Forbidden Shadows (Lee County Wolves Book 7)

Chapter 20

Clare hadn’t realized just how long she had stayed at the farmhouse talking with Deb. As they left, walking through the field toward town, she noticed a stillness in the air. It had been a warm, humid day. Thunder rumbled in the distance. It was that time of year for spring storms. Her eyes fell on the garage, but it was dark inside. Either Malcolm was on patrol or asleep. Sadness and disappointment hit her hard as they passed. She had really wanted to talk to him.

“Looks like we’re in for some storms tonight,” Deb mentioned, looking up to the sky.

“I don’t mind a regular thunderstorm, but when they get severe, I get a little nervous,” Clare admitted, looking up at the sky. “Hail, wind, and tornados I can do without.”

“I think tomorrow we are in for some severe weather.” Deb stopped when they reached the feed store. “Do you have a basement?”

“No, but I try to pay close attention and head to Garretts if things get too crazy,” Clare assured her. A loud clap of thunder made Clare jump, clasping her chest. “That scared the crap out of me. Where in the world did that come from.”

Deb pointed up and laughed. “Made me jump too.” She looked in the direction of Clare’s house. “I have a few things to take care of inside before I go home. Why don’t you wait out the storm with me?”

“I better not. I have a pile of mail to go through and need a shower before I can even think of going to bed.” Clare said, then yawned with a laugh. “Sorry, that was rude.”

“At least let me drive you home.” Deb frowned as lightning flashed across the sky.

“Don’t be silly,” Clare said as she started to walk away. “It’s right down the road. I’ll be there before the storm hits.”

“If you”re sure,” Deb said, then gave her a wave when Clare waved her hand.

Clare crossed the empty street, picking up her pace as lightning flashed around her. The wind was picking up, blowing her hair in her face. One thing about spring storms in Kentucky is that they can come up on you quickly and with a vengeance. She was starting to regret not taking that ride from Deb.

“Oh, well,” She chuckled nervously as a huge raindrop hit her on the forehead. “I won’t melt. I might get struck by lightning, but I won’t melt.” She tried to make light of the situation, but she had a feeling she was about to get caught in one hell of a storm.

Clare quickened her pace as the wind became stronger, whipping around her, even pushing her sideways at times. Lightning struck somewhere up ahead in the woods with a loud crack and a thundering boom following the strike. Rain came down in sheets, drenching her instantly. She saw her porch light in the distance just as another strong gust of wind almost sent her off her feet.

“Holy shit.” She fought to stay upright. Wiping the rain and hair out of her face she looked around hoping to hell she wasn’t walking into a damn tornado.

Squinting through the rain, she frowned. She couldn’t see her porch light anymore. Turning, she saw that the town was totally dark. The electricity was out. Hearing trees cracking around her, she tried to look out for falling branches, but it was raining so hard she couldn’t see anything.

The wind blew sideways, making the rain look like sheets of water. Her eyes tried to focus on where she knew her house was, and that’s when she saw the shadow of a man. Fear crept up her spine as she slowed her steps. She didn’t know what to do. Should she run, and if so, where in the hell to? She’d never make it back to town, and if she ran into the woods, she could literally be killed by a falling tree from the wind. Her options were slim, very slim.

Another loud crack of lightning and thunder made her scream because she wasn’t ready for it. Instead, she was focused on the shadow of a man now approaching her.

“No,” Clare whispered as she started backing up. “No. No. No.” She shook her head, then turned and ran. The rain had flooded the street, making it hard for her to run. She could hear pounding footsteps behind her, getting closer. The wind was getting stronger, working against her. Knowing she wasn’t going to make it into town, she veered toward the woods. A shout behind her was muffled by the wind and rain; she ignored it and continued to run. If she could get further away, she could hide until someone came to find her.

“Dammit, Clare!” A familiar voice shouted. “Stop.”

“Malcolm?” Clare cried out, turning around to see Malcolm running toward her shirtless, barefoot, and in shorts. She slipped in the wet mud, almost falling, but caught herself. “You scared me. I didn’t know it was you.”

A crack of lightning and thunder rattled her brain just as the sound of trees cracking sounded around them. Malcolm cursed, looking up as he swooped her in his arms and began to run toward her house. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held on tight.

