Page 8 of Savage Love
“Nope. Pretty sure Zev would kill me with his bare hands,” he chuckles. “Come on. We need to move you before the others show up to look for you.”
“Fine,” I huff.
The man leads me with his hand between my shoulder blades through the dark until suddenly everything opens up. The moon dimly lights a massive field, and I make a split-second decision and run. I don’t know what my plan is, but I don’t feel safe.
“Stop it!” I yell when arms wrap around me and I am effortlessly picked up. I go to scream again, but my mouth won’t open. It feels as though my jaw is stuck. My entire body locks up, and I can’t even move as I am carried. I scream at Zev with a closed mouth as anger boils inside of me.
“So much for not using your abilities on her,” the other man chuckles as they walk. Zev is carrying me with ease, but he is also massive. He is at least seven feet tall, and his body has thick, rippling muscles.
“She’s stronger than she looks,” Zev says humorously. “She also cut my hand open.”
“Wait, really?”
“Mhmm. Lyra must have given her a knife. I should have known better than to sneak up on her, though,” Zev explains. “Alright. We need to move fast, or they’ll shoot us.”
Zev sets me down, and his face is illuminated by the moon now. He is absolutely breathtaking. How can one person be so damn attractive? He smiles softly, and I nearly choke on air. My God…
“Focus, guys,” the man says.
“I’m going to need you to work with me here, Astra. Can you do that?” Zev asks.
“Yes, sir,” I say gently.
“Don’t go soft on me now, pretty girl; we are both wearing my blood,” he says with a wicked grin. “I am not your superior, so do not call me sir. Okay?”
“Yes, sir,” I say, flustered. “I mean… whatever. Okay.”
“I need you on my back so I can take us to the boat. I assume you cannot swim?” he asks.
“What?” I snap. “Fuck no. The water is unsafe. You have lost your…”
Zev gently takes my face between his hands, and I abruptly stop talking as I look up at him. “Astra,” he says softly. “They are looking for you, okay? You escaped and killed a cop. We cannot let them find you. You just have to trust me when I say that the water is safe and I will not hurt you.”
“But you… He said… I’m so confused,” I admit.
“I know you are, and I will explain more on the boat, but I need you to trust me, Astra. We are running out of time,” he says.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Good girl,” he smiles. I gasp and cling to him when he abruptly picks me up and slings me onto his back. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist before burying my face in his back. When he steps into the water and starts to go deeper, I tense. I wait for the burn when we descend into the water, but it never comes. The cool water envelops us and soothes me. I relax against Zev, and he takes us deeper until we are just above the surface.
I am finding comfort in the way his muscles flex as he moves us through the water. It is angelic in the sexiest way, and the scent of him lulls me. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I am completely relaxed against him, and the adrenaline seeps out of my soul as we navigate the waters.
“Don’t fall asleep yet, Astra,” Zev says.
“Who is the other guy?” I mumble, trying to keep myself awake.
“Ren,” he says. “He is my younger brother.”
“What’s a brother?” I ask.
“We have the same parents,” he says. “If he were female, he would be a sister.”
“Ren is a girl?”
“No,” he laughs. “Are you comfortable climbing a ladder?”
“Uh… Yeah,” I say.
