Page 2 of Echoes of Desire

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Page 2 of Echoes of Desire

I almost collapse with relief.

We walk a little farther down the sidewalk before I finally stop. I pull away from them gently, turning to face them both. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice unsteady. “Really. I don’t know what I would’ve done…”

I start to step back, but the guy with the lighter grins at me, tilting his head. “Thought we were going to eat?”

I blink. “What?”

“You said we were going to eat,” he says, his tone full of playful challenge. “I don’t remember saying otherwise.”

My gaze darts between them, confused. “I thought… I thought you were just saying that. For the guy…”

The stoic one speaks this time, his voice low and steady. “We caught on. Doesn’t mean we’re letting you walk away alone now.”

I stare at them, my mouth opening and closing as I try to find a response. They can’t be serious. I don’t even know them.

And yet… something about the way they look at me—one with a teasing grin, the other with a gaze sharp as a blade—makes me pause.

For the first time tonight, I feel something other than fear.

Safe.

Chapter Two

Steel

“There’s a male outside of the club in a black hooded coat. Took a left on seventh. Follow him and report back.”

I pocket my phone, knowing that Reynolds will get the job done. Blaze raises a brow in a silent question, and I nod.

“How do you feel about Italian?” he asks our new little burden.

The woman blinks, clearly caught off guard. She glances between the two of us as if she’s still trying to figure out what we want from her.

“Italian?” she repeats softly. Almost as if she’s testing the word.

Blaze chuckles and gestures toward the direction of the restaurant. “A buddy of ours is a chef. Place isn’t far. You’ll love it.”

She hesitates, clutching the strap of her bag tighter. “I don’t want to interrupt your plans. You don’t have to…”

I cut her off with a flat tone. “We’re eating. So are you.”

Her lips part in a soft, surprised breath, and I catch that flicker of submission again. The way her shoulders dip ever soslightly, the way her gaze drops before she forces herself to look back up.

Blaze nudges her gently, all charm and warmth. “What my brother means is that we’d like your company. C’mon, we don’t bite.”

“Without a safe word,” I finish, enjoying the catch in her breath.

Blaze chuckles.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Oh, uhm, I’m Raven. Raven Marie Bassett.”

“You shouldn’t give strangers your full name,” I chide.

“But you asked,” she responds, eyes wide.

“Maybe so. But a first name would have been fine. A man could find a lot of information about a woman just using her full name. I could look up your address, sneak in and rape you.”


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