Page 18 of Thunder

Is he going to turn into a stalker? Is he dangerous? Is he going to attack me?

I pull into the parking lot of my hotel just seconds ahead of him. Just my luck, but the lot is mostly empty, with most of the hotel's guests having either checked out earlier in the day or being off elsewhere.

Nearly jumping out of my car, I slam the door behind me and speedwalk toward the hotel lobby.

Marcus is right behind me.

"We need to talk, Lia."

"I think you've said enough for one evening."

"I don't think I have."

His footsteps echo in the empty lot as he moves closer, making my heart pound harder. I don't look back, but I know he's right on me.

My hand drifts to my purse, to something I learned to keep on me at all times I go out at night.

"I said stay back."

His footsteps stop. Despite my better judgment, I turn around. I want to face him, look him in the eye and tell him this is over. That last night, however good it felt, is something I dearly regret, and that I want him to never, ever talk to me again.

"You're scared. I get it. But you don't understand everything."

"Oh, I understand plenty about the project that I'm managing, Marcus. I also understand you're against everything I'm here for. That makes us enemies."

"And what are you here for? Ruining lives?"

He comes closer. So close I can feel the anger, the intensity, the heat radiating from his toned body.

"I'm trying to save the damn planet, in case you didn't notice! Or at least a small part of it, which is a hell of a lot more than so many people do nowadays."

"By sacrificing the little people, right? Is that your idea of a fair trade? Is that what you really want, Lia? Or do you want something else?"

The space between us is charged, heavy with emotions neither of us wants to name.

Marcus takes another step. He looms over me. His face inches from mine. Within kissing distance.

Within range, too. Well within range.

"I warned you, Marcus."

With a quick motion, I pull thecanisterout of my purse and spray mace into Marcus' eyes. He shouts in pain and stumbles back, clutching his face. "You fucking maced me, you science bitch."

My voice rises into a shout. "I'll call the police. You have two minutes to get the hell out of here."

Ignoring the sharp sting in my eyes from my own tears at firing mace so close to my face, I dash into the hotel and don't stop running until I reach my room, where I slam the door and the deadbolts behind me.

I collapse against it, trembling.

What just happened? Why is this happening to me? I'm trapped in a war with a man who is as infuriating as he is intoxicating.

And despite everything, I can't shake the sensation that something irrevocable exists between us.

This is very, very bad news.

After a few deep breaths to calm my heart, I head over to the room's tea kettle and start brewing some hot water. I need something to take my mind off work and the maddening man who seems determined to ruin my life and wreck my heart.

Then my phone dings.

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