AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure, let’s go.” I pick her up and cradle her in my arms. I can feel her shaking from head to toe. I want to erase everything that happened in the last hour so she can go back to being a carefree teenager. I want to kill my cousin, and most of all I want this girl to know I’m here for her.
Chapter Eighteen
Evil characters in fairy tales have warts and a signature cackle. Evil people in real life have Ferraris and a signature smirk. -Ronnie
Ronnie
I sniffle again from the passenger seat and Sawyer casts another worried glimpse my way. He knows I’m about five seconds from losing it, but he’s been entirely calm through it all. I mean, after he finished kicking the shit out of Brad, that is. My head is a muddled mess and I feel dirty and shaky. I would never have believed Brad would act that way. I though he was an asshole, but I had no idea he was dangerous.
I sneak another look at Sawyer. His hands are fisted around the steering wheel so hard he looks like he’s going to rip it apart. The sky started to unload right before we got into the car. Now rain is falling in sheets across the window shield. I watch as Sawyer hunches over the steering wheel and tries to see through the glass. I know it’s got to be hard for him to navigate these unfamiliar mountain roads in the middle of this storm. He already asked me about going to the police station and I refused. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now. I just want to get home. I finally agreed to go see the police in the morning.
I spot a motel sign up ahead and shake myself. He needs to get off the road and cool down. I need time to process. “Pull over at that motel. We can get a room for the night.” My voice still sounds hoarse from strain.
“Are you sure? I’m okay to drive. It’s a little hard to see, but it’s not awful.”
“No, pull over. Neither one of us should be driving and I need some rest.” I am bone tired. The adrenaline is starting to wear off, leaving behind weighted limbs and a heavy heart. Plus, I’m not ready to tell my dad what happened. I need time to think first.
We pull into the motel parking lot. It’s a little sketchy but not awful. As Sawyer checks us in at the front desk, I mumble in a small voice from behind him. “Please let me stay with you.” He obliges and gets one room. There’s no way I want to be alone now.
As soon as we step into the room, Sawyer starts to blush. It’s fascinating to watch this man who is no longer a boy blush and stammer around me. “I asked the guy for double beds. I’m so sorry. I can get us switched to another room if you like.”
I look at the large king bed in the middle of the room. Right now, I don’t want to be alone, and I really don’t want to sleep alone. Somehow, I trust this guy I barely know. In one short night, he’s become my hero and savior. I know he won’t do anything to hurt me.
I wave him off. “No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. We’re both over eighteen. I’m sure we can sleep in a bed together without it being awkward. Besides, I really just want a shower right now.”
I do. I want to wash away any remnants of Brad that may be left on me. I want to run hot water all over me and wash away the feel of his hands. I close my eyes. This night seems endless. I just want to be clean.
Chapter Nineteen
Everything I know about being a good guy I learned from watching stupid rom-coms with my mom. If I have to be that cheesy in real life, I think I’ll keep the bad guy title.- Sawyer
Sawyer
I watch Ronnie gather herself. She grabs her things and shuts the bathroom door. I hear the water cut on almost immediately. I sit down on the bed, and rake my hand through my hair in frustration. I want to erase all the bad memories for her. I want to take her somewhere where she will never be hurt again.
I lay back on the bed and close my eyes. As much as I only want to think PG thoughts about the girl in the shower, my thoughts stray to her naked body in the next room. We’ve been through hell tonight, so I try my best to not think like the horny twenty-year old guy I am. It’s almost impossible. She’s not a small girl. She’s got a woman’s body, and I can’t help but think of the warm water sliding over that smooth skin. My cock stirs in my jeans. I try to keep my imagination from going too far. Fuck, she was attacked tonight. She was a victim. She doesn’t need to be a victim of my twisted mind too.
I pace the room until she gets out of the shower. She’s wearing a tank top and short sleep shorts when she walks back into the room. God, this girl takes my breath away. Her curly red hair falls in wet ringlets around her shoulders. Her face is fresh and young. She looks innocent except for the nipples that peak through the tank top. Those damn nipples have my imagination running wild again. I curl my hands into fists. Control yourself, idiot.
“Shower’s all yours. I’m going to try to rest. I feel so tired.” She sounds as awkward as I feel.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I can grab you something to eat or drink if you need me too.”
She walks over to where I stand, and I feel my breath hitch. She’s standing so close that I can smell her vanilla body wash and feel her heat. Get it together, man. She just went through a traumatizing experience. She’s a complete innocent and you need to forget that she’s also sexy as hell.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. I watch her long, dark eyelashes flutter as she opens her eyes. The expression on her face is one of pure adoration. My gut churns. I want this girl more than anything. I really do not deserve hero worship, especially not while my thoughts are tangled with lust.
“Thank you so much for what you did tonight. I know Brad’s your cousin and you could get in trouble for beating him up.”
I raise my finger to her soft pink lips. She stops talking and her face flushes.
“You don’t need to thank me for anything. I’m ashamed I’m related to that asshole. I won’t get in trouble for anything. Believe me. I know my uncle. He’ll want to shut this up. I will make sure that the powers that be know what really happened. He’ll get retribution, I promise you.” I trace my hand lightly along the side of her face and try not to scare her with my tone. I will make sure that Brad gets what’s coming to him. He will not try to hurt what’s mine and get away with it. When she became mine, I have no idea, but she feels like mine. Her eyes close again and she leans into my hand. She gives my hand a light kiss and I try not to groan. This girl. This girl and the way she makes me feel.
“You lay down and try to rest. I’ll sleep on the floor. You can take the bed. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” It takes everything within me to walk away from her now.
“Sawyer?” Her voice is barely a whisper when I reach the bathroom door. I look back to see her cuddled under the covers.
“What, sweet girl?”
