Page 24 of Tempting My Billionaire Master

“Chloe, you’re a target too,” I argued, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I can’t leave you unprotected. Besides, if we stay near the bunker, the probability of someone discovering us is practically nonexistent. I chose this place for a reason.”

She opened her mouth to protest again, but when I raised an eyebrow, demanding an explanation, her words faltered. She sighed, looking defeated. “I just… I want some alone time, okay? Is that too much to ask?”

“Of course not,” I reassured her, my voice softening. “I’ll give you all the space you need here, but I can’t let you go out there alone. It’s too dangerous.”

“Fine!” Chloe snapped as she shoved away from me, her face flushing with anger. “Then I won’t go outside at all!”

Before I could say anything else, she wriggled free from my embrace, water sloshing over the sides of the tub as she stood up. Her auburn hair dripped down her back, and I couldn’t help but admire the way the droplets clung to her curves, even as my heart ached at the sight of her storming away.

Chapter Nine

Chloe

The darkness wrapped around me like a blanket as I lay next to Ethan, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. My heart thumped in my chest, guilt gnawing at my insides.

After my tantrum earlier, Ethan didn’t try to talk me down, he just gave me space to calm down. It made me feel even worse because even when he was supposed to be mad, he acted perfect. He did everything just right, and it scared me.

Ethan shifted beside me and I froze, holding my breath. His arm draped over my waist, pulling me closer to his warm body. I grimaced, hating how comforting his embrace felt. How could I betray someone who made me feel so safe?

Exactly because of how he made me feel. I was falling for him, but I knew that what we had now wouldn’t last once we returned from hiding. When we got back to reality, Ethan would once again be surrounded by the most beautiful and smartest women, vying for his attention. So I just needed to rip it off like a Band-Aid and Pinegrove could be a chance to solve things my way.

“Ethan?” I whispered into the darkness. No response came from his side of the bed. After a few moments of silence, I heard him breathing deeply again. Now was my chance.

I carefully slid out from under his arm, wincing as the cold air hit my skin. The wooden floor creaked under my feet as I tiptoed to the dresser and fumbled around in the dark for the flashlight Ethan kept there.

My fingers closed around the cool metal and I clicked it on, casting a dim glow over the room. Ethan didn’t stir.

I tiptoed into the pantry, using the dim light of the flashlight to find my shoes and Ethan’s sweatshirt and sweatpants. The soft, worn fabric smelled like Ethan—sandalwood and spice.

I tugged them on and with one last glance towards the bedroom, I crept to the trapdoor, leading out of the bunker and slowly opened it. The hinges squeaked in protest and I winced.

The bunker hatch was unlocked, making me feel even worse—he trusted me, and here I was, sneaking out behind his back.

Fresh, chilly air greeted me as I climbed out of the bunker and onto the rotting wooden floorboards above. My heart pounded in my chest, fueled by equal parts fear and anticipation.

The woods loomed before me, dark and dense and more than a little frightening. The chilly air seeped through Ethan’s warm clothes, making me shiver. I tried to recall the direction of the road from memory and squaring my shoulders, I headed into the trees, the beam of the flashlight guiding my way.

I cautiously stepped over roots and fallen branches as I made my way deeper into the woods. The flashlight’s beam danced across the trees, casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach out for me. My breath came out in small puffs, each one hanging in the chilled air before disappearing into the night.

The darkness was oppressive, and the silence was punctuated by the occasional hoot of an owl or rustling leaves.

As I ventured deeper into the woods, the darkness seemed to close in around me. Every rustle, every distant sound sent a shudder down my spine. I wished I could turn back, return to the safety of Ethan’s arms, but I couldn’t.

It suddenly hit me that in this darkness, finding my way back to the bunker would be almost impossible. Without the dilapidated house as a landmark I didn’t even know if I was walking in the right direction toward the road that would lead me to Pinegrove.

Panic rose in my chest at the thought of wandering these woods all night, cold and afraid. I picked up my pace, nearly jogging as I swung the flashlight around.

There! In the distance, a glint of light off something. I ran toward it, heart pounding.

The beam of my flashlight revealed a metal guardrail, and beyond that, an asphalt road. I nearly cried in relief.

I followed it and soon after the dim glow of streetlights appeared in the distance. The path sloped downhill and Pinegrove came into view, a smattering of houses and shops with only a few lights on at this late hour. I quickened my pace, eager to get off this dark, lonely road.

The cold night air stung my cheeks as I entered the sleepy town, my wet sneakers squelching with every step. After days confined in Ethan’s bunker, it felt strange and unfamiliar to see signs of civilization. Streetlights cast pools of yellow on the pavement. Trash bins and mailboxes lined the sidewalks, relics of ordinary life.

With no money or ID, I knew I would have to depend on the kindness of strangers, but most houses were dark, their occupants long asleep. I couldn’t knock on doors in the middle of the night. People might think I was a burglar and call the police and I couldn’t trust the police.

I walked through the eerily quiet town, my breath visible in the chilly air. Desperation began to gnaw at me as I passed darkened windows, no sign of life anywhere. The weight of loneliness settled on me, and I couldn’t help but feel like an intruder in this peaceful, slumbering place.

---