Page 19 of Lock

“They’re fine,” he said.

“If they wake up and see you, they’ll?—”

“They’re not waking up anytime soon.” His jaw tightened. “And if anyone else stumbles out there, Wraith will put them down before they get close.”

The way he said it made my blood run cold.

“You can’t?—”

“I can.” His gaze locked on mine. “I’m not leaving without you, Kellan.”

The way he said my name did something weird to my chest. Like he’d been saying it for years and not just… for the first time tonight.

I shook my head, and panic was making my brain go a mile a minute. “You can’t take me. My dad?—”

“Your dad should’ve made sure this place was harder to get into,” Lock snapped quietly. “He didn’t. That’s on him.”

Anger flared under the fear, sharp and defensive. “You broke into my room and you’re lecturing me about security? Are you serious right now?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. “You’ve got two choices. You come with me dressed, or you come with me like this.”

His gaze dropped once—just once—to my bare thighs, the hem of my shorts, the strap of my tank top twisted against my shoulder. Heat shot up my neck. I yanked the blanket higher on reflex.

“You wouldn’t,” I breathed.

Something flickered in his eyes. “You think I won’t carry you out over my shoulder if I have to?”

The image hit so hard I almost choked on it. Me, half-dressed, thrown over the shoulder of the president of Crimson Havoc in front of whoever was out there.

Every ounce of dignity I had screamed no.

My hands shook, but I tried to make my voice steady. “If I go with you, will you at least let me put on pants?”

“Fast,” he said. “Sweater. Shoes. No bags. No stalling.”

I hesitated, my fingers still fisted in the blanket. I should be screaming. I should be fighting. I should be doing anything but nodding.

But right them my body decided it wasn’t choosing. I froze.

But his scent was in my lungs and his body heat was right there and some traitorous part of me kept whispering you wanted him to notice you, didn’t you?

“That’s not fair,” I muttered under my breath.

One of his brows lifted. “What isn’t?”

“Nothing.” I shoved the blanket back and sat up.

Cool air hit my bare legs and I tried not to think about how much skin was showing. I swung my feet to the floor and stood, a little unsteadily. Lock’s hand shot out like he thought I might fall, then stopped halfway, fingers curling back, like he realized what he’d been about to do.

He was watching me too closely.

My dresser was three steps away. I moved fast, digging out the first pair of jeans my hands hit and pulling them on with shaking fingers. My heart hammered so hard I could hear it in my ears.

Behind me, the bedsprings creaked as he shifted his weight, tracking every movement.

“Faster, Kellan,” he said quietly.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” I snapped, tugging the denim over my hips and fumbling with the button.