My pulse leaps wildly where he touches my skin, but the longer he stares down at me, the more the alarm shifts into heat. Roman glides his hand over my jaw and gently runs his thumb over my lower lip.
“John could never live up to your expectations,” he murmurs with a slight undertone of what sounds like jealousy.
I lick my lip unconsciously. “What makes you think I have expectations?”
His gaze narrows. “I have eyes, Briar. I know a longing girl when I see one. You’re a squirter, remember? I can tell. You just need someone to show you.”
There are at least ten things I want to say in reply to that, but they all get swallowed up when Roman bends down and kisses me.
My eyes widen, and my heart all but stops. It lasts for only a moment, but it ignites a fire within me. His scent invades every inch of my lungs, and to my utter horror, I find myself leaning into it.
Roman pulls back and stares down at me while I’m blinking up at him with awe. Did he just kiss me? I want to slap him, but I also want to kiss him again.
“Now, get on. I want to try to get a few hours of sleep tonight. You don’t want to see me when I don’t get at least two hours, Briar.” He acts as if he didn’t just make me second-guess every decision I’ve ever made. My cheeks are hot and I’m thankful for it being so dark.
He already looks like he only sleeps a handful of hours, so I really don’t want to find out what only two get him.
When he turns, I hook my arms around his shoulders and he wraps his arms under my knees.
The warmth from his skin instantly hits me. I let out a small whimper of relief and let my cheek rest against his shoulder. Did he kiss me only because John did? What game is he playing? I firm my lips, probably thinking way too deeply about it. But it doesn’t help that I’m so attracted to him. His villainous vibe is what my darkest dreams are made of.
Roman walks steadily, as if he’s not fazed at all by having to carry me or by the dark. I find myself squeezing my thighs around him tighter and trying to ignore the heat that’s igniting in my core.
After ten minutes, I can see the reflection of the moon in the lake. It’s still a ways away, but at least I know he was aware of where we were the whole time, unlike me. I’m so embarrassed that I got lost that quickly.
“What was your plan anyway? Run away into the woods and live like an animal?” Roman breaks the silence. He doesn’t sound nearly as annoyed as he could—more amused that I thought I could escape him and the others.
Arrogant prick.
“Do you really want to know?” I mumble against his shoulder.
He’s quiet for a second. “Yeah. I do.”
“I was going to hitchhike until I could find some other place to live, at least until I could save enough to move to another country. I know it sounds stupid, but all dreams sound a little silly at first, don’t they?”
“Why are you trying to leave?” His voice is threaded with confusion.
I consider telling him, but a branch snaps somewhere behind us and makes Roman’s muscles seize. His grip on my legs tightens, and he takes off running down the mountainside toward the lake like a banshee out of hell.
“If you let go, you’re dead,” Roman growls, teeth gritting and his feet crashing through the underbrush.
There’s someone else out here.
10
BRIAR
My heart racesas we’re relentlessly smacked with branches. Roman slips a few times but catches himself, not letting us fall. I’ve never held on to somebody so tightly in my entire life. A few times, I think I’ll lose my grip, but he’s holding me just as fiercely.
“What’s happening?” I whisper shout.
Roman doesn’t reply. His breaths are labored and he’s entirely focused on running as far as possible from whatever is behind us. I dare a glance over my shoulder and see something moving, then another figure shifting off to our left.
“Um, Roman, there’s another one!” My voice quivers, and he nearly drops me as he takes a hard right.
Oh my God. Are we being hunted by people?Grahm isn’t one of them, is he? The roar of my heartbeat nearly washes out all other sounds, and I have to bite into my lip to stay alert.
My arms are losing their strength to hold on. We’re so close to the lake now that I can smell the fresh water and sand. We’re going to make it. We’re going to?—
