Page 37 of Hunted By Them

“You’re mine, of course I did.”

“Don’t leave, please.”

I couldn’t refuse her, and that was dangerous. Holding her tight, I rolled us onto our sides. I brushed her hair back, kissing her damp neck.

“Sleep, Sweet Daisy.”

She tried to fight it, but eventually her breath slowed, and her body softened.

I lay there long enough to be sure she’d fallen back to sleep, then eased out of the bed. I left the antler piece sitting on her nightstand and the blindfold covering her eyes. I wanted her to wake up and feel its weight, to remember this moment even in the bright light of the morning’s rays.

I fastened my belt and pulled up the blankets, tucking her in before letting myself out. It was quiet as I traveled down and out to the street. I stood among the shadows for a long time afterward, letting the cool night wash over me as I watched her window. Once I was sure she hadn’t woken up, I turned and walked along the sidewalk, letting the night swallow me.

The blindfold would whisper to her when morning came.

You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone. You’re mine.

SAGE

The morning sunlight was too bright, like it had no business touching me. It glanced off glass towers, ricocheted down the street, and burned the back of my neck. It was way too warm for October.

I stood at the curb outside work, waiting in line for the burrito cart I’d eaten at a hundred times before, but for the first time, it felt like I was doing something foreign.

Normal now equaled pretend.

My thighs brushed together, and I bit the inside of my cheek as the memory of last night flashed behind my eyes. The ache he’d left behind was still there, a bruised pulse that wouldn’t fade no matter how many steps I walked or how hard I tried to breathe it out.

Buck had been in my bed. He came looking for me. A sane person would’ve called the cops. But all I wanted to know was if he was coming back?

At least I knew with certainty it hadn’t been some elaborate dream and that I wasn’t going crazy. My body knew the truth. The blindfold sitting on my nightstand knew the truth. Every shift of my hips reminded me exactly what had happened, and I didn’t care how. I didn’t care if it made sense. He had found me. He had claimed me. He was real.

“Next,” the vendor barked, and I startled forward, fumbling for cash.

I never made it.

A familiar voice called out my name. “Sage.”

A kiss landed against my cheek, warm and unwelcome. I turned my head. Connor stood there, too close, smiling like nothing had ever happened. Like I hadn’t told him a million times to go to hell and leave me alone. He was dressed in one of his fancy suits, wearing shiny shoes, and had his hair styled perfectly. At one time, I’d thought he was a real catch, that I was with someone way out of my league. But now all I saw was another wannabe.

Expensive condo. Leased sports car. Thousand-dollar suits, and for what? To show off to the guys at the golf course? Connor lived paycheck to paycheck, just like I did, because he loved to toss his money around like it grew on trees. Once upon a time, I was blinded by the lavish lifestyle and fell for the Prince Charming act.

Not anymore.

“Don’t do that,” I barked, glaring at him.

“Do what?” He looked genuinely confused.

“Kiss me or touch me at all. We are not together.”

He didn’t acknowledge what I’d said as he pointed up at the food truck.

“You should place your order. Or do you want me to?”

“No, I don’t want you to.” The guy manning the truck was staring between Connor and me like he’d just found a great soap opera to watch. “I’ll take your number two with hot sauce and a coffee with one cream.”

“Coming right up,” the guy said, and I turned back to Connor.

“What are you doing here?”