Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Before I can respond, Hunter reaches out, his hand cupping my cheek. The gesture is tender, yet it sends a bolt of heat straight through me. “We have to keep going,” he says, his voice low and filled with an urgency that’s both practical and deeply personal. “I won’t let him take you back.”
I nod, unable to find the words to express what I’m feeling. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lies ahead. “Okay,” I whisper. “I trust you.”
And as we stand together in the darkness, with nothing but the stars above and the wilderness around us, I feel the first stirrings of something I’ve never known: a chance at freedom, a chance at life—and maybe, just maybe, a chance at love.
Chapter Three
Hunter
The fire snaps, its glow casting shadows over the clearing. It’s damn cold out here, and I watch Lark from the corner of my eye as she hugs herself tighter, trying to ward off the chill. She’s wrapped up in my oversized jacket, but it’s clear she’s not built for this kind of cold. The flickering light makes her look small, almost fragile like a newborn bird—something she’d probably hate if she knew I thought that. But hell, there’s no denying it. She’s shivering like a leaf.
“Come closer to the fire,” I say, my voice a low rumble that feels loud in the quiet of the night. “You’re gonna freeze over there.”
She hesitates, her eyes flicking toward me with that wary look she’s been wearing since we set up camp. I try to keep my expression relaxed, easy. I know she’s not used to trusting people, especially men who drag her through the wilderness. But she finally scoots a little closer, her body stiff, like she’s ready to bolt.
“Better?” I ask, softening my voice just a bit. I don’t want to scare her off.
She nods slowly. “Yeah… thanks.”
The silence that settles between us is heavy, thick with all the words we’re not saying. I sit on my bedroll, pretending to adjust my gear, but my eyes keep drifting back to her. The firelight catches the curve of her cheekbone, and the stubborn set of her jaw only makes her more interesting. There’s a fire in her eyes too, one that’s got nothing to do with the flames. I can’t help but admire it.
“Why did you really help me?” Her voice is quiet, but there’s a hardness there, like she’s daring me to lie.
I pause, the question hitting deeper than I’d like. “I told you,” I say slowly. “I know what it’s like to feel trapped.”
She studies me, her gaze sharp. “I could be lying to you. Could be leading you into a trap.”
My lips twitch into a faint smile. “You think you’re dangerous, huh?”
Her eyes narrow. “Maybe.”
I lean forward, elbows on my knees, my voice dropping. “I think I can handle you, Lark.”
She blinks, taken aback for a second, before her mouth curves into the hint of a smile. It’s there and gone, but it’s enough to send a bolt of heat straight through me. The fire crackles, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world, wrapped in a cocoon of darkness and isolation.
I inch closer, closing some of the distance between us. “You should get some rest,” I say. “Tomorrow’s gonna be tougher.”
She swallows hard, her throat working visibly. “I don’t think I can sleep.”
There’s something raw in her voice, and it hits me like a punch. I want to comfort her, but I’m not sure she’d take it. Still, I can’t stop myself. Reaching out, I cup her cheek with my hand. Her skin is cold against my rough palm, but there’s a warmth beneath the surface.
“You’re safe here,” I say quietly, my thumb brushing over her cheekbone. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her breath catches, her eyes fluttering shut for a second before they open again, wide and vulnerable.
“I believe you,” she whispers.
The tension between us shifts, growing heavier. My hand lingers on her face, my thumb tracing a slow line along her jaw. Her skin is so soft, and I can feel her pulse hammering beneath the surface. My heartbeat kicks up, matching hers, and every rational thought slips away.
“Lark,” I murmur, her name a rough rasp in my throat.
She leans into my touch, just barely, but it’s enough. Enough to make my control slip. Her eyes are wide, searching mine, and I see the fear, the desire, the uncertainty. “I’m scared,” she admits, her voice shaking. “But I don’t want to be.”
Something inside me snaps. I slide my hand to the back of her neck, pulling her close until our lips are just a breath apart. “Then don’t be,” I say, my voice a low growl. “Just for tonight.”
She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she tilts her chin up, her lips brushing mine. It’s hesitant at first, testing the waters. But then she pushes closer, her mouth urgent, and I lose whatever shred of restraint I had left.