Before I can stop him, he tears the arm off.
“I’m going to get in so much trouble for that,” I say as my heart pounds. They’re going to think that I destroyed state property and punish me for it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they added another decade to my sentence with my shitty luck.
“You’re not,” he says with a firm stare as he starts shredding the fabric to pieces. “Because you’re not going back.”
I gulp. “I’m not?”
“No. You’re not.”
I watch him in shock as he barrels past me and tosses the fabric into one of the last burning bushes.
“Give me a shoe,” he says.
I don’t know why I’m listening to him, but I find myself taking off my shoe and placing it into his big outstretched hand.
He tosses it onto the wet forest floor and looks around.
“They’re going to think you’re dead,” he says.
“What?”
“You were surrounded by fire when I found you. You would have died if I wasn’t there.”
Was it really that bad? I remember being surrounded by the flames and not being able to do anything about it. There was nowhere to go. Nothing I could do…
I didn’t realize I was so close to death.
“But they’re going to come look for me and when they find no body…”
“They won’t find a body because I’ll make it look like you got eaten by wolves.”
My skin prickles with goosebumps as I look around at the trees with my stomach churning. There are wolves in here?
“I’ll make it look like you died from the fire and then the wolves came and made a meal out of you.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I know where they sleep.”
“You know where the wolves sleep?”
“These are my mountains,” he says as he stares at me, rain dripping down his intimidating yet sexy face. “I know everything about them.”
“But when they can’t find my remains,” I say, desperate for him to see the hole in his plan. “What are they going to think? There will be no bones or anything to prove that I died.”
My pulse races as he walks over with his eyes burning brightly. “What’s your name, angel?”
“Kennedy Ripken.”
“Do you want to go back to prison tonight, Kennedy? Or, do you want to come and live with me?”
I swallow hard as I stare into his eyes. “I want to live with you.”
“Then you have to let me take care of this, okay? I won’t let them take you back. You’re mine now, beautiful girl. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“But the…”
He cups my cheeks in his big hands and looks at me with such warmth and love that I immediately trust him. I know he’s going to take care of me. I know he’s got my back.
“Come with me,” he says as his eyes fall to my mouth. “Come with me and I’ll set you free.”
I nod my head as I put all of my trust into him.
Maybe I was wrong about the universe. Maybe it’s not out to get me. Maybe it’s on my side and was just waiting for the right time to deliver a hulking mountain man to help me out.
“What’s your name?” I ask him.
“Declan,” he says in a voice so thick and deep that it gives me warm shivers despite the cool rain. “Declan Tatum.”
“Declan,” I whisper.
“Are you ready to come with me? Are you ready to do what I say?”
I nod as I stare into his mesmerizing brown eyes.
“If you come with me, you’re mine,” he says. “Forever.”
My head continues nodding. It appears the throbbing between my legs is now in control and is answering for my brain.
“Good,” he says as he leans in and kisses me.
My legs go weak as my lips part and his hot tongue slides in. I moan as he claims my mouth and kisses me like he’s been waiting years for this moment.
His big hands slide down to my hips and he pulls me against his wet hard body as the kiss deepens.
I could die now and be happy. This is more happiness and pleasure than I ever thought I’d get in life.
My head is swimming when he finally pulls away and takes my hand.
Our fingers entwine, although his are so much thicker than mine are. He begins walking and I stop him.
“What is it?”
I rush over, scoop up the nest with the birds, and hurry back to him. He takes my hand once again as I cradle the chirping birds and we begin walking. To where? I don’t know…
I’m staring at his muscular back as my sock hits the wet mud with every step.
I sure hope he knows what he’s doing.
I sure hope I do too…
CHAPTER FOUR
Declan
* * *
The rain continues pouring down as I walk with my girl back to my cabin. I have my duffel bag hanging over my shoulder with all of my heavy gear inside as I plan what to do.