Chapter 9 #4
I tear my hand out of his hold. “I don’t care,” I snap.
He doesn’t bother trying to stop me again; instead, he just follows behind me a few beats. My shivering worsens, and it pisses me off that he’s just casually taking in the night while I suffer.
I look back at him. His eyes are half-lidded, stuck in that place of so tired that his eyes are rimmed with red, yet burdened with many thoughts that keep him awake.
I can’t help but take him in. His hands are shoved in his pockets, patiently waiting for me to just give up rather than taking me back by force.
I stop and face him.
His eyes flick up to my face, and he stops a foot away, expressionless yet as beautiful as midnight rain.
“Done?” he asks again.
My body is aching from head to toe. This has gone on for so long now that I feel like a complete idiot. It’s clear that he won’t stop no matter what I do. All I’m doing is dragging out the inevitable.
I give him a defeated nod.
He bends to my level and looks at my face. “Feeling okay?”
Damn my pride. I nod again, even though I’m ready to crawl into a hole and die.
Roman studies my trembling hands and glances back up at me. “It’s good to know that you’re a shit liar.” He muses before turning so his back is facing me. He takes a knee and looks over his shoulder. “Get on.”
My cheeks warm at the offer, but before I forget what a dick this guy is, I double down. “No thanks.” My chattering teeth and crossed arms don’t help my cause.
He rolls his eyes and takes his vest off, tossing it at me. I snatch it and give him a stubborn firm of my lips. “It won’t help much, but it’s better than nothing.”
His bare torso is covered in scars, much like the rest of him. It hits a chord in my chest. This man is so fucked up that he’s barely even holding himself together. What is he caught up in?
I let my eyes trace the grooves of his abs until they catch on the handgun on his left hip and that military-grade knife on his other.
Roman smirks. “Want to know how I killed that guy?”
My grip on his vest tightens. He steps up to me, takes the vest from my hands, and sets it over my shoulders, intentionally pulling it tightly against my throat.
“I stuck him once. That’s all it takes if you’re quick and know where.” He brushes the pad of his finger down my throat and grins, locking eyes with me.
My pulse leaps wildly where he touches my skin, but the longer he stares down at me, the more the alarm shifts into heat. Roman glides his hand over my jaw and gently runs his thumb over my lower lip.
“John could never live up to your expectations,” he murmurs with a slight undertone of what sounds like jealousy.
I lick my lip unconsciously. “What makes you think I have expectations?”
His gaze narrows. “I have eyes, Briar. I know a longing girl when I see one. You’re a squirter, remember? I can tell. You just need someone to show you.”
There are at least ten things I want to say in reply to that, but they all get swallowed up when Roman bends down and kisses me.
My eyes widen, and my heart all but stops. It lasts for only a moment, but it ignites a fire within me. His scent invades every inch of my lungs, and to my utter horror, I find myself leaning into it.
Roman pulls back and stares down at me while I’m blinking up at him with awe. Did he just kiss me? I want to slap him, but I also want to kiss him again.
“Now, get on. I want to try to get a few hours of sleep tonight. You don’t want to see me when I don’t get at least two hours, Briar.” He acts as if he didn’t just make me second-guess every decision I’ve ever made. My cheeks are hot and I’m thankful for it being so dark.
He already looks like he only sleeps a handful of hours, so I really don’t want to find out what only two get him.
When he turns, I hook my arms around his shoulders and he wraps his arms under my knees.
The warmth from his skin instantly hits me.
I let out a small whimper of relief and let my cheek rest against his shoulder.
Did he kiss me only because John did? What game is he playing?
I firm my lips, probably thinking way too deeply about it.
But it doesn’t help that I’m so attracted to him.
His villainous vibe is what my darkest dreams are made of.
Roman walks steadily, as if he’s not fazed at all by having to carry me or by the dark. I find myself squeezing my thighs around him tighter and trying to ignore the heat that’s igniting in my core.
After ten minutes, I can see the reflection of the moon in the lake. It’s still a ways away, but at least I know he was aware of where we were the whole time, unlike me. I’m so embarrassed that I got lost that quickly.
“What was your plan anyway? Run away into the woods and live like an animal?” Roman breaks the silence. He doesn’t sound nearly as annoyed as he could—more amused that I thought I could escape him and the others.
Arrogant prick.
“Do you really want to know?” I mumble against his shoulder.
He’s quiet for a second. “Yeah. I do.”
“I was going to hitchhike until I could find some other place to live, at least until I could save enough to move to another country. I know it sounds stupid, but all dreams sound a little silly at first, don’t they?”
“Why are you trying to leave?” His voice is threaded with confusion.
I consider telling him, but a branch snaps somewhere behind us and makes Roman’s muscles seize. His grip on my legs tightens, and he takes off running down the mountainside toward the lake like a banshee out of hell.
“If you let go, you’re dead,” Roman growls, teeth gritting and his feet crashing through the underbrush.
There’s someone else out here.