Page 39 of Dark Torment

I bite my lip as I take in the sight of his toned forearms before my eyes travel down the front of his body, stopping at the bulge in his jeans.

Holy mother of Hannah. That has to be a trick of the eyes, right? That doesn’t seem humanly possible.

“My eyes are up here when you’re ready, pretty girl,” he says, his voice filled with humour.

I snap my eyes up and feel myself blush at being caught.

What the actual heck is happening to me right now? “Sorry,” I squeak, and he smiles.

“Never apologize for checking me out. I know I can’t keep my eyes off of you,” he says simply, like that’s completely normal.

I mean, I guess it is when you actually know the person, or they’re passing by… but he’s making it sound like he’s seen me a ton more than he actually has.

“Uh—” I start to speak, but can’t figure out what to say. “Thank you?” I guess it’s a compliment, right?

“See? You can’t be rude. I know your mind just questioned a bunch of stuff, but you still thanked me. I love that about you,” he tells me, and that dang blush is back again. If it really ever went away.

“Jonathan, I—I don’t really understand what’s going on,” I tell him truthfully, and a dark look crosses his face, making me shiver.

He winces, standing up straight and walking toward me, but I take a step back.

“Why am I here?” I whisper, looking down at Sadie for some comfort.

She’s staring at Jonathan like he’s hung the moon, and it settles something inside of me.

I’m still afraid, but dogs are an excellent judge of character. Especially when they’ve been through what Sadie has.

“I brought you here to keep you safe,” he tells me, and I scrunch my nose.

“But… I am safe?” It definitely comes out as a question.

There’s something about his stance right now, and the hardness to his voice that has me doubting the validity of that statement.

“You are now, but you weren’t, Olivia.” He steps up to me, reaching for my hand and holding it in his own. “Let’s get you something to eat first before I tell you everything, okay? You need to refuel your body after the night you had.”

My stomach drops. How does he know the kind of night I had? But then it dawns on me.

“You’ve been watching me,” I whisper, more to myself than him, but he confirms it anyway.

“Yes. I always take care of what’s mine.” What’s his...

He thinks I’m his? That’s just crazy. “You can’t—”

“I can,” he says, cutting me off. “I don’t want to say too much and ruin your appetite, but I will say this. The moment I came across your photo, I knew you were meant to be mine. You’re my own personal sunflower.”

At this moment, there are a lot of different things I could say, but my brain is an idiot and focuses solely on the odd nickname, rather than the dangers I could be facing.

“Sunflower is a weird nickname,” I huff out, and he blinks at me a few times before a smile spreads across his lips.

“Your dress inspired it.” I scoff, but his smile just grows. “It reminded me you’re the one pure thing I have in my life, Olivia. You.”

Well, shit. Does he have to go getting all romantic and whatnot? How am I supposed to stay annoyed when he says things like that?

“Smooth, mister. Very smooth.” I narrow my eyes at him, but his smile doesn’t waver as he gently pulls me toward the kitchen.

Well, presumably the kitchen, considering he’s so intent on feeding me.

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