Page 36 of Possess Me
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I’ll admit I wouldn’t mind eating something terribly bad for me.” I caught him off guard, the sunshine returning to his face.
“Such as? Chocolate. All women love chocolate.”
“Don’t assume. I’m allergic.”
“You’re allergic to chocolate?”
I nodded several times until a noise caught my attention. I glanced toward the ocean, expecting to see the boat had come closer. No. It appeared moored. While I could see some beach, with the rocks and cliffs surrounding, I had no clue what could be making the noise.
“Yes, I am.” I glanced toward the water, suddenly anxious. “Did you hear that?” I shifted in my seat, finally standing so I could get a better look at the direction of the sound.
“Maybe. What are you hearing?”
Suddenly, a cold shiver skated down my spine. “Oh, no. That’s a whine.”
“A whine. Are you talking about someone in distress?”
I threw my hand over my eyes, squinting. “No. Not someone. A fur baby. What you heard. A dog is caught in a net. He’s being tossed against the rocks. We have to help him.” Without thinking, I took off running.
“Wait. Hold on.”
I wasn’t waiting. If it was the last thing I did, I would save the pup’s life.
CHAPTER 10
Vissarian
Women.
I’d known a half dozen women who tossed aside any concept of danger. My mother fell into that category. She’d been tossed into an orphanage as a young child in Russia, fleeing the horrible conditions and abuse at fifteen. She’d been used by men, suffering immeasurably until my father had come into her life. Even then, she’d embraced the terrifying thought of her family being forced from the only country she knew for a better and safer life.
America.
Safety and burgeoning wealth hadn’t softened her tough exterior. She’d been the one with the iron fist, raising her sons to be decent human beings.
I’d dated a couple of women who’d been forced to show acts of bravery for various reasons. Seeing Fallon racing toward obvious natural danger, I was reminded how much I appreciated, even adored strong women.
There was something so delicious about peeling away their defenses.
Guilt had no place at this point in time.
Then there’d been one. The one. Also an animal lover.
Fate was testing me.
Fallon rushed from the bar, immediately accosting anyone who appeared to work at the hotel. She was demonstrative in her questions, flailing her hands as she demanded answers.
Goddamn it. Grabbing her phone and shoving it into my pocket, I moved away from the table.
“Hold on,” I told her as soon as I raced to her side.
“No. We need to get to the baby. He or she won’t survive the high tide. How the fuck do we get to the shore?” She was close to being frantic.
The poor young man was astounded, the fingers of one of her hands wrapped around his shirt, refusing to allow him to scurry away.
“Um. Um…” He looked to me for assistance.
