Her Destiny

  You were with him all night? Where exactly? In his bed?

  Were the two of you having sex, Miss Hale?

  Did he ever leave you alone in the middle of the night?

  Do you think he killed Krista Benson?

  How long have you two been involved?

  Was he carrying on a relationship with you while also engaging in sexual activity with Krista?

  Do you trust him, Miss Hale? Really?

  Over and over, the same types of questions worded in different ways but I always answered the same. It felt like it went on forever and I was exhausted despite the giant cup of coffee he gave me to help keep me focused.

  Finally he let me go, offering a gruff thank you as his goodbye, his expression full of disappointment as he escorted me out of the police station and practically pushed me into the lobby. He left me there without another word and I stood alone, checking my phone for a text from Nick since he was nowhere to be seen.

  I’m waiting for you in my truck. Couldn’t take it in there anymore.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I push my way through the glass double doors and out into the rain, yanking my hood up as I make a run for Nick’s truck. It’s parked in the same spot. I see him sitting inside, the windows steamy from his breathing, his head leaning back against the seat like he’s trying to take a nap.

  I’m so happy to see him I run through the puddles, splashing water and getting my jeans wet along with my shoes. But I don’t care. Without thought I open the passenger side door and leap into the truck, throwing myself at him.

  “Hey, hey.” He springs up, sounding sleepy as his arms automatically go around me. I’m shaking as I bury my face against his warm neck, breathing deep his delicious, soapy clean scent. He brushes the hood from my head, his fingers tangling in my hair. “What’s wrong? You okay?”

  “I’m just glad it’s over.” I kiss his neck, forgetting my earlier promise to myself that we wouldn’t do this. That I would walk away from him as soon I left the police station.

  I don’t care what Evan says. The last thing I want is to walk away from Nick. “I felt like Jacoby was trying to trick me.”

  “Because he probably was. You’re ruining his investigation in his eyes.” His fingers jerk in my hair when I kiss his neck again and his reaction fuels me. I rain a trail of kisses up the length of his throat, along his jaw, his chin…

  “Hey.” He grabs my shoulders and pulls me away from him slightly so he can look at me. “Are you okay?”

  I shake my head, desperation clawing at my insides, making my heart race, my head spin. “Take me back to your place.”

  Nick frowns. “I thought I was supposed to take you to the bus station.”

  He’s still trying to stick by his promise to my brother when I’ve just abandoned it. It’s like we can’t ever get on the same page. Should I take that as a sign? “My bus doesn’t leave for hours. Please, Nick. Don’t make me sit down there and wait around for it. Let’s go hang out at your place.”

  He looks so unsure of my plan and I hate that. “Do you want to get something to eat first?”

  I shake my head again, frustrated that he’s trying to deter me. “No. Don’t worry about what Evan’s going to think. He’s not here. He can’t tell me what to do.” I reach for him, my fingers curling in his sweatshirt. “Please, Nick. I’m begging you.”

  He contemplates me for so long I’m afraid he’s going to tell me no. “Okay,” he finally says with a sigh. “We’ll go to my apartment, we’ll have something to eat and then I’m taking you to the bus station. I’ll wait with you until your bus comes, okay? I won’t leave you alone there, I swear. I promised Evan I would get you on that bus and get you home safely.”

  “Okay.” I nod, my mind filling with all the possibilities. This feels like my last chance with him. I don’t know why but the uneasy sensation weighs heavy on my heart, my soul. I’m so afraid he’s going to do what my brother wants and walk away from me. I’m supposed to walk away from him too but being with him again like this makes me realize I don’t want to. I want another chance.

  And I’m not going to give up until I can convince him we deserve another chance. The two of us together. We just need to get out of this crappy small town, away from where everything bad happened. It’s so strange, but I didn’t have this sense of foreboding back at my apartment like I do here. There’s a tension vibrating off of Nick’s body and I don’t understand it. All I can think is that he hates this town so much he can hardly stand being here.

