“So, you two just decided what you thought was best? Who would be better for me? And your conclusion was Jack? Despite him leaving in the end, you still thought that he was perfect for what I needed?” I snarled the last word. “And what are you perfect for, huh Cal?” I stepped closer, anger and confusion all dueling at the realization of how out of control I felt.
“I think I showed you what I’m perfect for the other night.” The way his voice rolled over every syllable of that statement made my body flush with heat. “You want a place to hide? That was Jack. And you’re right, he’s gone. But I’m the place you can run to. I’m also the one you run from.” He leaned in so his breath skated over my face. “So, go ahead and run, Kitten. But don’t think I won’t chase you.”
Crazy lust and need swarmed over my entire body like bees to a hive. The passion was overruling the logic, and everything in me screamed for the chance to cling to power.
Find my control.
Force Cal’s hand and call his bluff.
So, I turned and ran.
Chapter 9
My legs had never moved so fast. I sprinted toward the park that lined up with the fire station, then further, reaching the tree line that led into the forest. Faster and faster, I pumped my arms, the underbrush kicking up as I forced my body to move quicker and quicker.
Breathing hard, lungs aching from the cold air going in and out at this pace was like swallowing down ice crystals. But I kept going. Because no matter how cold the air was around me, my body was hot. A deep red hot I couldn’t outrun.
But I had to try.
My skin was damp, but I kept going. I didn’t chance to look behind me. I couldn’t hear anything but the heartbeat in my ears.
Would Cal come for me?
A snap of a twig and heavy footfalls rang through the white noise of my mind, and I knew…he was coming.
And I wanted to be caught as much as I wanted to get away.
Because I knew that once he caught me, I just may let him have me. In a lot more ways than
one.
I forced my legs to take longer strides, but before I could wind even deeper into the deserted forest, a strong arm wrapped around my middle, halting me instantly like I’d gotten strung up by an invisible wire.
“Quick little thing, aren’t you?” Cal rasped, as he lifted me up and maneuvered me against the nearest tree. I struggled. Partly from the adrenaline and partly from the anger. Not at Cal, but at everything. At the situation. At the past. Just everything.
He grabbed my wrists and locked them over my head, his big body pinning me against the tree.
“Look at me,” he growled. “You want to get away?”
I lifted my chin, but said nothing. The truth hit hard: No, I didn’t want to get away.
“You want free, just say so,” he said again.
He breathed heavily against me, his strong chest rising and falling, skimming my breasts and making me hate the zip-up I had on and the barrier between us.
“I want to not want you the way I do,” I whispered.
With one hand still fastened around my wrists, the other cupped my throat. “Say that again.”
“I want you,” I said. “So much. But I wish I didn’t.”
“Well, I’m set to change your mind about that.”
His lips took mine in a consuming, fierce way, and I gave myself up to it. To him. To his strength. Never once did he ask if I was scared. Never once did he question what I could or couldn’t handle. He didn’t worry about me like I was some fragile doll. In that, I found power.
Cal treated me like an equal. Like he needed me. Like I had some kind of power over him the way he had power over me.
I kissed him back. Wanting him. Just the way I’d admitted. Wanting him so much and hating that I already trusted him the way I did. Because he was right, I ran to him. And I ran from him. Yet, he came after me. Didn’t turn his back. Didn’t leave.