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A dark, sinister smile spreads onto his lips. “Right, and you are coming with me.”
My heart skips a beat. Not a question. A demand.
My breath catches in my throat at his words. Come with him? Leave everything behind to follow Cade and his dangerous, nomadic life?
“Cade...”I begin hesitantly. “That’s a big decision. My whole life is here.”
His eyes darken, his grip on me tightening. “Your life is with me now, Lily. You know you belong to me.”
A shiver runs through me at his possessive tone. I can’t deny the magnetic pull between us and our intoxicating passion. But the thought of abandoning all I’ve ever known fills me with uncertainty.
“I need some time to think,”I say gently. “This is so sudden.”
Cade’s jaw clenches, his nostrils flaring. “There’s nothing to think about. You will be coming with me whether you like it or not.”
The breath catches in my throat. “So you’ll kidnap me if I refuse?”I confirm.
My heart pounds as I stare into Cade’s dark, determined eyes. This man who I’ve shared such passion with, who makes me feel alive in ways I’ve never known. But also dangerous, possessive, andwilling to commit violence in my name.
“Cade,”I say gently, “I care about you. Deeply. But leaving everything behind, my home, my job…”I trail off, unsure how to explain my swirling doubts.
His grip on my arm tightens. “You think I’m giving you a choice?”He asks in a low, chilling tone. “You belong to me now, Lily. Your place is by my side wherever I go. That’s how it is.”
I swallow hard, a tremor of fear running through me. But also, shamefully, a flutter of arousal at his commanding words.
“Please,”I whisper. “I need some time. This is all so much, so fast-”
“We’re done talking,”he cuts me off harshly. “You’re mine. That’s been decided. The only choice you have now is whether I take you willingly or not.”
His eyes blaze with frightening obsession. I know then that he will never let me go. That my fate now rests in his hands alone.
“Okay,”I relent softly. “I’ll go with you.”
A smile spreads across his face. “Good girl,”he purrs, pulling me in for a crushing kiss. I let him take control, my mind still spinning with what I had just agreed to, knowing that my future with Cade would never be boring.
He breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless. “Now, let’s enjoy our last night here,”he says. “I want to make some memories before we hit the road tomorrow and start our new life together.”
Despite my lingering doubts, a thrill runs through me at his words. If Alice decides to leave with the carnival, she’s all I have here in this town anyway. Starting afresh on the road with Cade and my best friend might be exactly what I need.
I take his hand as we approach the carnival’s bright lights and heady sounds.
“What would you like to do first?”Cade asks, his dark eyes burning into me.
Cade takes my hand and leads me into the colorful lights and sounds of the carnival. I push away my doubts about leaving town with him tomorrow. Tonight, I want to enjoy our last moments here together.
We stop at a ring toss game, and Cade wins me a giant stuffed panda. I can’t help but smile when he presents it to me with a flourish. As we walk, we share popcorn and cotton candy, the sugar melting on my tongue. The rides beckon us - the Scrambler, the Tilt-a-Whirl, the rickety old Ferris wheel. Cade keeps an eye on his watch, ready to run off if there are any issues with the rides he helps maintain.
After riding the rollercoaster, we run into one of Cade’s coworkers. The man is tall and muscular, wearing dark clothes despite the heat. But most striking is the ghoulish skull mask covering his face.
“Lily, this is Gage,”Cade says. “He works on the rides with me.”
“Nice to meet you,”I say. Gage simply nods, staying silent.
Cade and Gage talk briefly about some maintenance issues while I wait awkwardly. Gage seems eager to get away, giving only vague, cryptic responses.
Once he leaves, I turn to Cade. “Why was he wearing that creepy mask? It’s the middle of summer.”
Cade shrugs. “Gage is a bit odd. Likes to wear it year-round, not just for Halloween. He’s always been that way.”
