Page 43 of Red

I might have been conflicted about it at first. Yet, that didn’t last for too long, did it?

God, I want him just the same. If not more now, knowing what a piece of shit Dean was.

“Julia…” Alex’s concerned voice brings me back to reality. “I need you to understand how unsafe it is for you to be out in the open like that. They are coming for you, and I can’t stop them. Dean was only a pawn, as they have hoped for your cooperation. Now, with him gone, they are about to become much more ruthless and theywillcapture you. It’s not going to take them long before they realize he’s already dead. If they aren’t aware already.”

I feel a little flutter low in my abdomen and a heat pooling between my legs yet again at how protective he is over me.

His eyes immediately get that mischievous glare and I know he knows. “Behave yourself,please. You won’t distract me with how aroused you are.”

Bet.

I wonder if I’ll ever regain normal human reactions around him. Because so far it’s been nothing but me thirsting over him in the most inadequate situations.

“I don’t get how you can be this calm when I’m literally burning for you?”

“Calm?” He laughs. “I’m losing my fucking mind. I can hardly think about anything else but your tight little cunt clenching around me.” He takes my face between his hands, making me swoon. “I’d not survive if anything happened to you. That’s what matters to me the most.”

“If you want me to behave, you need to stop being this sexy.” I give him a flirtatious smile. Or I hope that’s what it comes across as, at least.

“I mean it. You are my world. Do you not realize how I feel about you?”

“I do.”

“Then stop trying to get yourself stolen from me.” His words hung in the air, and there’s a long silence between us.

“After we get to wherever you’re taking me, will I be able to ever go back? Like, to visit?”

“Technically, yes. But they would hunt youdown. It’s not safe, I couldn’t risk it.”

“Not even to see my parents?”

“I’m sorry, I realize how difficult this must be for you. This is the only way.”

“I have to talk to them first.”

“Baby—”

I open up, “I lost control over my entire life. Seems like I’ve never even had it in a first place. I was sheltered by my mother, who resented me at the same time. And when I was finally off to college, I’ve spent all my energy trying to fit in. Surrounded by people yet always lonely, doing the most to numb away this damn feeling of not belonging with parties and casual hookups…” My bottom lip wobbles as I try to fight off the burning sensation in my eyes. “Now everything is starting to make sense. But I need to hear the full story and get a closure before our future can begin.”

He simply claims my mouth in response, kissing me deeply. I take it as him being ready to compromise.

“Will you ever start listening to me?”

“No.” I grin. “But I’ll let you do anything you want with me afterwards.”

“Mmm, anything?” he asks, to which I nod. “You really should rethink that. You know howmuch I wantthis.” He squeezes my butt cheek.

“Maybe that’s also whatIwant.”

He groans. “We’ll head out after sunset so I can blend in better. Now, eat your breakfast.”

“Keep or not?” I ask jokingly, holding up my vibrator for him to see as I’m collecting my stuff for the travel.

“Definitely yes.” His eyes darken. “I need to stretch your tight little ass for me if I’m going to own your every hole the way I want to.”

Him saying the most obscene things to me has absolutely no right to be such a turn on at times like this.

I need fucking therapy.

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