“I know. Darren told me.”
“Did he tell you the full story?”
I hesitated and looked down at the leaf-strewn ground. “I don’t know. I think he told me everything from his side.”
“It’s not as simple as you think. Roman didn’t try to kill Anthony. It’s all just some big misunderstanding.”
A sudden jolt of anger flashed through me. “Is that what he said?”
“Winter.”
“I’m serious. Is that the bullshit he tried to sell you? Roman almost murdered a little kid.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Then he’s a goddamn liar.”
Cassie’s anger matched my own. “You’re going to believe him and not me?”
“I’m going to believe Darren and not Roman.”
“What the hell did they do to you?”
“Nothing at all. That’s the problem.” I grabbed onto a low-hanging branch and squeezed it hard, venting some frustration. “I know you don’t believe it, but none of this matters at all. We need to get them in the same room. They can discuss this and come to terms.”
“I don’t think Roman is going to agree.” Cassie sounded exhausted.
I felt just as tired. “Try anyway. We’ll do something. Maybe we can fix this together, at least if we don’t start hating each other.”
“I’ll never hate you, Winter. You saved my life.”
“You saved mine too.”
A sudden noise nearby. A stick breaking, the crunch of leaves.
I looked over my shoulder, down toward the path.
Darren stood, watching.
Fear lanced down my limbs.
“I have to go,” I said quickly.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ll call you again when I can. Talk to Roman about a meeting.”
I hung up before she could reply.
Darren stared at me. He wore slacks and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He looked out of place standing in the forest, and yet the whole world seemed to bend around him, like a black hole disfiguring the universe. I felt sucked into him.
“How long were you listening?” I asked.
“Long enough.” He took a step closer. “When did you get it?”
“Roza. The present.”
“Ah.” He smiled and shook his head. “Smart to hide it in a saltwater taffy box. Who the hell likes that stuff?”
“Nobody.”
He came closer. I didn’t move. If he was going to kill me, he’d do it whether I ran away or not.
There was nobody to save me out here.
And I had little doubt that Darren was capable of squeezing the life from me with his bare hands.
I held the phone out to him.
But he waved it away.
“Keep it.”
He stopped. About a foot separated us.
“Really? Why?”
“Because you had your chance and you made your choice.” His eyes were hard and beseeching. “She asked you to run. You chose to stay.”
“How do you know?”
“I was listening.”
My turn to feel angry. “Why did you follow me anyway?”
“You were acting strange this morning. I had a feeling you were up to something.”
“And you don’t trust me?”
“No, I don’t.” He nodded at the phone. “Clearly, I was right not to.”
“Asshole.” I squeezed the phone then shoved it into my pocket. “What now then?”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” He stepped forward. I backed into the tree, pressing my palms against it. “I told you, if you run, I won’t follow.”
“I’m sure.”
“Good. Then start acting like it.” He leaned forward, pinning me tighter to the trunk. The rough bark scraped against my back. “You don’t have to hide anymore.”
“I’m still trying to figure out if I’m your wife or your captive.”
“You’re my wife.” The passion in his eyes sent my stomach into freefall.
“Prove it,” I whispered.
He grabbed my hair and kissed me. I threw myself against him, only to have him slam me back. I moaned as he grabbed my hips. His tongue invaded my mouth, dominating me, taking me and controlling me and drinking me down like fresh water. I moaned into that all-consuming intensity and let myself drift on the seas of his need, thinking maybe, maybe, I could make something of this, maybe this was real, maybe this was lasting.
I didn’t know what it was, but it felt good.
I bit his lip and he pulled my hair. I gasped as he slipped a hand down the front of my jeans.
He wasn’t gentle as he teased my pussy then tugged my pants down. I grabbed his belt and ripped it off, wanting him so badly it hurt. I needed to feel the way I felt the night before, needed him to remind me what it was like to be his wife, his woman.
He turned me around and stripped away my panties. I gasped as he licked me from behind, getting me wetter, teasing me until I was shaking my hips and whispering his name. We were in the middle of the woods not far from his home and anyone could walk past—
But I didn’t care. He stood and I felt his cock press against my soaking opening.
He sank himself deep inside and I threw my head back in pleasure.