42. When I say run, you run
The walk to the city takes one hour through back roads and abandoned fields. He moves like he's done this a thousand times, checking over his shoulder, pausing at every sound. I try to match his silence, but my heart won't stop hammering.
He stops abruptly, turning to face me. His expression is more serious than I've ever seen it.
"We need to talk."
My stomach drops. "Okay."
He steps closer, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. "The moment we go in there, you need to listen to me. When I say stop, you stop. When I say run, you run. And when I say leave, you leave."
My eyebrows draw together, and I search his face. "Why are you saying this?"
"I'm saying this because it's necessary for this to work." His hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing across my cheek. "I need to trust that you can follow my orders, and you need to trust that I know what's best in a situation."
My pulse quickens under his touch, but I'm still studying his expression. "That's a lot to ask."
"Say you agree."
I glance between his eyes, trying to read what's changed. The silence stretches between us.
His other hand finds my waist, pulling me closer with gentle insistence. "Love, we're not taking one step closer if you can't agree to this. I need to know that you'll be safe, and I can only know that if I know you'll listen to what I say."
"Following orders was never my strength."
"I know. And I never want you to follow orders from just anyone." His grip on my waist tightens, thumb stroking gently along my side.
"Oh, so you only want me to when it's from you?"
"Yes."
His hand slides from my waist to the small of my back, pressing me closer until there's barely any space between us. His mouth finds the sensitive spot just below my ear. "In certain situations, I tell you what to do." A soft kiss against my pulse point. "And you listen."
My breath catches, heat spreading through my chest.
His lips trail lower, tongue barely grazing my skin. His other hand tangles in my hair, tilting my head to give him better access. "In other situations..." Another kiss, this one at the base of my throat, lingering longer. "It's the other way around."
I close my eyes, my hands finding his shoulders for support. My thoughts feel scattered, distant.
He nips gently at my collarbone before soothing the spot with his tongue.
"Do you understand?" His voice is rough against my skin.
"What?"I can barely focus on his words.
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, his hand gently threading through my hair, tilting my head up toward him.
His thumb traces patterns on my lower back with his other hand.
"When it comes to keeping you safe, you follow my lead.
Everything else..." His lips brush against mine briefly. "We figure out together."
"Why?" The question comes out breathless.
His forehead drops to rest against mine. "Because I'm the only person—aside from maybe your aunt—who wants to see you live, who makes it their priority."
His thumb traces along my cheekbone, and I feel my breathing slow under his touch.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"I'll listen to you. I'll follow your lead."
"Good."
A slow smile spreads across his face.
"I know what you're doing." My voice is breathless. "You're seducing me so I can't think straight anymore."
His smile widens. "Is it working?"
I rise up on my toes and press my lips to his. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, but his free hand pulls me closer and it deepens.
When we finally break apart, I'm breathing hard. "Only this time."
"I can work with that." He murmurs.
Something shifts in his expression, relief flooding his features. He presses a quick, firm kiss to my forehead before stepping back.