Page 32 of Burn Me Down

“There is no but. Yes, you should be very terrified.” I nodded, even as my stomach twisted inside out.

“But I’m not.”

“What the hell? Beck, I am giving you your freedom. Please take it,” I pleaded.

She crossed her arms, mimicking my pose. “No.”

“Oh my god.” I threw my hands in the air in frustration. I thought I was stubborn, but this was next level. The voice in my head laughed at me, and I almost snarled at it.

“Why are you trying to push me away?”

“Is this a serious question?”

“Don’t you sass me. Yes, it is,” she growled, and I’d never been more conflicted. I wanted to yell in frustration and laugh because what she said reminded me of something Dora would say. I also wanted to toss her in the back of the truck and ravage her.

“Why are you not afraid of me?”

“I told you, I don’t know. I’ve listened to all the stories, read the newspapers, and watched the news, but there was always something missing. None of those things told me your side. Do you want me to be scared,” Beck asked, putting her hands on her hips.

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Spinning around, my hands gripped the side of the truck bed, shaking the whole vehicle as I screamed. Every defense I put into place to protect myself wasn’t working, and I couldn’t look at Beck, or I would cave. Her hand touched my back, and I felt every line as she traced the massive dragon tattoo.

“This is stunning.”

“No, it’s just another reminder of what I am and that a dangerous monster lives in me.”

I closed my eyes as her hands snaked around my waist, and I soaked in her touch. It was like the more I told her I killed, the less she cared. It made no sense.

“The problem, Beck, is that this is all an illusion. You will leave. No matter the reason for your current curiosity or fascination, it is inevitable that you will run, and I would rather you do that now than later. The only person I’ve ever been able to trust in this world is me, and that’s how it needs to remain.” Even as I said the words, the voice in my head called me out. If I didn’t want this opportunity, I wouldn’t have taken her.

“Did you love someone, and they hurt you?”

I snorted. “Love is useless and a lie.”

“So that’s a yes.” She slipped under my arm, and I made the deadly mistake of looking into her eyes.

“Please don’t do this to me,” I whispered.

She cupped my face, and I suddenly hated that her hands weren’t on my body. “It’s time you learned to trust someone other than yourself,” she said, closing the distance, and our lips brushed.

“What if you don’t like what you find?”

“What if I do?”

Unable to take it anymore, I captured her lips and pushed her up against the truck. Her hair was soft, running through my fingers, and her body molded perfectly to mine. Beck was panting hard as she wrapped her arms around my neck, and I could feel her nipples pressing into my bare chest. My mind was spiraling, and I growled into her mouth as she held me tighter.

Beck broke the kiss, and I nipped at her bottom lip, wanting more.

“Take me back. You don’t have to show me where we are going. I’ll put the hood on, but you’re not leaving here without me. Is that understood, Mr. West?”

I smirked. I never liked it when anyone called me that. It reminded me too much of my father, but fuck was it a turn-on coming out of her mouth.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Derek