Page 433 of Hate Mates

He almost seems scared.

I can’t believe it. Big, bad ass, Lucian is afraid.

Of what though? “Your heart’s racing.”

Instead of answering, he clutches me tighter - almost to the point of suffocation. His enormous body shakes against me.

In the past, he’s always found me and seemed amused, enjoying the chase as well as torturing me.

This time is different.

Him being frightened freaks me out. I feel the need to soothe him, which freaks me out too. “Everything’s okay. I just wanted some fresh air. A change of scenery, you know?”

“It’s dangerous here Colby. I forbid you from coming back.”

The anxiety in his tone isn’t what I expect. I fight the instinct to challenge his unreasonable demand. He’s not playing around, especially since he called me by my real name rather than one of his silly pet names.

“I mean it.”

“Okay, calm down. With finals coming up I’ll be too busy to come out here anyway.”

My agreement earns my freedom from his smothering grasp and his hands fly to my cheeks. His gaze bores into my face.

“Never again.”

Uncertain how to respond, I grasp his fingers with my own, trying to find a connection where there’s never been one before. He kisses my forehead in that unexpected gentle way, murmuring against my skin about not losing me either.

He guides me to the small meadow leading back to the trail where his coat lies on the grass. I can feel his body soften and hisbreathing quiet down the farther we move from the ledge. The anxiety may seem irrational to me, but it is definitely genuine. I feel guilty although I’m not sure why. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”

“Just don’t do it again. It’s too easy to slip out there.”

Hints of something he experienced but obviously doesn’t want to discuss tinge his words.

“You can do your thinking someplace else.”

I can’t help but giggle at his caveman sounding assertion. His head spins toward me and he really looks deranged now.

“You think this is funny Colby? You think dying is fucking funny?”

In all the years I’ve known him, this is the first time he’s ever raised his voice to me. Jesus. He really is upset.

Finally, understanding of his panic hits me, and I must rectify the situation. “Did you think I was going to jump?”

His reply only comes in the form of him sighing and then lifting his gaze to the sky. This time I cup his cheeks and pull his head back down to me. “I wasn’t. I swear. I just like how peaceful it is out here, especially early in the morning.”

He nods against my palms. I’ve never seen him vulnerable before. I guess there’s more to him than I realize.

I smile at his handsome face, still shadowed with terror I’m not used to, trying to diffuse the situation. The more I talk, the calmer he seems to become. “I’d much rather hike than run on a treadmill.”

“Just not here. Anyplace else but here.”

I acquiesce to his demand and nod, which makes his expression clear. Finally. “Let’s head back.”

My simple request seems to snap him out of his obsession with my safety. He grabs my hand and his jacket from the ground.

Without a word between us, we trek back to the parking lot. Bodyguards mill around a fleet of vehicles which makes me laugh again. They look so out of place here.

Luckily, he’s simmered down and doesn’t lose his mind over me laughing this time. Instead, he slides his hand into my pocket and yanks out my fob. I grab for the key but can’t wrangle it from his hand. “Damn it Lucian! Give it back!”

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