Page 27 of Seductive Desires

“Shit. Okay. Alright. Don’t worry, Mariana, he won’t touch you.”

Jo was back, her arms around my shoulders. I could hear her whispering but I didn’t pay attention to what she was saying. I was starting to shake, like the cold that showed up when Stephen appeared had sunk into my bones and I would never be warm again.

Jo moved so she was at my side, her arm sliding around my back as she forced me to my feet. I clutched my torn shirt, my eyes on the ground, blurry because I couldn’t stop crying. She walked me slowly into the house, placing me on a couch. I’ve never been here before, I had no idea where I was. I didn’t watch the driver come here, I didn’t even know what part of town I was in. Hopefully that was a good thing. Hopefully if I didn’t know, then Stephen didn’t either.

When I thought about him, panic raced through me and I squeezed my eyes shut. Jo wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, squatting in front of me. I glanced at her for a moment. She looked like she was trying to keep her face blank but she couldn’t quite mask the tremble in her chin as she brushed my hair out of my face.

“Mariana, what happened? Who did this to you?”

I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. I felt like his hand was still on my throat, squeezing tightly. I felt lightheaded, my breathing too heavy. I curled around myself, looking away from her. She put her hand on my shoulder, rubbing lightly before she got up and walked out of the room. Whispers in the hall were muffled. She closed the door behind her.

* * *

I’m not reallysure how long I sat there. Jo came back in after a few minutes and sat with me, holding my hand. She didn’t ask me any more questions, which I was thankful for. She asked Liam to light the fireplace in front of us, but otherwise she didn’t allow anyone else into the room. If someone knocked, she would get up and go to the door to answer it. The panic subsided eventually but I felt numb and I still couldn’t move.

Shouting in the hall startled us both. Jo jumped to her feet, racing toward the door. When she threw it open, I could hear him.

“Where the hell is she?”

The icy numbness chipped a small amount, giving me enough strength to turn, looking over my shoulder. Please don’t be my imagination.

“Hey, you can’t go in there! She doesn’t want guys near her!” I heard Jo shout. But he ignored her. Of course he did. He’s Mateo. He does what he wants.

It was like he moved in slow motion as he barreled into the room. His eyes landed on me as fresh tears slipped over my cheeks. I watched his mouth set into a hard line. He didn’t hesitate, he didn’t ask questions. He stormed over to me, scooping me off the couch and into his arms, before dropping back into my spot on the couch. He held me close. He’s so warm. The fire did nothing to melt the ice away but Mateo was like laying on the beach in Mexico. The sun would sink into your skin and down to your bones, warming you to your core.

He tucked my head under his chin. It was like he couldn’t sit still. He rocked me, his hands rubbing my arms, my calves, like he was trying to warm me up. Maybe because I was still shaking. I pressed my face against him, sobbing and clutching at his shirt. I knew there were a thousand reasons why I should jump out of his arms and tell him to leave but I couldn’t make myself do it. Right here, right now, I felt safe and I wasn’t going to turn my nose up at that.

He started humming at one point, his voice rich and soothing. After a second, I recognized the song he was humming and for the first time I spoke.

“My mom used to sing that to me,” I croaked.

He didn’t stop but he cupped my cheek, guiding my face up to look at him. Looking at his face brought a fresh wave of tears. There was no pity in his eyes, no horror. He was smiling gently at me, his thumb stroking my cheek. When he pressed his lips against my forehead, my eyes slipped closed. He whispered the words to Cielito Lindo to me until I finally relaxed against him.

ChapterFourteen

“Mariposa,”he whispered.

I jerked, my eyes flying open. I must have fallen asleep listening to him. I pulled back slightly, trying to wipe the salty feeling off my cheeks.

“I need you to tell me what happened, if you can.” When I tensed, he pulled me closer, so I was leaning against him again. “I can’t protect you if I don’t know who hurt you.”

He can’t protect me. No one can. Someone tried once and Stephen killed them. I fought back tears, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I can’t.”

“Mariposa… please. Let me help you.”

I wanted so badly to let him help me. To have someone help me. I’ve been running for so long. I don’t know where to go next. I don’t know if I can outrun him. I started trembling, my face pressed to his neck.

“You’re safe here, Mariana,” Jo assured me. I jerked my head over my shoulder, surprised. She was standing by the fire, Liam’s arms wrapped around her waist. She had tear tracks on her face. Another man stood off to the side, his arms crossed. He looked concerned. And incredibly intimidating. I shrank farther into Mateo’s arms.

Liam shook his head. “You don’t have to be afraid, Mariana. Dmitriy is a friend. Jo’s right. You are safe here.”

They all watched me, waiting. I don’t want to tell them. I only told Carlos because I kept having nightmares when I slept on his couch. He let me sleep in bed with him once he found out the truth. Mateo cupped my face again, urging me to look at him.

“I’m right here, mariposa. You are safe.”

I believed him. Maybe it was foolish, given what he did for a living, but there was nowhere in the world that I would feel safer than right here.

I dropped my eyes to my hand, playing with one of the buttons on Mateo’s shirt. “His name is Stephen Mitchell. He’s my step brother. He’s been chasing me for years. I went into hiding, moved a lot, and ended up here. I thought he wouldn’t find me in such a big city. And he didn’t. This is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place.” My voice shook. I felt Mateo’s fingers tighten slightly before he relaxed them again.

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