Page 35 of Out of Peril

What were we going to do?

We couldn't stay here forever. It was only a matter of time before the Alpha came and forced us to leave. I didn't want to stand my ground if it meant killing another person again. That was in my past and something I'd have to eventually come to accept. But for now, I pushed it down as I always did.

That was the old me. I'm not that person anymore, I chanted to myself as I rocked back and forth, hugging my knees to my chest.

I wasn't sure how long I sat, but when I thought the worst of it had passed, I forced myself to get up and leave the library. I felt raw and emotional. I just needed to sleep it off.

“Are you okay?” Walker's deep voice sounded from somewhere in front of me.

I jumped, startled to find him there.

He stepped out of the shadows.

“Are you okay, Lindsey?” he repeated.

I could feel concern rolling off of him in waves, and I was too weak to deal with it at that moment.

“I told you to stay upstairs,” I snapped, desperately trying to raise some sort of defense against this guy, but he wasn't taking the hint.

Walker took a few steps closer and then stopped.

“You know I can feel your emotions, right? Something is bothering you.”

“It's nothing,” I lied.

He closed the gap even more. My eyes darted around for escape, but my feet wouldn't move. It was like they were glued to the floor.

He reached out his hand and gently caressed my cheek. I didn't even notice how I leaned into his touch.

“It's not nothing, babe. Let me in.”

His voice held an edge of desperation and worry.

I didn't even realize what was happening until he pulled me into his arms and lowered his lips to mine. They were light at first, just the faintest brush against mine. When I didn't pull away, still frozen in shock, he pressed them firmer to mine.

His tongue darted out and licked the seam of my mouth. Shockwaves of pleasure ran down my body, and my lips parted in surprise. He used this moment to sweep his tongue against mine and explore the recesses of my mouth.

I had no idea what I was doing, but I raised up on my tippy-toes needing to be closer to him. My arms wrapped around his neck, my hands fisting his hair, holding him to me.

He kissed me harder, pouring desire into me.

My head spun and I couldn't think straight. All I could do was feel.

It was wonderful.

Oh God, I never wanted him to stop kissing me.

His kisses drove away the darkness, the worry, the fears, until there was only me and him and the wondrous ways he was making me feel.

“Lindsey,” he moaned in a reverent whisper against my lips.

Hearing my name caused reality to come crashing back down around me.

I gasped and pulled away, in a blink, I was on the other side of the room touching my swollen lips.

What was I doing?

What was he doing to me?

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