“What if someone sees me?” I press. “I’m not ready for war yet.”
“If you’re with me, no one will say a thing to anyone who comes asking or looking. I promised you; you were safe with me. I meant it.”
My eyes bounce between his, unease working through me. I have no idea what’s happening in the outside world. I’ve been here for weeks with no connection. No one has come looking for me again, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t searching. I know my uncle. He’s going to want a body.
“I’m not going to force you,” He says gently, leaning in to brush his mouth against mine, “But you can’t stay here forever either.”
How easy it is to fall into him should be studied.
“I’ll stay in the car,” I whisper.
“Whatever you want,” He turns Honey back around. “Come on.”
The ride back to the house is as uncomfortableas it was coming out here, but once we’re back, Knox helps me down, my knees wobbling a little.
He catches me, frowning as he looks me over.
“I’m fine,” I swat him away.
“Elena,” He growls, “What’s wrong?”
“Really, Knox,” I push at his hands again as he searches for an injury he’s not going to find. “Stop!”
“Don’t fucking lie to me!” He snaps harshly, freezing me in the spot.
For a second I stare at him and his audacity, soreness forgotten. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
He takes a deep breath, eyes closing, and I swear he counts to three before he opens his eyes again and pins me beneath his blue stare. Perhaps that look works on his workers, hell, on anyone else, but on me, it’s just going to piss me off.
I may have submitted to him in the bedroom, given him my body behind closed doors, but out here? Nope.
“I’ll give you a chance to apologize,” I tell him, “Because raising your voice to me isn’t going to do it for me, cowboy, and you should really consider yourself lucky because anyone else, I’d have walked away or killed them.”
He licks his teeth and releases a heavy sigh. “Are youhurt?”
“No more than I was yesterday,” I cross my arms over my chest, “And the wobble is because I’msore.”
His eyes drop to my thighs, namely the space between them.
“Shit.”
“An apology would be grand any second now,” I stare at him expectantly.
His body softens, and he reaches for me, hooking his hand around my waist to pull me in. “I apologize for raising my voice.”
“Don’t do it again,” I lean into his palm when he lifts his free hand to my face, turning to nip his palm with my teeth.
“Vicious little Hellion,” He rasps.
“Get a room!” Chase hollers from atop his horse, his shit-eating grin splitting his face.
“Fuck off!” Knox bites back to the chorus of Chase’s laughter.
It brings a smile to my face, which I quickly drop. It’s entirely too easy to be free here, to forget it all.
“I like that,” Knox’s thumb presses to my bottom lip, “That smile.”
Stepping away, I let both his hands drop and look toward his truck. “Well, are we leaving or not?”
