Page 19 of Crave

But she didn’t save me and now the only way for me to save her was to get out of here and run as far and as fast as I could. The fur-lined hood peeked out. I folded it now and yanked the tie before flipping the weatherproof flap over and lifted my gaze.

That was it.

The last thing I needed.

I looked around to the room that’s become my sanctuary in a volatile, treacherous place. I heaved my pack up, my chest aching as I strode for the door, eased it open and slipped out.

“Are you going somewhere?”

I froze, my hand on the handle, then slowly turned. Gabe stood there in the space between our rooms, his careful gaze taking in my jeans, boots and cashmere top before he moved to the pack on my back. Pain flared in his soft, kind eyes. Cutting, cruel pain that hurt to see.

“Gabe, I have to.”

“Why?” His voice was wounded and husky, sounding cruelly young in that moment.

But he wasn’t young. I took a step and reached up, cupping the cheek of a man. “I have to.”

We never spoke about his brother’s hateful tone toward me. It was more from Theo and now from Silas, but there was a vein of indifference from Jude, one that ran from the patriarch of this family. The man who didn’t even know his wife adopted a daughter. One he tolerated.

“They don’t want me here.” I whispered.

“Fuck them.Iwant you. Doesn’t that count for something?” He searched my eyes.

I shook my head.

“Please,” he begged. “Please, don’t leave me.”

I didn’t have time to argue as he wrapped his arms around me, slamming me against his hard, trembling chest. Tears welled in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his waist. It’d been weeks since I had any kind of affection. Weeks since I’d had any kind of comfort at all.

“It’s okay.” I forced the words around the ache in my throat. “Come on. I’ll stay.’

He clung tighter. “You’re…you’re the only one who gets me.”

I looked over his shoulder as he curled his body, pressing against every inch of me. The agony of betrayal cut deep as I shook my head, gripping his shirt at the small of his back. I became aware of him, very aware. The way his arms were a vice. The way he turned his head, drawing in my scent with deep draws of breath.

Heat moved through me, finding my cheeks and my belly, then moved lower.

No.

I shifted against him, brushing against the bulge at the front of his jeans before he pulled away. He looked embarrassed, instantly turning his body away.

“Hey.” I said suddenly. “How about we make some of that microwave popcorn and watch a movie.”

“As long as it’s not Sleepless in Seattle again.” He mumbled. “I swear I can recite that movie in my sleep.”

A hard bark of laughter tore free. I shook my head, playfully punching his arm. “Deal. You can pick this time, but if it’s Fast and The Furious I get to make all the car sounds.”

He grinned, meeting my gaze. “Deal.”

“You go start the popcorn and I’ll put this away.”

One nod and he was striding away, leaving me to head back into my room. The moment I closed the door the gravity of this hit me. How could I leave him…and now of all times? I stared at my room and that sinking feeling swept through me.

I couldn’t…that’s how.

The straps of my pack dug in as I pulled it free and tossed it on the end of the bed. But I didn’t unpack, not yet. That same fear only grew bolder. I had to be careful now. I had to play it safe. Keep my head down, say nothing even when Theo is a bastard.

I had to be invisible.