“Yes.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I’m leaving for St. Mary’s tomorrow.”
I am.
That’s why I came tonight looking for answers. That’s why it’s so imperative for me to know.
God, I just want toknow.
“I know that too,” he says. “I’m taking you.”
“What?”
He nods in confirmation. But that’s not the only thing he does.
He moves as well.
He takes a slow but deliberate step toward me and strangely, I move back.
“I thought two weeks would be enough time for you to rethink your decision of going back to that hellhole,” he tells me as he comes closer. “But if you won’t change your mind, then I’ll be the one to take you.”
My feet stumble slightly but I keep going. I keep moving back as I whisper, “It was you. You came up with two weeks.”
“You needed your rest. But more than that, you needed some time away from that place. After everything that happened.” A dark look ripples through his stunning features, a menacing look. “And I thought it would give you time to make the right decision. But I guess I should know better by now, shouldn’t I? No one can control you. No one can bind you by rules or put you in a box or rein you in. You’re Salem. You’re probably why they name hurricanes and natural catastrophes after girls like you.”
I swallow at the possessiveness in his tone, at the possessiveness in his eyes.
Actually, it’s more than that.
It’s more than possessiveness.
There’s some tenderness as well. Some helplessness and torment. A hint of amusement.
All at the same time.
And it makes his eyes glow.
“Ihaveto go back,” I whisper, still moving back. “My friends are there. They need me.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to take you. And I’m going to make sure no one, no one at all, dares to even look at you wrong, let alone says anything to you. And if they do, then it’ll give me great fucking pleasure to take care of them. To take care of anyone who bothers you.”
Finally, I come to a stop.
My butt hits something. It’s the edge of his desk that’s laden with his books.
His new hobby.
Despite the fact that I want to go back, that I want to see my friends and especially be there for Callie, I am really nervous.
I’m nervous about the gossip, the looks I’ll get from the girls, from the teachers. By now everybody must know that I have a thing for him. By now everyone must hate me even more, if possible. So his promise to me, spoken in such an authoritative and possessive tone, makes my body all lazy and heavy.
Cozy.
But I can’t give in to it. I can’t.
