Page 56 of Heron's Flame

I thought it over. “Well, my bra is soaked, but I can live with it.”

“Not sure we can find a replacement here,” he laughed.

“Right.” I nibbled on my lip, glancing at the makeup aisle.

Heron noticed. “What is it?”

“I’ve got mascara in my eyes.” They stung, and I winced and blinked. “I think my makeup began running before you helped me with the helmet.”

“Tell me what to buy.”

I explained about makeup remover wipes and face lotion. Heron listened and spun on his heel, striding down the aisle and taking at least ten times longer than I would have to find the items.

Once he paid for the second round of stuff, he returned with a bag. “Here ya go. I’ll wait outside the door.”

“Perfect.”

“Hey,” he called after me, a funny look on his face.

“Yeah?”

He opened his mouth and shut it. For a second, I thought he might walk away without saying a word. But he turned, giving me an indecipherable look. “You sure you need to do this right now?”

“Positive. My eyes will hurt all night if I don’t.”

He surprised me when he closed the distance between us and hugged me against his body, lowering his head to kiss me like we hadn’t locked lips earlier that morning. We spent far too long in bed. I nearly blushed with the memory when I thought about all the naughty things we’d done.

“Yeah. I won’t be long.”

“Your choice.” He frowned. “I’m right here. Not going anywhere.”

“Okay.”

I returned to the bathroom and cleaned off all the makeup, applying lotion so my skin wouldn’t get too dry. My parents had blessed me with combination skin that liked to flake if it got dry enough. I could never keep enough face cream around.

Just as I finished, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

Heron must be worried. Maybe I took too long.

I didn’t hesitate to walk toward the exit, fling the door wide and plaster a smile on my face. “Hey, miss me already?”

“Never stopped.”

I jolted as I faced the man from my nightmares. His deep, gruff voice wasn’t the one I expected. A wide smile twisted his lips upward, but there wasn’t any warmth in his eyes. Just cold, flat, and simmering with fury.

Fuck. Where was Heron?

My gaze shot to the side, and I saw one of the Grave Robbers MC members tugging Heron into the bathroom and dragging him by his boots. He was unconscious. Whatever they did, he wasn’t in any condition to wake up or help me.

I was on my own.

Paul ticked his head toward the front of the store. “We’re gonna leave. Nice and quiet. Any sudden moves or attempts to run, and I’ll have Snake Eyes put a bullet in that bastard’s head.”

I understood. He didn’t need to threaten me. “I’m coming with you without a fight, and I won’t try anything,” I promised.

In the bathroom, I’d left my phone with my clothes. There was no way I could turn around and grab it now.Stupid.

“You have your cell?”

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