Page 9 of Stay with Me

I could feel my heartbeat treble to a staccato. She regarded me with those fearful expressive eyes, as though I held her life in my hands. And perhaps I did. It gave me a weird sense of responsibility, a need to protect this girl from anyone that might try to harm her.

She was too delicate and soft, wearing her vulnerability around her small frame like a tight jacket. From her lips to her hair, and those eyes that reminded me of soft earth in the rain, everything about her screamed for my help.

I couldn’t look away.

No. Stop it.

This was all too much. I needed to get away.

When I cleared my throat a little too loudly, she jumped visibly.

“I’m going out for a while. In the meantime, you’re free to use the service room at the back of the house. Or leave. I don’t care which.”

She looked startled, as though she hadn’t expected my words.

Hell, I hadn’t expected my words either.

“Okay. Well... I... Thank you so much. I’ll stay.”

I walked past her, taking in the strong feminine-iron scent that perfumed the air. Now I realized how silly I’d been to have thought the scent was anything but human. I could only shake my head at my foolishness.

“Don’t try anything,” I said as I shut the front door behind me, pitching the room into darkness.

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