Page 29 of Wait in the Truck
I fight against the urge to keep touching. Instead, I step back, giving her space to breathe, space to be brave. Every cell in my body rages against the tenuous restraint I’mfighting to maintain. My cock is screaming for release, and she’s the only one capable of giving it to me.Down, boy!
“Get. In. The truck, Sage. I’ll follow behind,” I demand, gentle but firm.
“Kade, I…” She hesitates again, her gaze searching mine in the half-light.
“Seriously, Wildflower. Last warning.”Now is not the time for her to test my resolve, not unless she wants everyone vacating this damn bar to see her on her knees, lips coated in my cum.
With a nod, she climbs into the cab, starting up the engine. It rumbles to life, all noise and smoke, a beast waking from slumber. I watch as she rolls down the window, her silhouette framed by the interior light.
“See you on the flip side,” she says, trying for a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Bet on it,” I shoot back, my voice gruff with unspoken emotions.
I wait until her truck pulls away, crunching over the gravel, taillights fading into the distance, then stoop to fetch my hat. Adjusting my dick as I turn toward my pickup, I climb in, fire up the engine, and follow behind her, giving her some space while staying close enough to charge in if shadows turn to threats.
The whole drive, my mind’s a tangled mess of what-ifs and whys. Toby’s gone, rotting deep on the ranch, and here I am, playing guardian angel to the girl who doesn’t evenknow the devil she’s frightened of is now lying under six feet of dirt and lies.
Every inch of me aches to be more than her protector, her confidant, hell, her anything. For now, I’m just Kade, following Sage home in the dead of night, praying the ghosts that haunt us both stay buried.
As I tail Sage’s truck, the roar of my engine a low growl that echoes in the empty space between us. My headlights carve out a small dome of visibility, the only barrier against the oppressive darkness. I keep my eyes glued to the red glow of her taillights, hypnotic and steady as they bob gently with each dip in the road. Occasionally, she taps her brakes—a flash that sends a jolt through me—and I ease off the gas, maintaining our unspoken pact of distance.
The air in my truck is stuffy, reeking of old leather and the remnants of cigarettes long since stubbed out. I crack the window, hoping for relief, but the rush of air brings the scent of impending rain, heavy with the promise of a storm. It mingles with the tang of my own sweat, and I swipe at my forehead with the back of my hand.
I shift in my seat, restless, the denim of my jeans rough against my skin. There’s an itch beneath the surface, a longing to break free from this self-imposed cage, to race ahead, pull up beside her, and finish what we started.
Glancing in my rearview mirror, the reflection of the orbs from streetlights wash over the road, casting eerie shadows that play tricks on my eyes. I seemovement where there is none, imagine figures looming in the periphery of my vision. It’s Toby’s ghost haunting me, no doubt—an ever-present reminder of the secret buried deep in my land along with his cold, dead body.
I shake my head, trying to dispel the images, but they cling like cobwebs, stubborn and persistent. I focus instead on the rhythmic thrum of my heartbeat, the solid feel of the steering wheel beneath my palms, anything to ground me in the here and now.
Her truck takes a turn, signaling left, and I follow suit, the click of my blinker in sync with hers. The familiar roads roll past, houses darkened and silent as their occupants sleep. A dog barks somewhere in the distance, a lonely sound that fades as quickly as it came.
We’re closer now, leaving civilization behind us. The road ahead is a strip of black tar that snakes through the landscape, flanked by fields that stretch unseen into the night.
My grip tightens on the steering wheel. Rhett seemed concerned earlier, and if what he said is true, I’m not the only one who’s been lurking. I scan the roadside for any potential hiding spots.Gotta stay sharp, can’t let anything slip past me.
Finally, her truck slows, turning onto the gravel driveway that leads to her house. The crunch of stones under her tires is loud in the quiet night. I follow her,leaving enough distance between me and the possibility of Ridge seeing my approach.
Killing the engine, I sit and wait, watching as she gets out of her truck, her movements quick and purposeful. She doesn’t look back. But I know she feels my eyes on her. The reality is, I’m watching over her like some damn creeper who’s seen too much hell to really fit the part of her secret protector.
The porch light flickers on, and she fumbles with her keys, glancing over her shoulder—where our gazes might have met if I were closer. Then the door opens, and she slips inside, disappearing from view.
A weight lifts from my chest, and the breath I’d been holding escapes in a slow hiss. She’s home, she’s safe—for tonight, anyway. For a brief moment, I contemplate following her inside and standing over her all night while she gets some much-needed sleep. But then, I think better of it.
She needs some space, and I’ve already fulfilled my obsession by shadowing her all night. Deciding it’s best I head back to Black River, I allow myself a few more minutes, just to be sure. When there’s no sign of movement, no sounds other than the wind picking up, whispering through the trees that line her property, I know it’s my cue to leave.
Starting up my truck, I U-turn on the gravel, glancingin the rearview mirror at the house that holds more secrets than it should.
The distance grows between us, and I push it all down, bury it next to Toby’s rotting corpse. Right now, it’s about moving forward, taking it one day at a time, pretending everything’s all right when nothing is further from the truth. Will she hate me when she finds out? Who fucking knows?
The soft purr of the engine is a lullaby that does nothing to soothe the restlessness inside. It’s gonna be a long night filled with dreams that are too close to memories, and memories that bleed into nightmares. That’s just the way it is when you’ve got blood on your hands and a girl tangled up in your heart.
And so I keep driving back toward my ranch, chasing the dawn that promises a new day, even though I know damn well some stains don’t wash away with the morning light.
SAGE
18
There wassomething soothing about Kade following me in his truck, ensuring my safety while we navigated the winding road to my family’s ranch. The headlights in my rearview had been a constant reminder that I’m not alone. And with that came a belief that had settled deep in my bones—this man would assuredly do some sketchy shit to make sure no harm comes to me. I’m not quite certain why I feel that way, but there it is. Hell, maybe it’s simply the possessive look that emanates from his eyes. I’ve seen it more than once—especially in the last week or so, and for sure ever since shit went south that night with Toby at the bar. And I don’t even want to think about what Kade would do if he knew about the Samuel situation. I’ve been blocking that freak show out of my thoughts for days.
