Page 66 of Echo
“I didn’t mean to trespass. It’s just the quickest way to Aaron’s hunting property.” His eyes scanned over me in a slow, suggestive fashion all the way down to my boot-covered feet. “At least you have sensible shoes.”
I didn’t miss the way his eyes locked on the slit going up my thigh that stopped just short of indecent. “You should go.”
“What are you doing out here? Wearing that?” A bit of jealousy filled his voice, just enough to show he probably wasn’t as sweet as I thought he was. “I hadn’t heard any rumors you were sweet on anyone.”
The gossip mill was the hottest source of information in this hollar, but no one looked close enough at Rinah farm to even guess what happened here.
Otherwise, he’d known about my frequent runs through the trees, teasing a monster I knew I could never escape from.
Hot blazing eyes landed on my back, and I gasped at the sensation of knowinghewas watching me.
“This isn’t the place for you to be,” I warned him again. Hoping he’d heed my warnings.
Van was a concept I held in my mind when I needed faith in humanity. He stayed up on a high pedestal of perfection that simply wasn’t for me, but gave me a sense of peace in his simple existence.
“One would argue that you are the one who shouldn’t be out here.” His eyes raked over me again.
“Don’t.” A soft growl vibrated behind me. “It’ll ruin you.”
“I’ve already said I wanted to be ruined.” He stepped towards me with heavy-lidded eyes full of passion and desire. His fingers landed on my cheek. “Just give me a chance.”
“Oh, Van.” I frowned, kissing his palm. How disappointing. “I’ve already killed you.”
Heavy footsteps circled around us. Making sure he was seen and heard. The shadows shook eerily despite the stillness of the dark morning.
Van’s eyes grew wide as he searched for what creature was hiding in the treeline. Echo made a show of breathing in and out extra loud to bring attention to his position, but the darkness kept us from seeing anything other than a vague shape.
“Be calm. He didn’t mean anything by it.” I tried to reason with Echo, but he wasn’t a golden retriever I could teach to do tricks. I was a companion and keeper, but I didn’t control the beast. The best I could do was keep him company and keep him on my farm.
And I was sure he was ravenous for some fresh blood.
“Don’t run,” I told Van.
He didn’t listen. Instead, he took off into the trees, abandoning me in the name of escaping.
Echo’s dark chuckles filled the air, and I knew that would be the final nail in Van’s coffin. Shadows blew past me on a breeze that didn’t exist, caressing me as it went past.
Welp. What’s done is done.
Might as well make the best of it.
I could put some decent space between us by the time he devoured Van. I banked a hard right, heading for the river to hide my scent.
When Echo came for me, he’d be even more delicious, desperate to remove Van’s touch from my body.
I smiled to myself.
May the chase go on. Until death do us part.
