But instead, I sit in silence, letting her believe I’m one of the monsters, while my mate curls herself against the door, radiating terror and fury.
The car takes a turn, and momentum slides her slightly toward me. When our thighs brush for just a second, heat shoots through me at the contact. The truth slams into me, knocking the breath from my lungs.
Mate.
My fists close as I fight the urge to reach for her, to bury my fingers in her golden hair, and press my lips to hers.
She jerks away like I’ve burned her. Using one hand on my leg to push herself back to her side of the seat, she presses harder against the door.
I bite back a groan when her palm slides high on my thigh, heat flaring through me.
Awkward silence hangs between us.
“Are you okay?” The question comes out quiet, but even I can hear how inadequate it is.
She whips around to face me, green eyes glistening with unshed tears. “How could I possibly be okay? I’ve been kidnapped, and I’m about to be sold to the highest bidder.” Angrily, she wipes at her eyes. “Being inexperienced never made me popular before, but apparently, I’m a real catch in fucked-up psycho land.”
Her cheeks pink as she grips the edge of the seat, looking ready to bolt the first chance she gets.
“Stupid question.” I wince at my own idiocy and hold my hands up in surrender.
She turns back to the window, arms folded and chin lifted, but I catch the way her lower lip trembles slightly before she gets it under control.
“I really am sorry.” The words come out before I can stop them.
She lets out a bitter laugh. “If you expect me to believe that then you must be dumber than you look.” She’s quiet for a moment, then adds softly, “If you were really sorry, if you had a decent bone in your body, you wouldn’t work for a man like this. And if you really meant it, you’d find a way to let me out of this car.”
It’s not an accusation, but more like a challenge. We stare at each other, neither willing to back down.
“I won’t do that.” I eventually admit.
She scoffs. “I can’t leave anyway, not until my brother’s safe. But you proved my point. You’re just like the rest of them.”
The fire in her eyes stirs the beast inside me.
I am nothing like these men, and very soon, she’ll realize that.
I watch her reflection in the dark glass as we drive. The city thins out, and high rises give way to lower buildings that stretch into darkness, broken only by the occasional gas station or late-night diner. Every cell in my body recognizes her. The mate bondis a living thing now, a tether in my chest, that pulls taut with every inch of distance she puts between us.
The curve of her jaw. The defiant set of her shoulders, even now. There’s steel underneath the fear, and something about that makes me want her even more.
The road hums beneath us as miles pass.
She keeps her face turned to the window, and I keep my eyes on the road ahead, giving her what little privacy I can in this enclosed space.
We’ve left civilization behind completely now. Nothing but trees press in on either side, the headlights occasionally catching the flash of animal eyes in the undergrowth before they disappear.
I can’t stop looking at her, checking on her.
Emma’s eyes are starting to droop, lids heavy, head dipping forward before she catches herself and straightens.
She must be running on adrenaline ever since they took her. Kidnapped, terrified, paraded in front of predators and probably barely sleeping through any of it. Her body is demanding rest whether she wants to give in or not.
She fights it, of course. She doesn’t trust me or this car, and she doesn’t want to be vulnerable for even a second. Her fingers grip her arms, nails digging in, trying to use the pain to keep herself awake. But her eyes slide shut again, staying closed for a beat longer this time. Her head nods forward, then jerks back up. She blinks rapidly, shifting in her seat, and changes position to face forward, like that might help.
Between one breath and the next, she loses the battle. Her rigid posture softens, some tension draining out of her shoulders. Her head droops, chin tucking toward her chest. And then, slowly, inevitably, she slides toward me.
Her head comes to rest against my shoulder, and everything in me goes still.
