Page 67 of Burn Me Down

“You do know this all sounds like a wildly fabricated story, right?”

“I do, but I couldn’t make this up. Ava thinks bushes are evil and trying to kill her. She loves cookies, is fiercely loyal, and trapped inside her mind, is a good person.”

“Is that why you call me Cookie, because of her?” I needed to know.

I could feel him smile, even though I couldn’t see his face. “No, I call you Cookie because you always smell like fresh baking, and it makes me feel warm inside. One of the only good memories I have of my childhood is my mother making fresh chocolate chip cookies and me stealing one while they were hot. For as long as it took me to eat that cookie, I felt normal and safe. Now, you make me feel safe and loved. I’ll just say it, and I don’t care if it scares you away. I love you, Beck. I fucking love everything about you, and you don’t have any idea how you have saved my soul from certain, eternal damnation.” Derek cupped my cheeks, and I closed my eyes, the tears forming all over again and trickling free. “I have done many, many terrible things in my life, things I can never take back that will haunt me, but I will never hurt you. I will never cheat on you, and I will love you until I take my last breath. Don’t ever doubt that, no matter what crazy shit comes our way. My heart belongs to you and you alone.”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t form words. I gave up and wrapped my arms around Derek’s neck, kissing him hard and pouring all the emotion I could into the kiss. I didn’t know how he ripped the armor off my heart so quickly, but he was meant to be mine. I knew that before I ever knew him.

Derek grabbed my ass, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pulled me up his body.

“I love you, too,” I said against his lips as the intense emotions I’d been trying to tamp down broke loose. Who cares how fast it happened? It felt natural.

Derek groaned as he pushed my back up against the wall. “Fuck, this is not how I planned to tell you, but don’t ever doubt how I feel again.” It felt like a command, and I nodded.

“Yes,” I said, my heart beating fast enough to make me feel faint.

“When you get out of work, come over, and I’ll show you exactly how I feel.” I smiled as he nipped at my neck. “I’m even going to try and cook something.”

I giggled. “Don’t set the house on fire,” I teased.

“Don’t worry, I know how to put it out,” he growled, and I held him tighter. “Fuck, I want you right now.”

“I want you, too, but I need to get back to work before my boss writes me up twice in one day.”

“Want me to kill him? I’d be happy to,” he said, and even though I knew he would, I couldn’t help laughing.

“Her and no. This is one battle I need to fight on my own. Killing everyone that I know may start to look a little suspicious. Oh, speaking of that, there was a detective at my apartment when I got there. He didn’t mention you, but he saw the truck I drove in with, and I don’t know if he is going to tail me or something, so I don’t know if it will be safe for me to come over.”

Derek nipped at my ear and growled, making me grip the front of his hoodie to keep from falling over as my knees went weak.

“Trust me, I’m not letting you sleep alone ever again.” I licked my lips, my throat as dry as any desert. “I have a job tonight for Chase, but I’ll come to the apartment after.” His lips trailed along my jaw before sucking my lower lip into his mouth. I was tempted to throw all caution out the door. Derek pushed himself back, and I shivered as the heat of his body retreated. He tipped my head up, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze. “Remember, you’re mine, Cookie, and I play for keeps.”

He opened the door, letting the light in, and I still couldn’t see him under the deep hood. “I’ll see you tonight.” I caught a hint of a smirk, and then he was gone.

I clutched at my racing heart. “Holy hell.”

Smoothing my hair back, I made sure my scrubs were in place before grabbing some random supplies for the ER. I almost crashed into another nurse when I pulled open the door just as someone else pushed on the handle.

“Oh, sorry,” I said, and even with the mask, I knew those caramel eyes.

“No worries,” she said, and I froze as she walked past me.

Slowly turning around, I blinked. No way. Could it be? “Angel?” The other woman stopped gathering her supplies and looked at me with wide eyes. “What are you doing here,” I asked, taking in her scrubs and picking her out to work in trauma.

“I work here,” she said, and then rushed toward me and pulled me into the room, closing the door. This was the most storage room action I’d ever seen, and I suddenly wondered if I’d fallen into an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. “Please don’t tell anyone you saw me working at Foxy Rail. I don’t like anyone here knowing.”

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Why do you work here at all? And why have I never seen you here before? Or have I?” My brain began racing.

She laughed. “Do you really think I grew up wanting to work at a strip club? No, I wanted to be a doctor, but that fell through, and I became a nurse. School debt is real. The club lets me pay it off faster without having to worry about my rent or care for my son. Even though the club is not close to here, I can’t be too safe so I always wear the mask.”

“Does that mean you recognized me?” She looked away and nodded.

“We’d never officially met, but I’ve seen you around, so I recognized you at the club. I’m happy Dragon has you, he seems hopelessly in love, it’s sweet.” She eyes lit up and I blushed.

“So, is Angel your real name?”

“No, it’s Camryn. Please don’t say anything. It’s hard enough to earn respect, but if anyone found out I’m an exotic dancer, it would make everything twice as hard.”