Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
He was back in the forest, looking for signs of her going up into the trees. It was her favorite mode of travel. There were none that he could see. He found a partial print along a narrow animal path. A few feet farther in, he saw a twisted leaf on a large fern.
The first stirring in his mind was tentative, as if she could make the connection but was being extremely careful not to give too much of herself away.
I just need a little time to myself. I’m not used to sharing so much of myself with anyone.
That was total bullshit and he knew it. She wasn’t a bullshitter either. I’m not accepting that excuse. Give me something I can get behind.
There was silence. From her lengthened tracks, he could see she had begun running. Where are you going? Now his heart was in his throat and he was running too. He was fast. He ran every night. Sometimes, for most of the night. He could catch her, but he didn’t know if he could catch her in time.
Damn it, Shylah. The soldiers will shoot you before they’ll let you through their line. They’re there not only to keep others away, but to keep us isolated. If you violate their perimeter, they will shoot you. You answer me.
I’m well aware of them. I don’t need you to tell me that. I’m just running, Draden. You of all people should understand.
Was that what she was doing? Just running? Then why would she abruptly leave him? Stop him from connecting with her? It wasn’t his imagination. She had withdrawn. He was catching up to her because she wasn’t running fast, she was jogging to cover distance and clearly didn’t want to tire herself out.
I’m coming up on you. You don’t want to talk, we won’t talk, but I’m running with you.
She didn’t respond, but he got the impression of tears and that cut like a knife. She didn’t want his company. That was just too damned bad.
Then she was there, in front of him, her long legs sure on the narrow path. From behind her, he could see her perfect rhythm. Her clothes, like his, were soaked. As he moved up for a moment to check her features, he could see the white tee she’d pulled on earlier was his. Now it was soaked and see-through. Completely. It might as well have been nonexistent. She wasn’t wearing a bra and both hands pressed her breasts tightly to keep them from bouncing.
Tears tracked down her face and she didn’t try to hide them. She didn’t even look at him, just stared straight ahead as she doggedly put one foot in front of the other. He swore to himself he would keep his mouth shut. He wouldn’t say one word. She was entitled to her privacy. After about two minutes he was all but grinding his teeth. Three more minutes and he was exploding.
He caught her elbow and pulled her to a halt. “You’re killing me. Killing me. Damn it, Shylah, whatever this is, we’re in it together.”
She wouldn’t even look at him, instead, she stared at the ground, the tears refusing to stop. Desperate, he did the only thing he could think of. He caught her hair in his fist, pulled her head back and his mouth took hers. He didn’t expect a response and at first, he didn’t get one, although the chemistry between them exploded in his mouth. Her taste was on his tongue. Addictive. Fiery. So hot he needed more.
Then she leaned into him, her body melting into his, all soft, pliant. Her arms slid up his chest to circle his neck and her mouth moved beneath his. Instantly, he knew he was losing control and he wanted to. He wanted to crawl inside of her. She set him on fire. His skin, his cock and his soul. All of him. Every inch. He hadn’t known kisses could do that until he experienced kissing Shylah. He hadn’t even been into kissing that much. It had always been more for the woman, but now, he devoured her.
When he lifted his head, she pushed her forehead against his chest. He held her, his arms tight around her, trying to tell her without words that no matter what, he would be there for her.
No matter what. He glanced down at the top of her head. Sweetheart. You don’t have to look at me, but are you experiencing symptoms? Do you have a headache? What is it?
Her body was warm, but it was hot in the forest and the rain hadn’t cooled things down. If anything, they were sweaty and muggy. In the trees they’d been protected somewhat, but the wind wasn’t in the least cool and on the roof, she would have felt like she was being blasted by a furnace. They’d just run, that would heat their bodies as well.