CHAPTER 8
brYNN
Something pulls me out of a deep, sound sleep, and I sit up.
Burke isn’t in the bed next to me, and my heart skips a beat.
But I figure he probably went to get a glass of water, and that’s the sound that woke me up.
A smile touches my lips as I stretch, luxuriating in my stiff muscles.
I’m sore in places I didn’t know I had—a thought that makes me laugh softly to myself.
I honestly don’t know what came over me in the kitchen.
Just standing there, staring into Burke’s honey-colored eyes, holding his wrists felt so intimate and so sexy.
I felt the heat of his body and saw that hunger in his eyes, and I was consumed by it.
I’ve never felt it before. I’ve got needs, of course.
But I’ve been content to satisfy them on my own. With lots of porn, of course.
Something about Burke shifted something inside me.
At that moment when we were staring into each other’s eyes, I felt it.
It was like a lock inside of me clicked and the door that I held all my secrets and desires behind swung wide open.
My entire body tingled warmly, and all I wanted—no, all I needed—was to feel him inside of me.
I’ve never given myself to anybody before, but something about Burke just felt… right.
And the day that followed was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced.
We made love all day. I did things I’ve only dreamed about—or seen in porn.
He made me feel so wanton and yet so valued all at the same time.
Burke is a generous lover who satisfied my every craving and desire.
He even satisfied cravings and desires I never knew I had.
My entire body is sore—a testament to how much pleasure he gave me—and still I want more.
Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I stand up and stretch languidly, reveling in the stiffness of my muscles.
I slip into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, then head for the door.
I’m thirsty, and maybe, if I catch Burke in there, we can enjoy a little late-night romp.
Smiling to myself, I head toward the kitchen.
The moment I step into the hallway, though, something feels…
off. I can’t explain it, but the hair on the back of my neck is standing on end, and my arms are covered in goosebumps. Something just doesn’t feel right.
“Burke?” I call.
I get no answer, which only deepens a feeling of dread. The light in the kitchen at the end of the long hallway was on, and I hear the sound of somebody shuffling around. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I creep down the hall on soft feet.
“Burke?” I call again.
A shadow crosses the doorway, momentarily blotting out the light, and my heart quickens.
Maybe he’s got his AirPods in, trying to keep from waking me.
That could be it. In the short time I’ve been with him, I’ve found him to be thoughtful like that.
That has to be it. I shake off the fear that has wrapped around me and step into the kitchen. When I do, though, I freeze.
A man, head to toe in black, is standing beside the island. He’s wearing a gaiter, covering everything but his eyes, which crinkle like he’s smiling at me. When I see the gun tucked into his waistband, I shiver.
“Wh—where’s Burke?” I ask, my voice trembling.
“Not here,” he replies. “Now, how about you come with me all nice and quiet like?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“My boss would really like it if I brought you to him intact and unspoiled.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
He reaches behind him and pulls out a stun gun. Sparks crackle between the prongs as he presses the button. His eyes smile.
“We’ll get to that,” he says. “My boss said I could take a little sample if I wanted to.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I turn and run for the bedroom. His footsteps pound the floor hard behind me, and I cry out, screaming for Burke. I don’t know where he is or what this man has done to him, but my mind immediately conjures the worst.
As I run past the guest room, I vaguely feel the door fly open, and I shriek again, certain I’m about to be snatched by another, maybe this man’s partner.
Instead, though, I hear a heavy crash behind me followed by the sound of a struggle.
A man shouts in surprise, and I hear that snap and crackle of his stun gun again.
Daring to stop and turn around, I see Burke straddling the man in black, the stun gun pressed to the side of his neck, pressing the button with a vicious snarl on his face.
Burke keeps pressing the button until the man beneath him goes limp. Only then does he stand up. Still snarling, he gives the unconscious man a vicious kick then turns to me. My entire body is quaking, my legs so watery, I feel like they may give out beneath me.
Moving coolly and smoothly, as if he’s done this a thousand times, Burke pulls a plastic zip tie out of his back pocket then rolls the guy over. He uses the zip tie to bind the man’s hands behind his back tightly, then gets up and turns to me again.
“Are you okay?” Burke asks, his voice deep and gruff.
I nod. “Yeah. I—how did you—”
“I’m a light sleeper,” he explains. “Heard him coming in. Fucking amateurs. Gave me a chance to get ready though.”
“Burke, what’s happening?”
“This is one of Cole’s men—”
“How’d they know I was here?”
“Probably been watching since you didn’t turn up at home. I’m figuring they picked us up when we stopped by your place to pick up your things,” he says with a shrug. “They were good. Or just lucky. I never saw the tail, and I was watching for one.”
“Oh my God,” I say, putting my fingertips to my lips as fear surges through me. “What are we going to do?”
“You are going to go get dressed and pack a bag,” he tells me. “I’m going to go call my cop friend and have him come pick up this piece of shit.”
“Pack a bag? Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“If we weren’t safe here, how are we safe anywhere?”
“Because I’m taking you to my cabin,” he says. “It’s not in my name, so nobody knows it exists. And trust that I’ll be watching for tails more closely.”
“Burke—”
“Go get dressed and packed,” he insists. “Now.”
His tone leaves no room for argument, and I find myself turning and rushing back to the bedroom to do as he says.
This makes twice that he’s saved me from a fate I’d rather die than be forced into.
As grateful as I am, though, I’m ten times more terrified.
A hundred times. I can’t stay with him for eternity.
He can’t protect me forever.
And what’s going to happen to me then?