to my bed and then you changed your mind and left me.”
Her eyes widen. “You can’t mean that.”
“Every word, Little one.”
