I lift my chin and say, “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere where plants don’t die.” When I frown, he adds, “Don’t worry about it. It’s secure and safe. You’ll like it.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
After a long, pregnant silence, he says, “You can’t. But I already know you do.”
Pinning him with a glare of my own, I get right to the point. “So, let me get this straight,” I say, “You want to hole up with me for one month, fuck me in any way you want, and then you’ll help me start a new life somewhere on the other side of the country? No strings attached?”
He smirks. “I guess that’s the blunt way to put it.”
My heart sinks a few inches. This is a bad decision. But there’s no way it’s a worse decision than staying here, in Philly, and waiting out my time until Lucky comes to collect his non-existent eight-million-dollar check. And then he’ll tell Nimo where I am, and my life will be over, anyway.
It’s the best bad decision of the bunch.
“I have a condition,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “After the month, you pay for my college.”
He arches an eyebrow.
“College,” I continue, “Ever heard of it?”
“Yes, smart ass. You want to go to college?”
“Backto college. I started before but…” the man on the motorcycle pops into my head and I wave a dismissive hand around. “I didn’t finish. I want to get my psychology degree.”
He nods, slow and predator-like. “I’ll pay for college. If you don’t tell me which one.”
I frown. “You really don’t want to find me, huh?”
“No,” he says, suddenly even more serious than usual. “I don’t. Once this is all over, I never want to see you again.”
There’s something in my heart that cracks a little, but I ignore it and puff out my chest. “Works for me.”
“So you’re in?”
I hesitate, Lucky’s cruel smile is burnt into my retinas. “Yes, I’m in. Although, I should probably know your name…”
He pauses. Chest heaves.
“It’s Cillian. Cillian Black.”
Cillian
A lethal cocktail of silence and tension fills the car, swirling between us. I’m trying to focus on the road ahead. Like I can’t see Dahlia’s slim, tanned thighs poking out from under my sweater, or smell her goddamn strawberry shampoo every time she ruffles her damp hair.
I tried thelook but don’t touchethos. But once I looked at her, I wanted to touch her. And once I touched her, I knew instantly that staying away was going to be impossible.
As soon as I slipped into her bed last night and felt her soft body against mine, I knew there was only one option left: Indulge in her.
My knuckles curl around the steering wheel, whitening at the strength of my grip.
One month. One month to fuck Dahlia Rose out of my system.I know I should stay far, far, away from her and all of the secrets and lies that swirl in her eyes. But I’m a selfish bastard. And a throbbing cock speaks louder than logic.
But before I can indulge in Dahlia Rose, I need to take some…precautionarymeasures.
After driving just over an hour on the highway, I take an unmarked exit and swing into a small rest stop. Dahlia’s body stiffens when I switch off the engine.
“What are you doing?” she asks, nibbling on her nails.