Page 15 of Blood on Ice

I need some fun.

You’re scared.

Fuck no. What do I have to be scared of?

Zeke not wanting you the way Liam wanted Val.

He wants me. I can see it in the way he looks at me.

He’s scared.

And I’m going to find out why.

Maybe because you’re stalking him.

Maybe because he wants me.

I didn’t believe that though. Something was bothering him, something far worse than a hot man making his intentions clear.

Zeke turned into the garage for his building, and I drove past and circled the block. By the time I found some street parking, I assumed he’d had time to head up to his apartment. As I’d driven around the block, I’d made note of the fire escape that went up the side of the building. My research of the schematics told me his apartment was on the third floor, two units over from those stairs. I stared up at his balcony, wondering if I could access his apartment that way.

As I climbed up the fire escape, I glanced around to see if anyone was watching. I’d already looked for obvious cameras. If there were any, they were well hidden. If there weren’t any, I needed to talk to Zeke about demanding better security. Not that he’d need to worry once I moved him to my house.

When I reached the third floor, I studied the gap between the stair landing and Zeke’s neighbor’s balcony. If I climbed over the railing and stretched, I might be able to reach the balcony, but I’d probably have to jump for it, then do the same to get to Zeke’s balcony.

I looked down. The street seemed very far away.

It’s just three stories, not that far really.

You won’t be saying that when you’re smashed on the pavement.

I probably wouldn’t be saying anything at all.

But I’d never been a coward, and I’d always been stubborn as fuck, so I lifted one leg over the railing, then the other. I stood there, feet still on the metal flooring, hands tightly wrapped around the railing as the wind whistled around the building. My hair fluttered, tickling my neck. I looked over at the balcony, then down, and?—

Nope. Never look at the ground. I knew better.

I took a breath, crouched down and let go with one hand. I stretched nearly far enough to pull my arm out of socket. The balcony railing was just out of reach.

A few inches more, and I’d have it.

But I couldn’t stretch any more. I was going to have to jump.

Three. Two. One.

For a fraction of a second I was suspended in the air, then my hand locked around the railing, my second hand slipped, and I hung from one arm. Fuck, my shoulder was going to be feeling this tomorrow.

I pulled myself up and managed to grab hold with my other hand. Once I got a foothold, I was able to climb over and safely stand on some stranger’s balcony.

I focused on the present, assessing my situation. Thankfully, curtains had been pulled across the balcony’s sliding door, anddespite the reverberating metal and the creak of my steps, the apartment remained dark.

Only then did I let myself think about how close I’d come to falling.

Why are you risking your life for this man?

That was a really good question. And the only answer I had was that he called to me from the moment I saw him. Something about him fascinated me. It had been a while since anyone or anything had intrigued me like he did. I’d just been moving through life, through men and women, through endless parties, not feeling much of anything.

Every time I saw Zeke, I felt more alive than I had in ages. Heat rose up through my neck and into my face, and I grew sweaty and restless. I needed him, needed to touch him, to take him, hold him down, fill him and spill inside him, marking him as mine. I was an animal, and he was my prey. I would bring him down, but I would also enjoy the hunt. I needed something that was all my own, not something I’d been assigned to do. I needed to pretend I was in charge of my life and that I had choices, and in this, at least, I did.

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