Clare wondered if fear could make you lose your mind because instead of realizing she had been in danger, she could only think of how damn good Malcolm looked wet and shirtless. She glanced up as he ran; his face looked like it was cut from stone, and his eyes glowed in the darkness, focused on getting them to their destination.

Feeling deeply disappointed that they were already at her house, she frowned. Yep, she had lost her mind. He set her down, standing close to her as she fished her keys out of her pocket and then unlocked the door. He gently pushed her inside, closing the door behind them.

She turned to thank him but stopped at the angry glare on his face. “What?”

“What?” He growled, his glowing eyes beaming down at her. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Thank you?” Clare dared to be a smartass and then regretted it. She really didn’t want to fight with this man. “Sorry, but I didn’t know it was supposed to rain.”

“It’s doing a little more than rain out there,” Malcolm said just as a flash of lightning brightened the room as if proving his point.

Clare turned to find a candle and lighter, but couldn’t see shit. Cursing, she finally found one and lit it. “I thought I could make it before it hit.” She said turning back toward him and damn she wished she hadn’t lit that candle because being able to really look at him she almost drooled a little bit. His black hair was curling and hanging in his face as he glared at her. His skin was wet, making him glisten in the candlelight. He looked wild, wet, and smelled amazing.

“Why were you alone?” His voice was deep but not as hard as it had been. She noticed his own eyes exploring, and her body reacted tingling in all the right places.

“Because you left the farmhouse.” She retorted, not hiding anything anymore. He either wanted her or he didn’t. Tonight, she was going to find out. She swiped her wet hair off her forehead as she stared up at him. “Any more questions?”

“Why didn’t Brock walk you home?” He asked, sounding angry again.

That question surprised her. Was he jealous? Her heart skipped a beat. “Because I didn’t ask him to walk me home,” she said, not wanting to play games with him. “I didn’t want him to walk me home.”

He didn’t respond; he just stood there dripping on her floor, which she didn’t mind at all. He could drip away as long as she got to look at him dripping. Okay, that was getting weird, but he was making her feel weird.

“The only reason he came to my house today is because I had some toys that I usually give to the children of the women I help. I promised Ben he could pick some out. They left all his toys behind.” Clare explained, watching the emotions play in his eyes. “I have no interest in Brock, and he certainly has no interest in me.”

Malcolm snorted as his eyes roamed down her body and then back up to her face. “Believe me, he is interested.”

Was it bad that she wanted him to look at her like that again? Pushing those thoughts aside, she shrugged. “I agree, he is interested.” She admitted, and he growled low in his throat. Her nipples tightened painfully at the sound. What he could do to her body with a look and growl was crazy. She wondered what his hands and mouth could do. Again, she tried to push those damn thoughts out of her mind. This man was driving her insane. “But not in me.”

He continued to stare at her as if fighting a war with himself. She decided it was time she spoke her truth to him. If he rejected her, then she would deal with it. Hopefully better than she did with the kiss ordeal. She was tired of dancing around the truth and was a little confused about her feelings. She needed clarity on what exactly was going on. Never had a man affected her like Malcolm. One minute she barely knew him and the next she felt like she couldn’t live without him. It was a scary realization that terrified her. It was time for one of them to step up, and she figured it might as well be her.

Before she could begin, he took a step toward her. “I warned you that I am no good for you. I have demons I fight every single minute of the day.” Malcolm’s voice filled the room, yet he was talking in a whisper as if he was forcing the words out. “I found solace in the bottom of a bottle to block out what I was allowing my sister to go through. I still want that bottom-of-the-bottle feeling. There are days I would rather sink that low than face myself in the mirror.”

“And yet your sister has forgiven you.” This time, it was Clare who took a step forward. “I don’t judge people for what they’ve done in the past. You don’t have to explain anything to me, Malcolm. I know the man you are today. I see you with Gunner and the love you have for him and your sister. I’ve seen a lot of evil in men, Malcolm, and that isn’t you.”

Malcolm stared at her for a long moment, searching her eyes as if looking for the truth in her words. She was wide open for him to see it all. She didn’t know how or when and didn’t really care, but she had fallen head over heels in love with this man. She had fought it because the feelings had happened so quickly, but she knew without a doubt he was the man for her, as corny as that sounded.

He reached out, pulling her into his arms, and held her tight. His face smashed in her hair as the wind rattled her small house, lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. Clare felt safe in his arms. There was nowhere else she’d rather be than right here in this moment.