  We drive back to his place slowly, Nick cautious as he navigates the streets, doing his best to avoid the flooded spots that pop up here and there. I grip the handle on the inside of the passenger side door, my fingers so tight my knuckles are white. I don’t know why I feel so anxious, so apprehensive.

  All I know is that I need Nick.

  The second he parks the truck, we burst out of it, running to his apartment in the heavy rain. I chase after him, following him inside, and when he shuts and locks the door, I’m all over him like I can’t control myself. He buries his hands in my hair, gripping either side of my head and holding me firm, staring at me as if he can’t quite believe I’m there. And then he’s kissing me. His lips are hungry and persuasive, his tongue stroking against mine, wet and hot and tempting me to want more. I moan, a desperate, needy sound as I claw at his front, my hands diving beneath his sweatshirt, flipping under his T-shirt to touch bare, hot skin.

  He flinches at my touch, his answering groan spurring me on, and we fall onto the couch, tangled up in each other, his knee firm between my legs, pressing against the ache that’s building fast. I want him so bad and I want him to want me too. It’s been too long since I’ve been with him like this and I’ve missed him so much.

  Does he know what he does to me? How out of control he makes me feel?

  “Reverie.” His voice breaks through my lust-clouded thoughts but he doesn’t stop me. I’m on top of him, tugging on his clothes, trying to undo his jeans. He clamps his hands on my shoulders, giving me a little shake, and I look into his eyes, blinking him into focus. “Revi. Slow down, baby.”

  The sweet nickname he has for me stops me and I lift away from him slightly, feeling dizzy. I remember when he used to called me Daydream but I think I like Revi better. “It’s just…it’s been so long,” I whisper. “And I’m…” My voice drifts and I let my head fall forward, feeling stupid for getting so carried away.

  He brushes the wayward strands of hair from my face and I lift my head to find him watching me, his expression gentle, his touch even more so. I want to melt into him. Become one with him and never leave his side. It’s so crazy, my feelings for Nick. We’ve known each other for only a short time but that doesn’t seem to matter.

  All I know is that I care for him and want to be with him in every way possible.

  “You’re what?” he asks, tracing my face with his fingertips. I close my eyes as he touches my eyebrows, the slope of my nose, the curve of my lips.

  “I’m scared,” I say, my voice trembling, and I open my eyes. He drops his hand away from my face. “I don’t like it here, Nick. And I don’t like that you’re here all alone, with no one to help you or protect you. In the summer, everything was different. It was bright and full of promise and sweet and fun. But now it’s just…it’s ugly. Dark and cold and depressing. Everyone acts like they’re out to get you and I don’t understand why.” I cling to him, grabbing hold of his wrist, stopping him from touching me because I can’t think when he touches me.

  “It’s not that bad,” he starts but I shake my head, silencing him.

  “It’s awful and you know it. I don’t know how you can stay here with them always following you, waiting for you to slip up,” I say, resting my hands on his cheeks, cradling his face. I stare into his eyes, overwhelmed with my feelings for him. He’s so precious to me and I don’t think he even knows it. “You need to come back home with me.”

  “I can’t. You know I can’t,” he
whispers, his voice harsh, his eyes as dark as the storm outside. “Your brother doesn’t want me there. He doesn’t even want us together. And I have my job, my apartment. Mom’s stuff is still in her room. I haven’t even been able to go through it all yet. It’ll take time. I need to plan. And I just…I have ties here, Reverie. I can’t just pack up and leave.”

  “What about your ties to me? Do those exist?” I’m asking too much, I’m sure of it, but I have to know how he feels. If I’m important enough to him that he’ll leave everything just for me.

  You’re being totally unfair.

  I know it but I can’t help myself.

  He blows out a harsh breath and closes his eyes briefly. His agonized expression cracks my heart. “You know they do. I fell for you so fast, Reverie. It’s fucking crazy, how much I feel for you. But it’s just…it’s not that easy for me to leave this place. I have nothing. No one who can help me and I don’t want to burden you with that. Besides, you have your own life to live. You haven’t even graduated high school yet. We can’t expect this to work out between us. We’re being totally unrealistic.”

