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It starts to get warm fast as the sun rises, and not saying anything, I pull away from him and scoot to the tailgate before jumping off.

Opening the passenger door, I search for one of the napkins we got with the takeout we had for dinner and use it to clean my glasses.

Rowan packs up everything, and when he gets in behind the steering wheel, I grab another napkin while searching for a spot to relieve my bladder.

God only knows when we’ll stop again.

Walking to the boulders a few hundred yards away, my sneakers crunch on the sand, and the rise in temperature feels sharp because it was freezing less than thirty minutes ago.

I don’t glance at the truck as I move in behind the formation of rocks, and checking the ground for bugs and critters, I feel horribly self-conscious as I push down my sweatpants.

My face is probably red as a tomato by the time I’m done, and I quickly fix my clothes before darting away from the boulders.

Leaning back against the side of the truck with his arms crossed over his chest, Rowan’s sharp gaze tracks me as I walk back to him.

We don’t exchange any words, and I avoid making eye contact.

I shrug off my jacket before I get into the truck, and after putting on the seat belt, I shove the jacket between my head and the window. Closing my eyes, I wrap my arms tightly around myself, hoping I’ll fall asleep and not wake up until our next stop.

Chapter 18

Rowan

The tires sing on the asphalt as they eat up one mile after another.

Annie’s finally getting in some sleep, so I don’t plan to stop until I have to fill up the tank.

When I woke up with her beneath me and saw the desire written all over her face, I couldn’t have stopped, even if a gun had been held to my head.

I don’t regret what happened between us, because it was life-altering to connect with Annie on such a deep level. Having her moan and come undone beneath me was the most significant moment of my life.

There’s everything that happened before I got to watch her beautiful features tighten with ecstasy, and then there’s the after and the future that awaits us.

Just like the Milky Way, the intimacy we shared drew a hard line through my life. There’s no going back to what was.

There’s only Annie, whose light keeps the darkness at bay.

For the first two and a half months I knew her, I fought the emotions she evoked in me. But since the night in her apartment before shit went down at the bar, my love for her has been growing out of control. There’s no stopping it.

While on the run with Annie, I’ve learned that even when she’s scared, she doesn’t give up. She has challenged me with questions, and I can see how hard she’s fighting whatever she feels for me.

I wish I could make it easier for her, but just like I had to realize loving her is inevitable, she has to come to that conclusion on her own.

I hope for her sake she finds a way to accept who I am, because I was serious when I said I won’t let her go. Ever.

Annie is mine. She is the one thing in this life I will be selfish about, and nothing will change my mind.

When she moves beside me, I glance between her and the road, watching as she turns from one side to the other, trying to find a comfortable spot.

Taking a chance, I reach for her and gently pull her down so she can use my thigh for a pillow. Annie adjusts the jacket over her shoulder before rubbing her cheek against my sweatpants, her breaths evening out again.

Resting my right hand on her hip, my eyes scan the harsh desert terrain around us. It’s pretty much going to be our view for the next week or so, only broken by small towns and gas stations.

I glance down at Annie again, thinking the trip is going to be hard on her, but we have no other choice. It’s the only way to keep us safe until we get to disappear.

Thinking of the days to come, I go through every possible scenario so nothing will catch me off guard. One slipup can mean the difference between a future with Annie and watching as Bratva soldiers take turns raping her before dismembering her body in front of me.

I won’t be given a quick death. They will keep me alive for months, forcing me to live with the memories of what they did to her. They will break me before killing me.