Page 51 of Truck Stop Tempest

“Tuuli.”

“Go get them, Tito!” I yelled, surprising myself, but continuing regardless. “Go get my damn clothes out of the garbage. I know you’re mad at me, I know I’m a freak, but at least let me leave here with a little dignity.”

“Bunny.” He breached my personal space, his feet caging mine, his arms wrapping around me. He slid one big hand up my spine and gripped the back of my head, smashing my face against his chest. “Just shut up and give me a fuckin’ second here.”

His chest rose and fell, and I wanted nothing more than to melt against all that skin. He was heat, and strength, and the opposite of every man I’d ever known. He held me like I was precious, not a possession. Delicate, but not weak. His hold was tight, but not tense. He shivered like he needed the connection more than I did.

His voice came at a low rumble. “I don’t want you to leave. Fuck. You’re not leaving. You’re right. I was angry. I’m still angry. You dropped one helluva bomb last night. I need time to process. We’ll figure this out.”

“I never meant to hurt anyone. You have to believe me. I had to get away. I just wanted out.”

He sighed, leaning on me as much as I leaned on him. “I don’t know what to believe. But I promise you’re out. You’re never going back there.”

I closed my eyes and let Tito soothe me with his muscles, and words, and heartbeat. I started to relax, my pulse slowing to a healthy rhythm, my thoughts quieting.

Until Tito said, “You’re never going back there because I’m going to kill Jeremy Carver and burn that church to the ground.”

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