Page 36 of The Quiet Witness

Kate couldn’t help herself, she burrowed closer to the source of comfort. Lucien’s arms tightened around her, offering what little he could while he strode on. Keeping a steady rhythm. Every second counted.

His heartbeat echoed in her ears. Her eyes fluttered, falling shut every couple of seconds before she shook awake again. The cold holding every inch of her in its tight grasp.

“And still you keep going.” The person holding her muttered.

It wasn’t a question, not even a statement.

He demanded her to keep going. His hold tightened again. “Keep fighting it, Kate.”

But as much as he told her to stay awake, the steady thud below her ears told her to slip off. Sleep.

The latter won. Darkness tempted her in. She was used to it by now. Welcomed it.

She went straight into its waiting arms.

***

Orange lights. Blazing warmth collapsed against her icy cheeks.

Kate’s eyes fluttered open.

A hazy figure crouched by the fire and fur tickled her feet. She hugged her legs to her body, jaws clenched together. A hand touched her temple. A second later, a fuzzy blanket fell over her raw skin. She huddled deeper under it.

Then the couch dipped, a shadow sat down next to her. Fingers skimmed alongside her waist as wet fabric was being pulled back.

Kate snapped to life. She clamped her hands over his, stopping the movement.

“Don’t, don’t, you touch me.”

He went still beneath her. “Kate.”

“Please!”

“Kate, sweetheart.” He whispered.

“No, no, no. Anything but this.”

A finger dug between hers, interlocking them together. Willing her to hear him.

“Look at me.”

She tried. Fighting to stay afloat as the memories tried to drag her away. Cold yellow walls intruding on her.

“Look at me, Kate.”

She did. Between a blur of… tears. He was the only thing she saw. All else faded into the background. Just her and her killer, and the past swirling between.

His green eyes held her steady. “Listen to me closely. If I don’t take off those top layers, you’re still at risk.”

Her head spun, she shook it. Violently. “No.”

The finger clenched harder around hers. “Whatever happened in the past, I’m not him, okay?”

His stare dug deeper, earnestness lining his face. “I may be a killer Kate. But this is a line… I would never cross.”

The true meaning didn’t hit home. Not fully.

Only thing she knew was that she was alone with a man who wanted to undress her.