Page 34 of Hollow Forest

His voice was gravel. “I told them not to let you drink.”

I shook my head. “What? Why!”

That strong, unyielding jaw worked back and forth. “Because I just got back to town and wasn’t there to watch over you earlier.”

“Well, don’t be mad at them,” I groused. “I think those drinks were defective.”

“Or they got my message, and switched to mocktails,” he countered.

Controlling. That was the only word for the energy vibrating off him.

But…was his obsessive need to take care of me really that bad? If he’d been there, I wouldn’t have had a panic attack. I would have been too distracted.

Guilt slammed into me. Being with this man was yet another way I was failing my sister’s memory. I should not be feeding my own obsession. I needed to put distance between us.

I shifted my weight, ready to stand—and bit my lip. Shit, that hurt!

Hiding the pain in my ankle, I brushed my palms over my knees, cursing that my only other pair of jeans had a hole in the knee. Great. There went my tips; I would need another pair.

“Well, nice to see you, but I have to get going,” I managed to say, hiding the wobble in my voice from the throb in my ankle.

He uncurled his hands, bracing his forearms on his knees. “I thought you missed me.”

I snorted and shook my head. “That was just the crazy talking.”

“Let me take you home.”

I dug the soles of my shoes on the road and pushed to my feet. The transfer of weight made my ankle yell in protest. There was no way in hell I would be able to walk without limping.

“What if I offer a truce,” the voice of darkness coaxed. My stalker remained in front of me, crouching and looking up.

I tipped my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“Let me help you. I’ll give you a ride home, and then I’ll go. Touching doesn’t count until you’re back at the cottage.”

It sounded good. So damn good. I was lonely. I’d just scared myself half to death, and I didn’t want the newfound feeling of safety to vanish into the night.

And most importantly, it didn’t mean I was betraying my vengeance to accept a little help. Especially since I couldn’t manage to kill my target if I hurt my ankle worse by walking three miles in the dark.

“A truce,” I murmured.

He rose and gestured to his bike. I took one step, bit my lip hard enough to bleed, and all but collapsed on the ground.

Hands, steady and sure, gripped my elbow. “I’ve got you, beautiful.”

“It’s nothing—”

“If you lie and say you’re fine, I’ll use this truce to bend you over my bike and spank that perfect ass until it’s too sore to sit.”

My pussy clenched, and my panties became instantly wet. Why the hell was that offer so freaking sexy? If I wasn’t coming off the terrible high from the panic, I might have acted the brat to get precisely what he offered.

Instead, I let him help me to the bike. He slid on first, then practically lifted me behind him. Once I was settled, I grabbed his rock-like torso, hugging him close. He felt incredible, warm and solid. He smelled good too. Leather…and sin. I was safe as the bike roared down the dark road until the pavement turned to gravel.

I leaned my cheek against his hard back, drinking in the rush of cool air around us, toasty warm cuddled into the monster I should have turned in to the authorities. But the thing about Johnny-Law, they didn’t help the people who needed it. I was stuck with this masked man. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember right now why that was such a bad idea.

The bike ride ended too soon.

I peeled myself off my stalker, and with his help, hopped off the motorcycle. He walked me to the door, where I was sure we would part ways. He simply tapped the code into the lock before leading me inside and straight through the kitchen to the living room.