  “I don’t think we’re being unrealistic.” I’m also in complete denial. That I’m even aware of it is almost laughable.

  “Give me a break,” he says with a little frustrated laugh, shaking his head. “We need to be real with each other. I want this to work. You mean everything to me. But…I just, I don’t know. Maybe we should wait.”

  I withdraw from his arms, a cold, dark pit forming in my stomach. “You think we should wait? Why?”

  “You know exactly why. Our circumstances aren’t ideal. And your brother thinks it’s a bad idea.”

  “I really don’t care what Evan thinks.” I pause. Amazing how the words are true when I say them out loud. “Do you think it’s a bad idea? Us together?”

  Nick says nothing but I guess that’s answer enough.

  Lifting my chin, I climb off the couch and grab my purse, then make my way to the front door. “I should go.”

  He leaps from the couch and runs after me, slamming his hand flat against the door to prevent me from opening it. “You’re not going anywhere,” he says, his voice firm, allowing me no argument. I’ve never seen him act so bossy. “Don’t be stupid.”

  “Are you saying you think I’m stupid?” I turn on him, furious.

  “If you’re referring to you leaving this apartment in the rain with no form of transportation to get home then yes, I think you’re being stupid.” He grabs hold of my shoulders and turns me fully toward him, giving me a little shake. “Don’t act like this. You know what I’m saying makes sense. You’re just in denial.”

  I glare at him, hating that he’s right and that he’s able to read my mind. Hating that we shouldn’t stay together no matter how much I want it to. Hating more that he feels the same way. The desperation overwhelms me, pushing me to be daring, to ask him for what I really want, no matter how hard it’s going to be to actually say it. “Give me one more time then,” I say.

  He frowns, looking confused. “One more time, what?”

  I roll my eyes, trying to let go of my embarrassment. We’ve been together before. He’s seen me naked. I’ve bared my very soul to him. “I want to be with you, Nick.” I touch his chest, my palm pressed against the center where I can feel his rapidly beating heart.

  The sexy little smile that curls his lips makes my heart beat even faster than his. “Yeah?”

  “Yes. The two of us. Together.” I move into him, pressing my body close to his, not above using his attraction for me to get what I want. Because he wants it too, no matter how much he’s protesting. “Give us that for the next couple of hours at least.”

  His breathing picks up and he parts his lips, staring down at me. “We shouldn’t.”

  I stand on tiptoe and kiss his neck, just behind his ear, exactly where he likes it. A little shiver moves through him and I smile, pleased that I can make him react so easily. “You know you want to,” I whisper.

  The shuddering breath that escapes him when I slip my hands beneath his shirt and touch his stomach tells me that I’ve won this battle.

  Now all I need is to win the war.

  I’m dozing off in Nick’s arms, our bodies entwined, my head nestled in that comfortable spot between his neck and shoulder when my cell phone dings, indicating I have a text.

  “I should get that,” I murmur, my eyes still closed. I don’t ever want to leave this spot.

  “No, you shouldn’t.” Nick’s drifting his fingers up and down the length of my arm, drawing a circle on my shoulder, and his touch makes me smile. “Whoever it is, they can wait.”

  “What if it’s Evan?” He’s the only one who would text me, beyond Vanessa or Valerie and on extremely rare occasions, Tally. Up to a few weeks ago she was still interested in getting me to come and party with her, not that I ever did.

  “He’ll call you if it’s important.” Nick taps my shoulder twice, his touch firm. Opening my eyes, I glance up at him to find him watching me. “What happened to your phone anyway?”

  I frown. “What are you talking about?”

  “After you left town, I tried to text you but I never heard back. I thought you were ignoring me.”

