Page 227

I wanted to stand in it. Stretch my arms out to him like I was welcoming the sun’s rays.

Let his light pervade and infiltrate.

And if it was his darkness that made its way in, then so be it.

Heavy boots thunked on the steps as he trudged down behind me. His presence was acute. Fiery pinpricks that impaled me from behind.

I hit the bottom landing and moved toward my truck.

I could feel him like vapor rolling over me.

Wisping and winding.

I couldn’t breathe.

I angled for the door, and his warmth surged. The man was so close I could feel him like licking flames as he leaned against me.

His mouth came near to my ear. “Lena.”

It was praise.

Adoration.

His fear.

I wanted to wipe the last from his psyche.

“I know, Trevan.”

“Do you?” It was a plea that wrapped me in his need and uncertainty.

“I want to,” I admitted.

He stayed like that for the longest time.

Struggling.

Fighting the giving I could sense burning inside him.

He clicked the fob and unlocked my truck, and his arm snaked around my side so he could tug on the handle.

A simple excuse for him to touch me that way.

The man wrapped around me like the only glove that would fit.

It felt stolen and dangerous. The severity he emitted. The emotion that poured from his spirit.

But I guess the real danger had been lying in wait.

Because my ears suddenly filled with an explosion.

So fast and out of nowhere that I couldn’t process what was happening before Trevan had me spun around and pinned on my stomach on the pitted ground.

His entire body plastered over the top of mine.

A bracketing of steely flesh.

Terror ricocheted as metal pinged and dust flew.