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Another whooshing sound made me pause and I swayed, laughter bubbling out of me as I realized what the sound was.
The highway.
I’d made it to the road.
I moved faster then. My body getting a second wind or maybe third as I realized I’d made it a little closer to safety. Once I’d gotten closer to the road, I used a tree to pull myself out of the creek. My jeans were soaked to the knee from wading, and my shoes squished, but none of it bothered me as I spotted the road splitting the dense forest I was hidden in. I stumbled on a root, scraping my hands against the bark of a tree as I caught myself.
I rested there for a moment, my body exhausted.
Where are you?
My sluggish mind responded instinctively.
By the road.
Relief shot through me, startling me with its intensity and I realized the emotion didn’t belong to me.
I’m coming.
Tears slipped down my cheeks at the determination in the thought and I nodded, pushing myself to keep moving.
I had no idea how we’d managed to push our way into one another’s thoughts or what it meant, but I trusted he would do exactly as he promised. I pressed my fingers to the mark on my neck, invisible to anyone’s eyes, but still there, an ever-present reminder of Dominic. I pulled strength from its presence, trudging ahead, keeping the road in sight as I remained out of sight.
I wasn’t sure if it was hours or minutes I walked, forcing one foot in front of the other before the low rumble of an engine reached me. Headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the night as the oversized Jeep drove slowly along the road. I took a relieved breath at the sight of it creeping toward me, knowing I’d made it. I broke from the cover of the trees, trusting his superior night vision as I stumbled toward the familiar safety of the Jeep and Dominic. The Jeep hadn’t even stopped when Dominic leapt out, his long strides reaching me in seconds.
“Are you okay?” His voice rumbled through me, warming the cold fear that had ate through me. I couldn’t speak, my face buried against his chest, nodding instead as I wrapped my arms and legs around him, burrowing into his warmth. “Let’s go home,” he whispered, his arms supporting my weight as I clung to him like a monkey, one of his hands cupping the back of my head.
“Thank God,” I heard as Dominic somehow got us both in the Jeep and slammed the door without letting go of me. I felt the Jeep shift into gear and make a U-turn as I rested my head against Dominic’s chest, inhaling his scent.
“You’re safe now,” he murmured, rubbing my shoulders and my eyes grew heavy. I wanted to tell him everything, explain what happened, and what his sister planned, but my exhaustion had caught up with me and the wheels on the road lulled me to sleep.
I woke with a gasp, sitting straight up as my heart thrummed in my chest, desperate fear telling me to run.
“You’re safe,” a low voice rumbled and I relaxed, recognizing it. I turned to see him sitting next to the bed, his broad chest bare as he held a glass of water out to me. “I’d hoped you’d sleep longer,” he told me as I gulped the water gratefully. “But you were restless once I stopped lying next to you.”
“You slept next to me?” I repeated uncertainly, positive I’d misunderstood him. A smile tugged at his mouth, but never reached his eyes.
“I did.” His lips tightened. “I was afraid you’d disappear,” he admitted roughly, rubbing one hand over his jaw, scrapping against day old whiskers.
“Not on purpose,” I replied, my thoughts and my mouth not keeping up with each other. I pulled my legs up to my chin before I noticed I wasn’t wearing pants. I slid my legs back under the covers in a hurry and he reached over to tuck one edge of the blanket in.
“Your jeans were wet,” he told me. “I took them off so you’d be more comfortable.” I nodded automatically, appreciating the sentiment behind it even if it was slightly uncomfortable sitting there talking to him with no pants on while he didn’t have a shirt. He had black workout pants hanging low on his hips, but there was no avoiding the acres of bare skin in front of me.
“My dad,” I shouted suddenly, causing both of us to jump.
“He’s safe,” Dominic rushed to reassure me.
“But what does he think happened to me?”
“Anna called and told him you were staying with her,” Dominic explained and I eased back.
“Oh, okay,” I responded, my thoughts swirling dizzily as my aching body reminded me I’d put it through hell the night before. I gingerly reached up to touch my cheek, but the swelling I expected wasn’t there.
