Page 20 of The Wrong Drive-
Checking the time, it’s late enough I could sleep. However…That’s also when the worst of my urges have always started. It all starts with me going to bed, and then I wake up, lost in my head.
With another warm body in the house, will it trigger me?
I eye the bedroom door and then glance back at Gunner. If I have any shot of not killing her, I need the bottle of pills from the nightstand. I haven’t slept since Emersyn arrived, and things will only get worse if I keep putting it off.
I’ll just have to go get them.
Because you know, of course, being sleep deprived can be a trigger, too. Fuck, in the right setting,anythingcan set me off, especially when I’m on edge. I take in a deep breath and push forward, heading down the hallway to the bedroom door. I knock twice on the door, and then wait.
Within seconds, it swings open, Emersyn in the threshold. She peers up at me, curiosity in her gaze. The low light dances across her face, mixing with shadows, but I can see make out the light splash of freckles on her face. She’s growing on me. And Iknow that’s a bad thing. She clears her throat—and I realize I’ve been staring at her like a fucking creep.
“I just need to get something,” I say, eyeing her as she steps to the side. “Then I’ll be upstairs for the rest of the night.” I don’t know why I tell her that, and honestly, I’m starting to get loose lipped with her.
“You really don’t have to sleep on the floor,” she reasons. “I can sleep on the couch or something.”
“I don’t sleep a lot, so it’s fine.” I make my way to the nightstand, ripping it open and pulling out the bottle of sleeping pills. “And with these, I can sleep anywhere.” I mean it as a joke, but it comes out so fucking flat that she just stares at me blankly.
Jeez, I’m bad at this.Gripping the bottle, I shut the drawer, and head back for the door.
“What’s your dog’s name?” she calls after me, and the tone of her voice causes me to pause instead of ignoring her. There’s something desperate underlaying her generic question.
I recognize it, and spin around to face her. Her arms are wrapped around herself, and even though I find her presence a nuisance and her questions annoying, there’s something admirable about the way she just doesn’t stop talking.
I wonder if she’d understand I also have unstoppable habits.
“Gunner. He’s ten. Getting up there in age.” I sound so awkward and pathetic I could bang my head against the wall. I used to know how to talk to people. Now, I can barely talk and not sound like an imbecile.
“Is he a service dog?”
“Excuse me?” I shoot back at her, offended. “Why the fuck would I need aservicedog?” She’s making assumptions.
And it pisses me off.
“I noticed him pawing at you…” Her voice trails off. “I thought maybe… Your expression changed… I?—”
“You, what?” I growl as my hand is suddenly wrapped around her throat, her pulse throbbing against my finger. “You think I’m fucking crazy?”
“I’m s-s-sorry,” she chokes out, her teeth suddenly chattering. But her eyes betray her fear with something that ignites heat inside of me.
I catch a hint of her sweet scent and guide her backward until her ass hits the side of the bed. Forcing her to sit down, which damn near puts her face cock level, I growl, “How sorryareyou, Emersyn?”
She swallows, biting down on her lip. “Very?”
I tilt my head, studying the confusing expression on her face. “Who I am, is none of your business,” I bite, tipping her chin back. “Got it?”
“Okay,” she whispers, her eyes boring into mine. Something in my chest rattles at the look there—the unrelenting softness and the way she’s searching my face. It’s like she’stryingto understand me.
And now, I’m the one confused.
“It’s okay, Turner.” Her tone is achingly sweet. “I won’t ask you anymore questions.”
I can’t conjure up a response. Everything is wrong in my head right now. And before I can stop myself, I’m leaning down, brushing my lips across her jaw. My cock grows rock hard as she shivers against my touch. I wait for her to pull away from my lips on my skin, but she only lets out a sharp breath.
What a good, weak girl.
My thoughts grow dark and lustful. She’s so fucking easy, moldable, even. Could I keep her as my own?
“What do you want from me?” Emersyn whispers, her voice barely audible as I pause, my grip loosening.
