Page 28

For so long, I haven’t felt anything good, and as desire fills me, it’s overpowering, stripping me of my control.

My head dips, and my harsh breaths meet her rushing ones. Our lips barely touch, parted and desperate to connect.

“Everything okay here?” a man suddenly asks, and I’m brutally ripped back to reality.

In a split second, I let go of Annie and move three steps backward.

Years of hiding my identity have me keeping my head low while I nod.

Annie clears her throat before she says, “Yes, Officer. We’re fine.”

I’m not fine. Not by a long shot.

My heart hammers in my chest, and I struggle to process what Annie makes me feel while the instinct to get myself out of this volatile situation hits hard.

Volatile, because for the first time in my life, I was unaware of my surroundings. I was distracted, and it left Annie unprotected.

“It’s just, I saw him with his hand around your neck, and thought I’d check it out,” the cop explains.

Fuck off already, asshole.

Annie clears her throat again. “Thanks, but we’re really fine. Just enjoying a night out.”

“Okay,” the cop says as he heads back to his patrol car. “Have a good night, folks.”

Needing to get Annie to safety so I can be alone, I grab her hand and haul her in the direction of our building.

Luckily, she doesn’t say anything and comes willingly. But I’m moving too fast, and when Annie suddenly trips, she grips hold of my arm with her other hand while falling against me.

I suppress the urge to haul her over my shoulder, and I’m forced to slow my pace so her shorter legs can keep up. Hypervigilant, my eyes constantly scan the surrounding area for any signs of danger.

When we reach our building, I quickly key in the code and shove the door open. I pull Annie up the stairs and take the liberty of digging her keys out of her pocket. Hurrying to unlock the door, I get the thing open and push Annie into her apartment before putting the keys in her palm.

“Lock up and stay home,” I order, my tone rough, then I pull the door shut and wait to hear her do as she’s told.

Breathless, I stand in front of her door, then pressing my palm to the cool wood, I lower my head and try to gather my bearings, which are scattered all over the place.

Fuck, I was a second away from kissing Annie.

If that cop hadn’t interrupted us . . .

My other hand grips my shirt over my racing heart.

I was utterly entranced by Annie.

Everything that could’ve gone wrong spills into my mind as I take a step back.

“I’m sorry.” Her soft words coming through the door make me pause. “Maybe we could ignore what happened?”

How do I do that?

After a few seconds, she asks, “Are you still there?”

“Yes,” I manage to force the word over my lips.

“Don’t overthink it, Owen.” I hear her move, and it sounds like she’s sitting down on the floor.

Doing the same, I lean back against the wall and turn my head to look at her front door. I bring my knees up and rest my forearms on them.