Page 8 of Hard Limits

Her eyes suddenly met mine and the world stopped. I felt her body meld into mine as I held her up in my arms. If only this could have been different. If only I could have met her first. I could feel her ragged breath along my lips, the fear in her eyes was undeniable. Yet the trace of need was unmistakable. A reflection of my own.

Gently, I slid my hand away, my fingertips lingering on her soft lips. Her breaths came out shaky, but she didn’t scream. Her lips held me hypnotized as I traced their kissable curves.

“H-how?” she whispered gaining back my attention.

“How what?”

“How did you find me?” Her hushed tone holding that secret.

“I have my ways,” I murmured, my thumb brushing against her bottom lip.

I traced her jaw and cupped her cheek, her eyelids fluttering shut as she licked her lips. I wanted to kiss her so badly.

“Do it.”

“Do what, baby girl?”

Tears glided down her cheeks, dampening the palm of my hand. “Kill me.”

“What?” I leaned back, cupping both her cheeks. “What are you talking about?”

Her eyes, shining with tears, met mine. “I’d rather be dead than be dragged back to him.”

“Is that what you think I’m here for?” I let her go and took a step back, but she didn’t run. She simply leaned back, seemingly exhausted, clinging to the door behind her for support.

“Aren’t you? Didn’t you come here for that? Isn’t that what you were hired for? Kill me. Do it. Bury me out back. That way he’ll never find me, and I’ll finally escape.”

She took a step toward me and gripped the lapels of my jacket. “I’ll pay you double what he’s paying you.”

I took in her broken features and realized I needed to protect her not just from the man who had stolen her life, but also from herself. I pulled her into me, holding her close as she began to sob.

“There is absolutely no way in hell, I’d ever harm you. Let alone kill you.”

“Please,” she sobbed against me and my heart broke for her. My sweet girl with the golden hair and light eyes. She was going to be my greatest feat or my greatest downfall.

“I can’t do that, baby girl. That’s not going to happen.” I gripped her arms and leaned back so I could look down at her.

“Why are you here then? Did you come to torture me?” She hiccupped, brushing her tears away.

I smirked. “Torture. Yes. I came to torture us both.”

I swiped her tears away and her large glimmering eyes looked up at me. “What do you want?”

“You,” I stated simply.

“Me?”

“Yes. I came here searching for you, but what I found was something I can’t really put in to words. All I can tell you is that I didn’t come to take you away. And I stayed, so I can make you mine.”

“Yours?” She shook her head, taking a step back. I latched on to her arms, afraid she was going to run.

She looked up at me like a frightened fawn. “I don’t know you.”

“You will.”

“How am I supposed to trust you?”

“Trust is built.”

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