Page 39 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
He tucked his free hand behind his head, the other still gripping my hip. “You stopped. I’ve got nothing to lose by looking at you now.”
“Careful, Austin. Your dick is still inside me, and I won’t hesitate to cut it off.”
The man smirked. Fuckingsmirked. “Go right ahead. Really, it’d be my pleasure for you to use me as your little toy.”
I shoved his hand off my hip, bracing on his chest to maneuver off of him, but as I looked up, my eyes met the forest beyond the window. And the man standing in it.
My entire body froze, my attempt to move halted.
Austin must’ve sensed it, because one moment I was upright, and the next, Austin’s arm was wrapped around my waist, and I was being flipped underneath him, the breath whooshing from my lungs.
His whole body covered mine like a protective blanket, his attention focused on the window. “What was it? What did you see?”
My heart thundered in my ears as a feeling of pure violation swept over me like a curtain. Had that man watched me fuck Austin? Watched as I touched myself and came on him?
“McKenna.”
I blinked rapidly, clearing the fog from my mind to find him staring at me intently. Nothing about Austin wasplayful right now. No trace of a smirk or cocky remark was to be found. He was all ice, cold, sharp, and deadly. “A man.” I swallowed, not realizing I was out of breath again—for an entirely different reason. “Someone was out there. Watching us.” I inhaled, forcing the adrenaline coursing through my veins to slow for one fucking second. “Watching me.”
Austin was off of me in a flash, the front door flying open and banging against the wall as he stormed out into the night. As the door fell shut, I shoved up on my elbows and stared at it, counting the seconds. By forty, I was on my feet and wrapping shaking fingers around the handle. I didn’t even know why I was shaking. Because some creepy man watched me get off? Because I orgasmed on Austin’s cock barely minutes ago? Because Austin was out there and I couldn’t hear or see a thing? Was he hurt? Attacking someone? Had they gotten the upper hand?
Get yourself together. You’re stronger than this.
It wasn’t like me to freak out over something like this, but after the events of the past few weeks, my nerves were on edge. That, and for some stupid fucking reason, my mind was concerned for Austin’s wellbeing. If he got hurt, it’d take him off my hands. Ensure I couldn’t fall for him any further than I feared I was. But that wasn’t really what I wanted, and knowing he was out there, facing danger in nothing but his fucking underwear, only made me realize that all too clearly.
The door cracked, and I peeked outside. When I found nothing but the darkness of the forest sitting still among the chirping of crickets, I opened it wider and stepped outside. The cold air bit at my bare legs, traces of my releaseall too apparent where the chill brushed against the wet area in between my thighs. I ignored it, taking a few steps down the path.
“Austin,” I hissed into the uncomfortable quiet. Even the crickets seemed to stop their efforts to listen. For what, I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t even certain I wanted to find out, but if Austin needed help, I wouldn’t leave him to die.
I repeated his name, taking a couple more steps into the front yard to peer around the side of the garage. My bare feet sunk into the grass at the edge of the stone, and a twig breaking pulled my attention to somewhere behind me, off to the opposite side of the property.
I waited, every breath and beat of my heart feeling like it was on an intercom being projected over the forest floor. Then, the loudest crack known to man ripped through the air, and I fell to the lawn with a scream. I cupped my hands over my ears, willing the ringing to stop, but my efforts were futile. I swore I could hear my name being shouted over the high-pitched sound, but I was too scared to open my eyes. Too afraid to look death in the face as it came to claim me.
EvenIknew what a gunshot sounded like, and that one was all too close.
Two strong, rough hands grabbed my wrists and I screamed, kicking out. Despite my attempt to injure whoever was in front of me, they held firm, and my name came crashing through my ears.
Austin’s voice was the only reason I pried my eyes open.
The only reason I was brave enough to allow myself the possibility of seeing what would surely kill me.
“Are you hurt?” Austin asked, his voice so strained, so full of worry and fear. But his fear wasn’t like mine. Itwasn’t paralyzing, making him stop like a deer in the headlights at the thought of death. It was all powerful, like he could command the clouds to drop rain, and they would. Like nothing could touch him. And in that, nothing could touch me.
“No.” But the answer wavered. It didn’t sound certain, not even to my own ears, which continued to ring.
His eyes flicked between both of mine before he scooped me into his arms and quickly carried me inside. Rather than bringing us back to the couch, he stormed down the hall, into my bedroom. He slammed the door shut with his foot, placed me on the edge of the bed, and walked over to the curtains to be sure there were no cracks in the material. He peeked through the edge, then turned and crossed to his jeans where they lay on the bathroom floor. Approaching me with a phone held to his ear, his gaze tracked me from head to toe, likely searching for injury.
Under the pressure of his stare, I wrapped my arms around myself.
“Someone shot at McKenna,” Austin said into the phone as whoever was on the other end of the line answered.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could make out a very distinguished expletive before Austin went on. “They were looking through her window when she saw them. I went outside, thought I was chasing them off, but then they shot at her.” Pause. “No, she went outside.” Another pause. A subtle glare sent my way. “I know. I’ll be having a talk with her about that.” But when I didn’t send a scowl his way, his features lightened.
I guess I didn’t do a very good job hiding that the fight was slowly seeping out of me.
Austin turned away, walking a few steps to put space between us. “McKenna is going to bed, so when you get here, you better be fucking quiet.” Then he hung up the phone and tossed it on the dresser. His back muscles flexed as he pulled a hand through his hair. His gaze seemed to be stuck on the covered window, seconds of silence passing before he finally spun to face me again.
The look on his face told me exactly what was coming.
