Page 69 of Made of Steel (Made of Steel 1)

He kept his hood down low as he slowly approached me. "I never left," his voice rumbled seductively. "Why do you insist on putting yourself in danger?"

"I wanted to see you."

"Why are you running?" he asked instead of responding to my confession.

I swallowed hard. Hadn't he told me to run home? I started running because of him. "I don't know," I said instead.

"You do know."

I shook my head as he took another step toward me.

"You're running away from something, Sadie, when you should be running toward something."

I shook my head. "I'm running toward something too. I'm training."

"For?" His voice rumbled.

"I want to help you."

"I didn't ask for your help."

"And I didn't ask for yours. But here we both are."

He didn't say a

nything, he just stepped closer toward me until I could feel his body heat. I shivered in the contrast to the cold rain.

I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to live my dreams of him. "I can't stop thinking about you," I said. But it wasn't enough. He stayed complete still. "And you can't seem to stop thinking about me either." I realized I was holding my breath, but I couldn't seem to stop.

He shook his head. "I'm only here to warn you."

One second.

He leaned slightly closer, placing a hand on either side of my head on the brick wall.

Two seconds.

"You're running out of time."

Three seconds.

He leaned closer still. I could feel the heat of his breath. Our lips were only an inch apart.

Four seconds.

"I should be telling you to leave. But I don't want you to go."

Five seconds. "Why do you want me to stay?"

He stayed completely still. "Because you're right about me. I can't stop thinking about you. Thoughts of you consume me." His breath was hot against my lips.

I slowly exhaled. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to taste him.

"I'll never stop."

I swallowed hard. It was possessive. But it didn't scare me. It felt like a spark went through me. I ached for him. His lips. His touch. I watched his Adam's apple rise and then fall. I never wanted him to stop. I tilted my face up toward his.

"Sadie." His voice sounded strained.

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