  I had no idea. Why this excites me when that was months ago, I’m not sure. I guess the admission proves he still cared when I’d always believed he gave up on us. “I never got them. Our phones were taken away from us because they were funded through The Flock of the Lambs. When the assets were frozen, they took everything. We had to start over.” I look away, resuming my position on Nick’s shoulder. “Evan got phones for the both of us and I have a new number. Of course, you already know that since I gave it to you.” I’d sent him a text for that intent last night and he’d updated me in his contacts list.

  “You don’t plan on getting rid of that phone anytime soon, do you?” he asks.

  I slowly shake my head, nuzzling closer, my mouth right at his neck. I love to kiss him there. I love to kiss him everywhere. His skin is so smooth and warm. His entire body is perfect. I wish I could explore it for hours, not just these few stolen moments before he has to take me to the bus station. “Evan and I are in a two-year contract so we’re stuck.”

  Nick chuckles, holding me closer. “Good. Because I don’t want to lose contact with you again like that.” He presses his lips against my forehead, giving me a lingering kiss, and warmth spreads through me, making me languid. Sleepy. I’ve never felt so happy.

  Ever.

  I’m almost asleep, I can tell Nick already is, when my cell starts to ring, the sound sharp in the otherwise quiet of the room. With a frustrated growl I withdraw from his arms and grab my phone off the bedside table, seeing that it is indeed my brother calling.

  I so don’t want to talk to him.

  “What?” I mumble into the phone as I crawl out of bed and hide myself away in Nick’s bathroom, where I catch my reflection when I switch on the light. I’m wearing one of his oversized T-shirts, my hair is a disaster and my lips are swollen. I look like a mess. More like I look like I’ve just had sex.

  “Nice greeting,” Evan says, sounding put out. “Are you already at the bus station?”

  “Um, not yet.” I comb my fingers through my hair, trying to straighten it but it’s an absolute mess. I should just throw it into a ponytail or a topknot and forget about it.

  “Where the hell are you then?”

  “Nick’s apartment.” I bite my lip, waiting for his reply.

  As expected, he explodes. “That is the last place you should be. Damn it, Rev, stop wasting your time and go catch that damn bus. The weather is bad, travel everywhere is delayed and the freeways are a mess. I just caught the news while I was on break and had to call you.”

  “We’re leaving in a few minutes for the station,” I reassure him.

  “You need to be on that bus in less than an hour,” he points out.

  “We’re going soon, I swear. The bus I’m supposed to take is
probably not even there yet,” I argue. “I’m guessing it’ll show up late. Maybe I should wait and take a bus home tomorrow? Should the weather be cleared up by then?”

  “The ticket is transferrable,” Evan mutters. “But I want you home tonight.”

  Translation: He wants me to get away from Nick now.

  “I’ll go to the station and let you know what’s happening, okay? Circumstances might be out of my control.” I hope they are. I might even force them to be because I don’t want to leave. Not yet. I want to spend the night with Nick. If I let the fear get to me, I could almost think this is my one last night with him for good.

  But I refuse to do that. I need to believe that this is going to work out between us.

  “Text me and let me know what’s going on,” Evan says. “And let me know what time your bus is scheduled to get in here. I’ll make sure and be there to pick you up.”

  “You better be,” I joke, wanting to lighten the mood. I don’t want him mad or thinking the worst about Nick. I want the two most important men in my life to like each other and get along.

  “Did you get to make your statement to the police?” Evan asks.

  “I did. It went all right. I think they’ll leave Nick alone now.” I frown when I hear a noise coming from the other side of the door and then there’s a light knock. I crack open the door to find Nick on the other side, his hair mussed, his eyes heavy. He’s wearing boxer briefs and nothing else and he looks good enough to eat.

  “You all right?” he whispers, scratching his bare chest.

  My gaze tracks his hand’s every movement. I wish I was touching him instead of talking to my pissed off brother. “It’s Evan,” I tell him. With an understanding nod, Nick pulls the door shut, leaving me alone.

  “Rev. You didn’t…you didn’t make this up did you? You’re not giving this statement to the police to help get your boyfriend off the hook?” Evan asks.

  Wow. I can’t believe he just said that. “Are you serious right now with that question?”