Page 22 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

T his had to have been the longest night of my life.

I laid there, wrapped in Colt’s arms. My focus remained on steadying my breath so that he would think that I had fallen asleep while I patiently waited for him to fall asleep, too.

As soon as I heard him start to snore I knew I had about ten minutes before I could safely escape his grasp and make a run for it.

Just a few more minutes.

Finally, the clock struck three twenty-seven in the morning and I knew it was time to go. I slowly nudged his hand back and wiggled free. Standing up, I quietly tip-toed around to his side of the bed to grab my phone. I paused as the floor-creaked.

Shit .

Colt started to rustle around in the covers and I begged for the universe to not let him catch me. Again.

I paused and waited to make sure that he was still asleep before I booked it out of his house, into the darkness of the woods that surrounded his property.

Fuck.

I had no idea where I was going, nor was I aware of what might be lurking amongst the shadows of the trees.

If Colt didn’t kill me, it was possible I would just die out here…

Alone. No one would know where I was. At least if I died by his hands someone would know.

Was I really doing this? Am I really sitting here thinking that maybe it would be better for my boyfriend to kill me?

Why does it always have to be the hot ones that have the issues?

I turned around and noticed that his house was no longer in view and I was finally able to take a moment to breathe.

I looked down at my phone to see the time and realized that I had only been gone for five minutes. I typed in the code and pulled up my map to hopefully navigate my way through the trees back to the main road so I could find my way home.

I must have turned my volume up accidentally because thirty minutes into my escape, my phone began to emit an obnoxious tone and a symbol flashed across the screen. Frantically, I tapped my screen in hopes that I would somehow be able to turn off this flashing symbol.

Thankfully, I was at least able to turn the volume down, eliminating one way that I would be easily found.

This distraction made finding my way a bit harder as I could only peer at the map between flashes, but it seemed that it was a straight shot from where I was currently standing to Colt’s warehouse. At least if I made it there, I would know where I was.

“ Astrid!” I heard a desperate voice calling out in the distance and for a brief moment I wanted to turn around and go back.

My heart began to pitter-patter uncontrollably while I ran faster than I thought I could further from the voice, embracing the adrenaline rush that was pouring over me. Colt .

What if he finds me? A part of me hoped he would come after me so I could punch his stupid face. Another part craved the chase, the thrill of being his prey. If he caught me… I’d be his, completely at his mercy. If he didn’t… I’d be free.

Free. The word felt hollow like my own will was irrelevant.

That was the furthest thing from the truth.

Colt respected me and cared about my well-being.

I was always the one in control, allowing him to hold the reins, carefully managing every interaction, and never letting him cross a line.

If he pushed too far, all I had to do was say stop and he wouldn’t even hesitate.

He made sure I knew the stoplight system inside and out before we ever entered into our dynamic.

Does that sound like someone who would hurt me without my consent? Or have I just been blinded by my own lustful thinking?

I knew I should have stayed home tonight.

I sighed before catching my next breath and moving forward with my plan.

Instead of sticking around to see what happened next, I started running as fast as I could letting my adrenaline be my guide and soon I had made it to The Shack.

I paused behind a tree so I could examine my surroundings just in case Colt had somehow beaten me here and lay in wait.

Glancing down at my phone I could see that the symbol was still flashing and it was draining my battery far quicker than I had imagined.

What the hell is this? I still had no idea if I had somehow gotten a virus. Perhaps I clicked a link I shouldn’t have. Regardless, this just added to my list of things that I needed to do and I was exhausted thinking about my to-do list.

???

A couple hours later I was finally getting back into town.

I should have attempted to call Haileigh, but I didn’t want to disturb her.

Though I probably couldn’t have accessed my contacts with this stupid thing on my phone.

It was for the best. She would have asked questions and there was no lie believable enough that would be able to tell to put her mind at ease.

Especially when I was still just as confused as I was just a few hours ago.

I should have forced him to talk to me. Why didn’t I insist? Confusion continued swirling in my brain.

He’s a murderer.

He’s a cannibal .

But he’s so perfect for me.

I stopped and stared at the sky, throwing my arms down at my sides.

“ What did I do to you that was so wrong?” I pleaded with the universe for answers, but the only response I got was that of the crickets chirping in the crisp early morning air. I continued walking and got to the alley that, during the day, I used as a shortcut to my apartment.

I was halfway through the alley when I heard a sinister laugh that sent chills down my spine.

“ Well, would you look what we have here boys?” A cold hand grasped me by my arm. “It’s the bitch who got me kicked out of Corner Pockets.”

Now, I really wished I had just stayed home tonight. “How sad must your life be that you are holding onto that?” I searched in my peripheral for the boss bitch that tapped into my vocal cords, because that sure wasn’t me speaking.

“ I should have put that cigarette out on your mouth and taught you some manners.” His grasp on me tightened as he pulled me back and I tripped over something hard and tumbled to the ground, landing in something sticky.

After the night I had I wasn’t sure which was worse, this mystery goo, or the goo that I was able to identify back at Colt’s.

“ Don’t fucking touch me,” I sneered at the man and his gang of vultures.

He let out a deep cackle and squatted down next to me, pushing my hair back from my face. “Now listen here, bitch.” I could smell the alcohol on his breath. It was so strong I almost felt like I was going to get secondhand drunk. “You’re going to shut the fuck up and do as your told.”

?? I spat in his face. A desperate and defiant act considering my predicament, but it was all I could muster. I hoped it would buy me time.

Smack.

The force of his backhand sent a searing pain through my face. I bit down hard. The pain trapped a silent scream deep in my throat. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, a stark reminder of my vulnerability and how it was going to take a miracle to get out of this situation.