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“What a to do with you?” I hear him say under his breath

I stop breathing at his words It’s so he didn’t like, even so an unsatisfactory dinner for his like I’m supposed to

The rab a hold to burrow myself back into his body, and our eyes lock Deep blue eyes, the color of stor sun, come to mine

“Green” He whispers so softly I al abouteveryone notices aboutThey stand out against the paleness ofthem

“Keephis question His eyebrows furrow in confusion

“Keep you?” His eyes go toback to mine

“That’s what you’ll do withaway He stuet away frorab him, but he hits the floor

He stands up, turning around and giving me his broad back, which is ripped with muscles and hard lines I’ve never seen a man built like him before

“I’ll get you a shirt,” he says, his voice gruff and raw as he makes his way over to a dresser

I look down to see I’ but my panties He pulls out a shirt and turns back around, stopping in his tracks as his eyes roam over my body

“The blanket” He nods to it, but I rab it

I’ve never been naked, or even partially naked, in front of a man before I’m not dumb Maybe naïve in some ways, but I knohat happens between a man and a woman It was the reason I ran from ht of it then hadcompletely different

I shakehim to come back to me He licks his full lips before he takes the steps to close the distance between us I take the shirt from him, and his eyes never leave me as I slide it over my head

“Do you already keep so the silence

“No one else lives here,” he confirms, and relief floods my body

“So I can stay?” Ito be close to hi hi about him makes me feel safe, and I don’t want to lose that security

“Yes” The single word cooose bu a delicious thrill up oes serious “Is someone after you?”

I nod, not wanting to give him more

“You going to tell me who?”

“No,” I tell hi up into his eyes I have no idea if he knows my dad Heck, I don’t even knohere I am, and I like it that way I don’t want to know I siht here That seems fine with me No one would ever

knohere to find me

“Is it the law?”

“I’ from my dad, but I’m not sure about the law I did take his car

“All right,” he says “You at least going to tell me your name then?”

“I don’t want to Maybe I could make one up?”

“Baby doll, you never have to do anything you don’t wanna do here That clear?” he tellsme smile

“I like that name”

“Well, that’s good, because it’s what I’ve been calling you since I found you” That er “I’m Trace”

“I like that name” It suits him “Will you tell anyone I’m here, Trace?”

“No” The word comes hard and fast, as if he doesn’t like the idea of people knowing I’m here either

“Will you lie back doith ive hier

He looks down at the spot, taking a deep breath like he’s debating the idea I should feel bad that I’ him uncomfortable, but I don’t care I want him next to me

“Please,” I say, knowing I won’t fall back asleep without hi ainst hiht to him

“Nothing will touch you here Don’t be scared,” he tellson top of hile with his

“Proainst him

“Iwill take you from here Ever”

3

Trace