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“I don’t need to be carried.” She whimpered it, though she curled her arms around my neck and burrowed her face into it.

“Just let me tonight, okay?” I couldn’t stop myself from murmuring it at the top of her head.

A thousand apologies and admissions fought to break their way free. To burst out of the well where I had to keep them trapped.

But I couldn’t go there.

I couldn’t.

I carried her through the wisping shadows of the woods and to my bike that was parked just within the reach of firelight. Not close enough for anyone ambling around to be able to see us but enough that I could see what I was doing.

I didn’t let her go as I swung onto my bike. I just shuffled her around to bring us chest to chest. Her legs around my waist as I situated us onto the bike.

“Hold on tight,” I mumbled, though I didn’t need to tell her since I had her boxed in. No way for her to fall.

Was it nothing more than a cage? A trap? The way I couldn’t do anything but keep her close?

All I wanted was to be an undying fortress of protection around her, but I was afraid that all those shields and barriers were going to rise so high that they would stamp out her light.

Made me sick when the only thing I wanted was to see her shine.

How could I when that meant letting her go?

It was the whole crux. Wanting to keep her when I had no right to it. No right to that precious, beautiful heart that beat so ferociously against mine.

It was an awkward position, but I managed to kick over my bike while she was attached to me. The engine growled and chugged to life.

I nudged back the stand and wound us back out of the trees and onto the dirt lane that cut through the compound, following the path to the gate and out onto the open road.

Night was all around as we traveled. A shroud of darkness and cool wind whipping across our overheated skin.

The single headlight burned out ahead of us, a cone of light to guide our way when I’d never felt so fucking lost in all my life.

I kept a single arm around her waist, maintaining a slow pace to ensure she was secure.

Armor that would forever protect her.

My eyes remained keen as we traveled, knowing there could be anyone out there lurking.

Lying in wait.

We rode through the main part of the sleeping town. The stores and restaurants were locked up tight, windows darkened, sidewalks empty.

Only a couple bars remained open at this time of night, and we didn’t pass a single vehicle as the road blinked by beneath us.

I took the couple turns required to get onto the road that followed along the river and to her apartment.

The complex sat hidden in the trees, the three buildings barely aglow. The shedding of bleary light from the streetlamps strewn across the pavement.

I pulled into the lot and eased my bike into the spot next to her truck.

I killed the engine, and I didn’t have to do much to gather Elena up considering she was already locked tight.

Little moans mumbled from her mouth.

“I’ve got you,” I assured low as I carried her up the steps, attention sweeping in every direction, though I had no sense that anyone was around or that we were being watched.

That sick sixth sense I’d developed in this life quieted for the time.