Page 106 of Crave Me

“Actually, I need to stretch my legs, are you up for a small walk?”

“Of course I am. Let me throw these into to-go mugs and we can go.”

I return to the bedroom and pull on some thick socks and a fleece sweater. When I meet Dallas in the mudroom in the back of the house, he pulls a thick sweatshirt over my head for an added layer and helps me pull on my boots.

“How are your nightmares? Have you had any since your accident?” he asks after a few minutes of walking in silence.

“I haven’t. I think my body has been too exhausted to dream.”

“Whatever you want to tell yourself, princess.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know I chase every bad dream you have away when I’m close to you. But sure, blame it on being tired.”

“That’s a pretty pompous assumption, but I expect nothing less from you.”

“It’s the truth and you damn well know it. Fight it all you want, but you and I both know that pretty little head of yours and that sexy body knows it’s safe with me, it’s your heart that’s fucked-up and not on board right now. But I’m going to fix that.”

“Dallas. Please, you need to let this go. There is no us anymore. There barely was an us to begin with.”

“Like hell there isn’t. Say whatever you want to me, call me every name in the book, hell, fuckin’ hit me if you need to, but don’t you dare lie to me.”

I open my mouth with a retort but close it. I hate that he’s mostly right, except my heart is on board. It’s pounding loudly in my chest, telling me to go to him, that he’s the one man on the planet who’s for me, my match in every way.

“I looked up my abuser. He was released from prison. But did you already know that?”

Dallas stops walking and turns to me, his face bearing an unreadable expression that worries me.

“Baby, I never looked at that file. I shouldn’t have ever gotten it in the first place. But I need to talk to you about something that I’ve been putting off.”

My feet freeze, and I turn to face Dallas, his gorgeous eyes bouncing back and forth between my own, concern and worry etched into his features.

“Baby girl, we have reason to believe that your crash wasn’t an accident.” He pauses and studies my face, waiting for areaction I’m not going to give him. I stand still, standing stronger than I feel, so he continues. “We weren’t positive who, even though I had a feeling. But now that you’ve said he was released . . .”

“It was him.”

“Yeah, baby. We think so.”

“While we figure out what to do, I can have Wes keep an eye on him. I can make sure he contacts you if you don’t want me involved. But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll do whatever you need. It’s taking all I have to not lead this and hunt him down to make him pay for what he’s done to you.”

I think about his offer for a moment as we slowly walk up the long driveway, Dallas’ warm arm looped through mine to prevent me from falling. I know that the offer is a good one. One that hadn’t crossed my mind. At least this time when he hires the PI, he’s including me and asking for permission first.

“Yeah, I think I would like to know where he is and that he’s staying far away from me. He tried to fucking kill me, Dallas. Shouldn’t we take whatever info you have to the police?”

“He won’t get close to you again. I’d do anything for you, baby. I’ll take care of it and make sure eyes are on him. Maybe if we’re lucky he’ll just do the world a favor and die.”

“We can only hope.”

He stops walking again and pulls me gently to a stop before facing me. The features on his face are tight, serious, and I feel an ominous chill slide down my back. I’m suddenly nervous.

“What is it?”

“What if I told you there’s a way to make that happen?”

“For him to die?”

“Yeah. What if I could make him go away?”

---