to be another hour. An hour where I learned I could hold a death grip for a long, long time. Eventually, we glided over a wide, grassy plain, the landscape of Texas far behind.
“We’re in Oklahoma,” Ian shouted over the whistling wind. “We’re landing in a moment. Don’t let go.”
No danger of that happening.
Minutes later, we stopped. “You can open your eyes now.” Ian said, with a smile in his voice.
Tussled blonde hair and a rumpled white shirt filled my gaze. For a moment, I couldn’t move. Every muscle in my body wound so tight, I expected them to snap.
“Where are we?” I managed to squeak out from my parched throat. We were standing in a grassy field. Gentle breezes rustled the blades, the scratchy ends scraped against my ankles. The sun had set and the night sky glittered with stars.
“There’s a door in need of a building.” The door, flanked by three cement walls, jutted out from the plain. The box’s back half angled down, disappearing into the grass laden prairie.
“Welcome to USI’s recruitment center.” Ian ran his hands down my back. Strong fingers massaged my tight muscles. I tried not to enjoy it on principle, but it wasn’t working. I leaned into him, enjoying the sensation. Tension eased away, from my head down to my toes.
“Cherry. Listen. We didn’t finish our conversation earlier. I’ll try not to bungle it again so badly.”
Drat. He had to ruin my good time. “Ian. I don’t want to hear about any kinky shit.”
“No. Please,” he said, as if insulted by the implication. “I have manners.”
“Good to know.” With a low groan, I flexed my hands and stretched my aching fingers and sore palms. Pins and needles shot down stiff limbs as the blood shifted around.
“I know Jonathan wants to take the family off world, but you could escape with me,” he said.
A smart aleck comment died on my lips. His solemn gaze bore into mine. No sign of mirth in his eyes or face. “Ian. It’s a nice offer. But, I won’t leave my family behind. I can’t do the rogue thing.”
“I thought, together, we could prove our innocence. Running away will further incriminate you.”
“We’d still be running. And, I barely know you. You could be guilty.”
“I’m no more guilty than you are,” he bent closer, peering into my eyes. Two deep blue pools enticed me to come closer.
“Did you really think I’d just run off with you?”
“You’re like me. You crave adventure.”
“No, I don’t.” Liar, liar pants on fire. Didn’t I want a chance to escape ? The rogue lifestyle had its appeal: no sire, no rules. Scary and intriguing at the same time. “A quiet life is fine with me. I’m nothing like you.”
Ian chuckled. “Are you certain?"
Those skilled fingers traced slow circles around the small of my back, hammering at my resistance. Warmth tingled in all the right places. No. Make that all the wrong places.
Ian could be a traitor and the Queen’s murderer. Guilty or innocent, he was responsible for the mess I was in.
Time to change the topic. “How did everyone else escape?”
“I told you. I have my ways,” Ian’s fingers stopped their circular motion. “Heads up. Here comes your thrall.”
Jay marched out of the doorway and deftly plucked me out of Ian’s arms. Ian shrugged the maneuver off with an arched eyebrow, his lips curled in a small smile. “Protective, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” I called over my shoulder. We entered the stairwell and as soon as the heavy security door slammed shut, I jerked free. “What the hell?”
Jay continued marching down the stairs, his voice trailing behind him. “Didn’t like the look of him. Jonathan sent me to fetch you. Get a move on.”
Ian’s voice rumbled next to my ear, “What cheek for a thrall. I’m surprised you put up with it.”
My body jumped about half a mile. I hadn’t heard him approach. Note to self. Pull head out of ass. “Well, he’s entitled,” I said. My past with Jay wasn’t
“We’re in Oklahoma,” Ian shouted over the whistling wind. “We’re landing in a moment. Don’t let go.”
No danger of that happening.
Minutes later, we stopped. “You can open your eyes now.” Ian said, with a smile in his voice.
Tussled blonde hair and a rumpled white shirt filled my gaze. For a moment, I couldn’t move. Every muscle in my body wound so tight, I expected them to snap.
“Where are we?” I managed to squeak out from my parched throat. We were standing in a grassy field. Gentle breezes rustled the blades, the scratchy ends scraped against my ankles. The sun had set and the night sky glittered with stars.
“There’s a door in need of a building.” The door, flanked by three cement walls, jutted out from the plain. The box’s back half angled down, disappearing into the grass laden prairie.
“Welcome to USI’s recruitment center.” Ian ran his hands down my back. Strong fingers massaged my tight muscles. I tried not to enjoy it on principle, but it wasn’t working. I leaned into him, enjoying the sensation. Tension eased away, from my head down to my toes.
“Cherry. Listen. We didn’t finish our conversation earlier. I’ll try not to bungle it again so badly.”
Drat. He had to ruin my good time. “Ian. I don’t want to hear about any kinky shit.”
“No. Please,” he said, as if insulted by the implication. “I have manners.”
“Good to know.” With a low groan, I flexed my hands and stretched my aching fingers and sore palms. Pins and needles shot down stiff limbs as the blood shifted around.
“I know Jonathan wants to take the family off world, but you could escape with me,” he said.
A smart aleck comment died on my lips. His solemn gaze bore into mine. No sign of mirth in his eyes or face. “Ian. It’s a nice offer. But, I won’t leave my family behind. I can’t do the rogue thing.”
“I thought, together, we could prove our innocence. Running away will further incriminate you.”
“We’d still be running. And, I barely know you. You could be guilty.”
“I’m no more guilty than you are,” he bent closer, peering into my eyes. Two deep blue pools enticed me to come closer.
“Did you really think I’d just run off with you?”
“You’re like me. You crave adventure.”
“No, I don’t.” Liar, liar pants on fire. Didn’t I want a chance to escape ? The rogue lifestyle had its appeal: no sire, no rules. Scary and intriguing at the same time. “A quiet life is fine with me. I’m nothing like you.”
Ian chuckled. “Are you certain?"
Those skilled fingers traced slow circles around the small of my back, hammering at my resistance. Warmth tingled in all the right places. No. Make that all the wrong places.
Ian could be a traitor and the Queen’s murderer. Guilty or innocent, he was responsible for the mess I was in.
Time to change the topic. “How did everyone else escape?”
“I told you. I have my ways,” Ian’s fingers stopped their circular motion. “Heads up. Here comes your thrall.”
Jay marched out of the doorway and deftly plucked me out of Ian’s arms. Ian shrugged the maneuver off with an arched eyebrow, his lips curled in a small smile. “Protective, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” I called over my shoulder. We entered the stairwell and as soon as the heavy security door slammed shut, I jerked free. “What the hell?”
Jay continued marching down the stairs, his voice trailing behind him. “Didn’t like the look of him. Jonathan sent me to fetch you. Get a move on.”
Ian’s voice rumbled next to my ear, “What cheek for a thrall. I’m surprised you put up with it.”
My body jumped about half a mile. I hadn’t heard him approach. Note to self. Pull head out of ass. “Well, he’s entitled,” I said. My past with Jay wasn’t
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