Page 10 of Taken

As my lips part, my brain keeps screaming, ‘This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong.’

I should escape. I can’t let this go any further. I’m marrying Leon. It’s what my father wants. Arranged marriage has been a part of my family for generations. I can’t be the one to break it all in half. I have to go through with this wedding. It doesn’t matter what I feel. I have to do what I have to do.

“I think of you every second of every day,” Sawyer whispers gruffly. “When I’m waking up, when I’m in the shower, when I pour my cereal into my bowl, when I’m working, when I come home, when I’m stick slicing, when I’m eating dinner, when I’m walking by that flower shop for the hundredth time trying to catch a glimpse of you, when I’m crawling in bed at night, when I’m dreaming.” He brushes his hand over the side of my face. “You’re all I’m thinking about, Evie. You, and only you. And judging by that tattoo on your arm, you’ve been thinking of me too.”

My heart crushes, then warms and expands, and ultimately sinks into my stomach as reality hits. Nothing can come of this.Nothing.The sooner I grow the hell up and start accepting that, the better off everything will be.

“I have to go.” I open the truck door and hop back out into the cool night air, but I’m met with the solid frame of a man on a mission.

“Why?” Sawyer groans in front of me as though he’s been transported there.

God, he smells good. Familiar and good. Like an old friend, like the love of my life—like a man. Like a big, rough, hardworking man.

My thighs ache.

“I’m getting married tomorrow. I can’t do this. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come with you, and you shouldn’t have come here. I can’t do this.” I storm away, walking back toward the boat where I see my fiancé buried between two women.

“Fuck!” Sawyer groans, his giant hand cups the back of my neck as he pulls me back toward him. “I’m getting really tired of you walking away.”

His hand sits firm on the back of my neck as I stare up at him.

Why am I not mad? I should be furious. No one touches me that way, except him apparently, because my panties are soaking wet and I’m about as desperate as someone can be. I mean,desperate.I need this man to bend me over and fill me up.

I can’t fight it any longer!

“I love you, Sawyer! I’ll always love you, but—”

“Stop saying that shit!”

Is he yelling at me?

“You love me, so do something about it. Tell your father and leave that asshole. I’m right here to pick up the pieces. I’ll keep you safe.”

“And who’ll keepyousafe, Sawyer? I’ve told you half a dozen times who my father is and what he’s done before, what he’s capable of. Do you understand that I’ve been protecting you, too?”

He growls under his breath and holds me tighter against his chest. “Then let’s protect each other, princess. It can be you and me against the world.”

I tuck my chin as my legs turn to Jello, my clit hammers, and my heart sets on fire. Why does it feel so good to be around a man who’s acting like a grown man? A man who shows me how much he cares? A man who isn’t entertaining forty other women?

My entire body itches to jump into Sawyer’s arms, to let him take me away, to disappear with him and never look back.I can’t do that, right?

I remind myself of all the drama I’d be causing. Then, the drama comes to me. Heavy footsteps echo behind me alongsidea high-pitched giggle I don’t recognize. I turn back slowly to see Leon stumbling down the walkway. His arm is around some girl I don’t know. She’s wearing a slutty red dress with the strap hanging off her shoulder.

At least her tits are covered.

I expect him to stop me, to notice I’m still here, to notice Sawyer is only inches from my face, to notice how upset I’ve been, to feel bad about leaving me alone the night before our wedding. It’s not that I need him to care, I don’t. I know we both hate the idea of marrying each other, but I guess it would be nice if we were trying to give a damn.

God, what am I signing up for?

He saunters by, hitting the lock on the key fob a few feet away before smacking the busty blonde on the ass and helping her into his car.

Needing solidarity, I glance back at Sawyer, but his jaw has locked as he stares toward Leon. The last time I saw this look was at the tattoo shop five years ago when Sawyer started throwing punches, leaving Leon with a cracked nose.

“Hey,” I tap Sawyer on the shoulder, trying to shake him out of the mode he’s driving himself into. “Come on. It’s fine. Can you take me home? I’m exhausted.”

Sawyer glances toward me, his gaze lit with the fire of a thousand dragons. “Princess, wait in the truck. I’ve got shit to take care of.”

My head feels light, and though I don’t want Leon to get hurt, I’ve never felt safer, or more turned on—which is going to be a problem.

---