Chapter 7 #4
Henley nodded. “Four weeks,” she whispered after taking a deep breath. Although that didn’t exactly calm her libido. All she could smell was Finn. His earthy, woodsy scent. It was a mixture of hay, smoke from the fire, and something deeper that was all him.
“Four weeks,” Finn repeated. Then he moved his hand to the back of her neck and tilted her head up to him. “This isn’t a fling,” he said sternly. “I haven’t wanted to get close to anyone, ever, the way I want to get close to you.”
“Same,” she agreed.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again—I don’t deserve you. But I’m gonna try my damnedest not to fuck this up.”
“You won’t.”
He gave her a look that clearly said he thought she was wrong, but Henley didn’t push. She’d show him through her actions that he was worthy of love.
“It doesn’t matter what time Jasna comes to the barn tomorrow. There’s no need for her to get up at the crack of dawn.”
“She’ll be there,” Henley said.
“Make sure she gets something to eat before she does. If the fence needs mending, it’s gonna be hard work.”
“I will. You too.”
“Me too what?”
“Make sure you get a good breakfast in.”
He stared at her for a long moment with a look she couldn’t interpret.
“What?”
“It’s been a while since anyone’s cared about my well-being.”
“Well, get used to it. Because I do.”
Finn nodded. “Maybe, if it’d be all right, I could come and get Jasna around seven-fifteen or so? We could go up to the lodge and grab something to eat before heading to the barn for morning chores and checking the fence.”
“Why wouldn’t it be all right?” Henley asked in confusion.
Finn shrugged. “I don’t want to overstep.”
“You aren’t. And she’d love that.”
“All right. You want me to bring you a plate back here when we’re done? That way you can sleep in a bit.”
Henley’s heart melted a little more. “Yes, please.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning then. Henley?”
“Yeah?”
“I had a good time tonight.”
“Me too.”
“And for the record…I’d be the luckiest son-of-a-bitch in the world if you were mine, and came to live up here with me.”
And with that unbelievable statement, he leaned down, kissed her once more, then turned and headed toward the barn.
She wasn’t surprised he was going to check on the animals once more before settling in for the night.
But she was surprised by his parting words.
He’d obviously overheard Alaska’s comment earlier.
Henley supposed she should be embarrassed, but how could she be when she heard the wistfulness and seriousness in his tone?
Feeling as if she were on cloud nine, Henley headed into the cabin to let Jasna know the plans for the morning.
Christian Dekker lay very still in the trees not too far from the bonfire at The Refuge. He’d gotten good at sneaking around the woods. He’d learned to remain still for hours as he stalked his prey…exactly what he was doing now.
It was easy to go unnoticed by the men and women gathered around the fire, as the rods and cones in their eyes were fucked from the bright light. Even if they did turn to look into the trees, they’d never see him.
His target was the woman. It wasn’t time to make his move; first he needed to conduct a little more reconnaissance. Needed to learn everything there was to know about her. He’d been secretly watching her for a few weeks already.
And tonight, he’d decided the best way to fuck with her and make her suffer was to take away the most important thing in her life.
In the dark stillness of the woods, his mind went back to when he was thirteen, shortly before she’d dumped him on someone else.
To the day he’d overheard the doctor talking to his parents about him, recommending intensive inpatient therapy.
She’d wanted to strip him of all control, take him away from his family.
Not that he liked his parents or sister.
He didn’t. But no one got to make decisions about his life except him.
Especially not some bitch therapist who thought she knew what was best for everyone.
Christian’s eyes followed the girl as she moved around the fire. Laughing. Clueless that a predator was watching. Excitement rose within him as he made plans in his head. The girl would be his first.
His first human kill.
He had to execute it perfectly. Had to make sure no one learned of or interrupted his plans. First, he’d gather the items needed to subdue her, to torture her.
She’d be begging him to kill her by the time he was done.
Christian watched his prey until she entered a cabin. He already knew the therapist and her daughter didn’t stay the night out here in the boonies often, which was a good thing. He had to nail down their schedule. Make sure he struck at the right moment.
When the bitch and her boyfriend made out on the porch, Christian felt nothing. The only urge he had was for blood. Not sex.
He slunk away as silently as he’d arrived, with no one the wiser, backtracking to his car—the car his parents didn’t want him to have, but he’d bullied them to the point they’d given in despite their reservations.
Probably thinking if he had a vehicle, he’d be home less often.
It took him a while to return to where he’d left it along a remote road, but it didn’t matter.
No one was waiting up for him. He had no curfew. He did what he wanted, when he wanted.
His parents were petrified of him, exactly how Christian liked it.
He was master of his own destiny, and after he’d tasted the joy of taking a human life for the first time, he’d put this fucking town in his rearview mirror.
He’d easily find victims in the city. Throwaway people.
Starting with the homeless and prostitutes.
No one ever missed them. He’d perfect his techniques, then maybe head to Los Angeles.
Possibly Chicago or New York. The world was his oyster. He could go wherever he wanted.
A short time later, Christian smiled as he drove back toward town. His entire life was ahead of him, and he was more than ready to get started. But first he’d take care of business here in Los Alamos. Show the bitch just how badly she’d underestimated him.