His naked body is behind me, and we spoon ourselves to sleep. I’m too high to worry if he’ll run away again. I only know the man I’ve loved all my life just fucked me senseless, and I’m curled up in his arms, my soft pressed against his firm. His taste is on my tongue, and I’m happier than I’ve been in a while.
Deep in my heart, I know, no matter what, this night will change everything.
The sky is glowing gray when I’m awakened by a strange noise.
Sawyer’s no longer at my back, and I sit up rubbing my eyes, looking for him. “What’s going on?”
The blanket falls from my shoulders, exposing my breasts. The moon shines down on us, but Sawyer is shadowy, on his feet, squatting with his back against the cab.
“It’s not safe.” His voice is low, tense, and terror grips my stomach. “We didn’t sweep the area.”
“Did you hear something?” My voice is
barely a whisper.
I clutch the blanket over my nakedness, wanting to jump into the cab and lock the door, but too afraid to move.
“Get down.” It’s a hoarse bark, and I do as he says, scooting lower in the bed.
I have no idea what’s happening. Is it hunters? Teens playing a prank? We’re in freakin Harristown. Nothing bad happens here, but all the scary movies I’ve ever seen bubble up in my mind. I’m relieved I’m here with a former Marine. Sawyer can kick everybody’s ass.
His eyes are low, and he almost looks like he’s sleeping. Or he’s listening.
“Sawyer?” I whisper. “What is it?”
“Shh!” He holds out a hand to me. “It’s too late.”
I don’t know what that means. All I know is I want to be closer to him, so I rise to my feet and creep to where he’s crouched with the blanket over my shoulders.
He looks up, and his eyes widen when he sees me. “No!” He jumps forward, grabbing me around the torso. “Drop it!”
“What?” I’m confused, and he’s got my wrist in a hold that feels like it’s breaking. “You’re hurting me!”
“Drop the knife.” His grip tightens around my arm, and I’m sure he’s going to snap it like a twig.
Only then it hits me he might be having a nightmare. “Sawyer, it’s me, Mindy! Wake up! You’re in Harristown… You’re safe!”
My heart thuds in my chest, and his grip tightens. Pain radiates through my forearm, and I’m getting light-headed.
“Please, Sawyer.” My voice breaks with tears. “Please wake up now… It’s Mindy!”
His grip relaxes, but he still has me around the chest, holding me fast against his body. He’s breathing hard, ragged, and I kick against the blankets, trying to get him to release me.
“Sawyer…” It’s more of a grunt as I pull my arm against his grip. “Let me go, Sawyer, it’s me…”
Finally, his grip relaxes. He lets me go and falls back, shaking his head and scrubbing his face. “What happened?”
I fall to my knees, holding my wrist and trying not to cry. My heart is beating so hard, but I’m trying to stay calm. If it was a dream, he couldn’t help it.
“Where are we?” He looks around, genuinely seeming lost.
“We’re at Darby Lake. You thought someone was attacking us.” Holding the blanket over my body, I reach for him. “Are you okay?”
My fingers brush his warm skin, and his expression changes first to horror then to dread. He jumps out of the truck and pulls on his pants. His white undershirt is over his head, and he returns to where I’m watching him from the bed of the truck.
Digging in his pocket, he pulls out the keys. “Can you drive yourself home?” He drops them on the blanket in front of me and backs away.
“Wait! Where are you going?”