Page 25 of Hurt

It seemed like a strange statement. Willow’s voice wavered, and her eyes were wet with emotion.

“Aren’t you going to go home?” Willow asked when Roland didn’t say anything.

Roland shifted on his feet and didn’t know how to answer. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Me?” Willow chuckled and joined him, leaning against the sleek black car. She plucked at Roland’s hand, looking down at the rings on his fingers. “You’re the one who did the hard work.”

“He touched you.”

Willow looked up at him through dark lashes. “Yeah.”

She swiped her thumb over Roland’s knuckles, lingering over the scars from the countless times they were injured from slamming into another man’s face.

Roland pulled his hand back. He didn’t want Willow near such a violent tool.

“I know who you are and what you do, Roland,” she said with a small laugh.

“You don’t care?” A small, foolish bud of hope bloomed in his chest.

“Should I?”

“I’m a dangerous man.”

Willow tossed her hair back and laughed. With crinkled eyes, she looked up at Roland. “Who says I’m not a dangerous woman?”

Roland thought she might be the most dangerous woman he had ever met.

He was painfully aware that his ears were burning pink, face flushed with the proximity of Willow. Their kiss was a tension between them, something they both remembered but Roland would never speak about. The kiss was more than he could have ever hoped for.

“Was that your first kiss?” Willow asked.

Roland didn’t know how to answer. It was. But he didn’t want to admit that. People didn’t just kiss Roland. Not with his status and his coldness. Sex, sure. He could pay for that. Pay for the uncomplications. But kissing? No. That was…intimate.

Willow huffed. “Roland, that wasn’t even a proper kiss.”

Her warm fingers slipped around Roland’s face and turned it toward her. Willow paused for a moment, giving Roland a chance to back out. When he didn’t, she pulled his lips to hers. Noses brushing against each other, Willow angled her face, so they slotted closer together. At first, she kept her lips closed. A gentle press. Then she moved, a silent request for more.

Roland’s arms encircled Willow’s petite frame, and he kissed her back. He wasn’t sure if it was any good, but when Willow’s lips enveloped his, she made a small sigh of pleasure.

Standing on tiptoes, with her hoodie sleeves pulled down over her fingers, Willow kissed him for a long moment. She smelled like alcohol and some sort of sugary body spray. And she was warm and soft against Roland.

Willow pulled back with a pant. Her lips still hovering over Roland’s, she placed another soft kiss before stepping back.

“Thank you for saving me, Roland,” Willow said softly. Her cheeks were even more flushed than before, and she tucked her hair behind her ear before she turned and walked off to the side of the building.

Turning to look over her shoulder, she flashed another smile. “Oh, and sorry for stealing your first kiss.”

Roland wasn’t sure how long he stood there staring after him, but eventually, Elijah had to drag him into the car and take him home.

6

WHAT IF I WERE TO LIE? TELL YOU EVERYTHING IS FINE?

Jamie unsnapped the top two buttons of his shirt and stretched his neck. The night was strangely wet. Condensation clung to his skin and gave everything a wet tacky feel. Making sure his sleeves were rolled up, he stretched his fingers out and slid on a shoulder harness. Adjusting the leather straps, so they fit snugly, he glanced out the window.

He was hiding in an empty factory. From the second-floor offices, he could see across the narrow street to the warehouse. A warm glow came from the top floor windows.

Touching his ear, he cleared his throat. “Rod from God to O-Face. Come in. Over.”