Page 159 of Prey for You

“I will. That’s why I’m here. But, please… tell me the truth. All of it, Bridget.”

I nodded. Then I babbled like a crazy woman.

I almost got my insides opened like a zipper. That’s what happened, Sam.

None of us thought he was that dangerous. None of us caught it. A common thief, maybe a peeping Tom. Violent, but towards men. Kinky. That’s what we all thought.

No urgency.

But we were wrong. We were all wrong.

Jeremy showed up just in time. Just like the night they got you.When it was all done, all I wanted was to be at home in my bed in the dark alone. I couldn’t stand to have noise. I couldn’t answer any more questions. I didn’t want hugs.

Get me home. Please.

And he did. And he wanted to stay and make sure I was okay, but I insisted that he leave. And he did that too.

And then I was alone and my skin started to itch.

I was alone and we’d all been so wrong, and maybe… maybe I wasn’t cut out for this kind of work after all, because I threw up twice.

The buzzing in my head wouldn’t stop. I jumped at every creak or rustle.

In the end, I sat down and got drunk, just so I could breathe.

But that made me sad and scared and confused and messed up and… and alone. I was falling apart and I didn’t know who else to call, so I called Jeremy, and he came back.

Turns out he’d been drinking too. And he drove drunk to get to my house because he was worried.

We were both shaken—me more than him, but both of us kind of desperate and…

I made the first move. He hadn’t even flirted. It was me. I needed to be held and I didn’t know how else to do that.

So, we comforted each other.

And the next day we both agreed it had been the wrong thing to do. A mistake. A stress release.

That was all.

Sam stared at me, his face sad and horrified, but his body tense, muscles rigid.

I licked my lips. “Nothing else ever happened,” I breathed. “I swear.”

“Ever?” he rasped.

I shook my head. “Never.”

Sam still didn’t move, just stared, and I could see him thinking.

“It was a mistake—we both said that. But he wasn’t…he’s never pushed, Sam. He’s never touched me again, or tried to. He’s never flirted. Nothing. He’s protective, but not…”

“But he’s taken averyserious dislike to me,” he growled.

I nodded slowly, but my heart was threatening to bust out of my chest. “Are you mad?”

Sam’s breath rushed out of him. He was suddenly all motion, pacing back and forth in front of the couch, shaking his head. “I don't know, that’s the truth. I just know I don’t trust him. I never have. And I know a helluva lot makes sense now. But…” he stopped and turned to face me. Then dropped onto the couch like his legs had given out. “Bridget, what happened to no more secrets? I told you everything.Everything.”

Fighting tears, I rushed to him and threw my arms around his neck, crawling into his lap. “I’m sorry.”

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