My feet carried me toward him while my mind was screaming and clawing the floor for the door. You can do this. Maybe he just wants to talk…yeah and bears don’t shit in the woods.

I stopped at the foot of the bed and tried not to think of what seeing him sprawled across my bed was doing to me. His dark hair and skin contrasted deeply with the pale yellow blankets on my bed. He also made my queen sized bed seem incredibly small. He slowly sat up straight and planted his booted feet on the carpet. The look he gave me next could almost be mistaken for seductive but I knew better.

“Closer,” he whispered and then gestured to the space between his legs. Breathing was nearly impossible now as I inched the rest of the way over, clutching my towel tighter around my body. He looked relaxed but I knew he was ready to pounce at any moment.

“Ho—how did you get in here?” I stumbled over my question when he drew his legs in forcing me to step closer within his legs.

“You have sixty seconds to tell me everything about Jesse Fitzgerald and what the fuck you were doing with him.”

He completely caught me off guard and I stuttered out, “I’m not sure what you mean…”

I was happy that my relationship with Jesse was something that Keiran would never be able to take away or taint because he was already gone. He also didn't have the right to question me about him or even sound…jealous. “He’s a friend.”

“Did you fuck him?”

“And if I had?”

“I would kill him—and you.”

The room grew silent as I searched for words, a reaction, something. Whatever I’d been expecting him to say, it wasn’t that. The angry possessiveness in his voice was unexpected along with the tingle I felt low in my belly. Not only that, but Keiran had just threatened my life again. Did he really hate me so much that he would actually kill me?

“We never did anything. We were friends. I’m entitled to have them.”

“Only for as long as I am willing to let you. I think you seem to forget who it is that controls you. I can fix that.”

“How exactly do you plan to fix it? You can’t control someone.” I was bluffing and I knew it. He did control me. He has for ten years but I wouldn’t let him see that he’d already won.

“Simple,” he shrugged. “You’re going to stop being friends with Willow.”

Complete and utter desolation spread through me like a wild fire. My temperature rose until I was on the verge of passing out again. I continued to back away until my back was against the wall, literally and figuratively. He rose from my bed and stalked after me like a predator would stalk its prey.

“But she’s my best friend. She’s all I have.”

“Precisely.”

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered in defeat. “I thought you wanted…”

“Oh I want and I will take…” He toyed with the corner of my towel and my trembling increased until I was visibly shaking. “This is only the beginning. I told you I would make you pay but it’s going to be slow. I want to take my time with you.”

Before I could say anything a knock sounded on the door, breaking us out of the moment. Keiran’s head turned towards the door before slowly turning back with a cold look on his face.

“Keiran, no, please don't,” I whispered in dismay. He would hurt my aunt if she interfered.

“Lake, are you okay? I thought I heard something.” I stared at Keiran, begging him with my eyes. .

“Get rid of her,” he ordered but didn't move from his position in front of me.

“Uh, yes, Aunt Carissa,” I called out, willing her away from the door. “I—I’m fine. The window blew the door shut.” I looked over at the window that was tightly shut. The white curtains looked undisturbed making me question how Keiran got into the house.

“Are you sure you’re okay, honey?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m still getting dressed.”

“Okay, well listen I’ve got an early start in the morning so I’m going to head to bed. Are you sure you will be okay staying by yourself for six weeks?”

With everything that was going on the safest place for her to be was far away from Six Forks where Keiran couldn’t touch her.

“Of course, Aunt Carissa, I’ll be fine. I have Willow if it gets lonely.” I choked on the words because I didn't know anymore how true those words were. Keiran’s hate for me ran deeper than I thought with no hope of an explanation.

“If you’re sure. Goodnight, Lake.” I heard her soft footsteps walking away and slumped against the wall in relief. When her bedroom door closed, I chanced a look at Keiran who was watching me with a calculating look on his face.

“Where is your aunt going for six weeks?”

“A book tour and far away from you.” I wanted him to know that for now my aunt was untouchable but instead of seeing any sign of anger or defeat, he smiled and stepped closer, pressing me into the wall. He braced his hands against the wall on either side of my head and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “And so you think that makes her safe?”

“For now.” There was no way he could get to her if she was out of the country.

“I see.”

His right hand dropped and I thought he was going to step back until I felt his fingers grip my thigh, lifting it up to wrap around his waist in one smooth movement. I clutched my towel to keep it from falling while silently pleading with him not to do whatever it was he was about to do. All the confidence I had moments before washed away.

“I can feel the heat from your pussy burning through the towel,” he paused and moved his hand further up. “I bet if I ripped this shit away and touched you, you would be wet. Should we find out?”

I whimpered as my body reacted to his threat. It caused this familiar ache I felt deep inside me, whenever he was near, except this time was stronger. His eyes darkened as he pressed harder against me.

“This business between us has taken a dangerous turn and I have no intentions on stopping. I’m going to enjoy stealing away what you cherish most and making you love it while I do.” His voice was barely restrained, animal lust as his hand slid further up to rest at the apex of my thighs.

“If you had even the smallest idea of all the things I’m going to fucking do to you, you would run and run fast.” I shook my head weakly and pushed forward as I licked my lips and met his eyes, letting him see the need he was creating inside me. “But then…I wouldn't let you get far.”

He suddenly pushed off the wall and scrubbed a hand down his face, his normal blank mask in place as if the last sixty seconds didn't just happen. Without another word he moved to the window. So he did come through the window.

I watched him go and had the fleeting thought that desire and fear were the same. Was that screwed up or what? He lifted the window and paused, gazing out into the night.

“There isn’t a worse threat out there to you than me.” His shoulders tensed and I held my breath, waiting for him to continue. “Do as you’re told,” he gritted, disappearing into the night.

* * *

Morning came too soon. It was my birthday. I was now eighteen and miserable. I’d forgotten my birthday was coming until Aunt Carissa reminded me last night. Ever since the pharmacy my mind was stuck in one place. Keiran.

I hated my birthday though. It was the day I found out my parents weren’t coming back. I stopped thinking of it as my birthday and instead considered it the anniversary my parents became dead to me. They left.

I’d come downstairs expecting my aunt to be gone but found her waiting with my favorite dessert. I was a sucker for ice-cream cake. She tied balloons to the bar stools and had streamers everywhere and I laughed at her when she blew on those blow out things that sounded like an elephant with a cold.

“Happy Birthday, Lake!” she jumped up and down much like a big kid, which was sort of embarrassing, but I loved it.