Page 25 of The Catalyst

“Put this on,” he says, removing his hand from my leg and handing me a big bandana, green and black in color.

“What?” Why is he giving me a bandana? And where does he want me to put it?

“Like a blindfold, butterfly. Where we’re going is a surprise.”

Of course it is. Why the hell wouldn’t it be?

Agitation fills me as I wrap the bandana around my head and tie it off, completely blinding myself. Why the hell am I even listening to him? I could say no and demand he let me out of the truck, but I doubt he would let me leave. He’s controlling and demanding but not overly so. Maybe that’s why I agree with most things he wants us to do.

October 10, 1814

I don’t have the faintest clue where we are. All that surrounds us is nothing but dirt, trees, and silence. But luck seems to be on our side finally. Two days ago, we stumbled upon a plantation in the middle of the forest, hidden from everything. The owner of the home is also from Ireland and offered us asylum for as long as we wished. Aodh is a gentle soul, and his wife, Eabha, offered us a place on their staff until we reached full strength. Our reserves have dried up. If we hadn’t found Aodh and Eabha, I doubt we would’ve survived the week. I’ll always be grateful to these two kind souls. Who knows? Maybe we will stay for a while.

Until next time,

Séamus O’Reilly

CHAPTER 12

BETH

Ilay on the floor, still completely naked, watching Nigel look over something on his phone. I’m a little distracted by his half-naked body. It’s so weird that he never took off his shirt when we had sex. Shawn always had to disrobe completely, or else he wasn’t comfortable. It’s nice to see that Nigel doesn’t have that affliction because, goddamn, there’s something about a man just sitting there in only a black t-shirt that does things to my body.

I want him again, but I’m fine with letting this desire stew a bit. The anticipation is what really gets me, much like with him chasing me.

He brought me to his childhood home, finally convinced me to be his, chased me around the house, and fucked me raw.

“What is it?” I ask as I prop my head on my hand, watching his icy blues flash across his phone screen.

His gaze snaps to mine, and the look in his eyes when they meet mine can only be described in one word.

Love.

And that’s insane. It's too soon for that, but I won’t let my fear of it control me anymore.

“I have somewhere I have to be. Do you want to come with me?”

Since the only other option is him dropping me off with the preacher, I don’t have any other choice.

“Sure. Where are we going?”

He hands over my clothes, and I dress quickly, watching how he pulls his jeans back on and over that fine ass of his.

This man is all mine, and excitement bubbles in my belly at the thought. Not in a carnal way, but something much more taboo to me.

I want him all to myself. I don’t want other girls looking at him the way I am or touching him the way I did for over an hour. I want Nigel to keep looking at me the way he does and never stop.

Never.

Forever.

Both are such permanent words, yet I don’t fear them right now.

Maybe I will later when the high of all of this fades, but I’m going to enjoy it for as long as I can.

Nigel takes my hand and guides me out of the room, out of the house, and back to his truck before driving us off the isolated property.

* * *

---