Page 7 of Saving You Losing Me

Her words drift toward me on the gentle breeze as she makes her decision. She doesn’t even hesitate and takes off toward the door and I seize a moment to admire her courage as she wrenches open the door to a house that was condemned years ago.

I count down in my mind as I give her a fighting chance and yet I shift on my feet with an impatience that has been building over the years because to own a woman’s heart like Clara Gladstone’s, I must earn it the hard way.

I give her three long, excruciating minutes before I shift off the bike and set off for the house. My anticipation is threatening to trip me up because what happens when I catch her is the gift I have been waiting for.

The door creaks open and nothing but darkness greets me and the dank, musty odor of decay fills my senses. The faint rustling of vermin in the deepening shadows confuses my mind as I strain to hear where she went.

This is the Adam’s house. Many years ago, the family lived here far away from the town for a reason. They weren’t the most sociable of folks and liked to keep to themselves. They farmed the land and only ventured into the town when they had something to sell in exchange for supplies. Word was they had gold up here and one day they were paid a visit by some chancers and a battle was fought. Many bodies were found with terrifying wounds and there were no survivors. Many believed only a wild animal could inflict those wounds or something that was definitely not human, because the expressions on every slain body were of abject terror.

It became known as the cursed homestead and nobody dares to come here.

I am different.

This place is my sanctuary and the perfect place to claim what is my own pot of gold.

Clara’s innocence.

I move through the rooms, the floorboards creaking under my feet, stopping only to listen for any sign of life. I feel my way through the darker parts and the scurrying of small feet tells me she is not even close. Women like Clara Gladstone don’t belong in ruins and I’m in no doubt she wouldn’t be so silent if she was sharing the space with vermin.

My heart is beating fast with adrenalin and desire because that lady is mine and I will fight for that right.

I feel my way and leave no space unexplored as I make my way through the downstairs of the house, confident in my success, but the clock is ticking.

I don’t have long.

I will not fail.

CHAPTER 5

CLARA

I’m so scared. What is happening to me? I don’t hide in derelict houses waiting for a biker to find me. This isn’t me, far from it, and yet I’m beginning to realize it might be.

I could have stood my ground and refused. Demanded he take me home and never even look in my direction again.

The reason I didn’t is because from the moment he outlined his plans, I came alive inside. What was once dead roared to life in one second at the thrill of the chase. By him.

Atom always was the man of my dreams and yet this is the stuff of nightmares.

If the smell wasn’t bad enough, it’s the fear of the unknown. I can’t see a thing and there are only the odd shards of light drifting in through the cracks to guide me.

The sound of scurrying vermin almost makes my heart give out on me but it’s the adrenalin that spurs me on. I want to win almost as much as I want to lose. Almost.

My heart beats a steady beat of excitement as I contemplate what will happen when he catches me.

I’m under no illusion that he will. I’ll consider I’ve failed if he doesn’t. The curiosity is too strong to ignore because when he kissed me back in the parking lot, my world shifted on its axis.

Suddenly, I knew what all the fuss was about.

I’ve still to discover what happens when you take it further and far from being afraid of that—I can’t wait.

But I don’t want to make it too easy for him.

I move stealthily through the darkened rooms, concentrating hard while trying to ignore the possibility of sharing the space with creatures I’d rather remain hidden.

I’m not afraid of the dark. I’ve been surrounded by it my entire life in my heart.

Many people consider me fortunate. I’m the lucky one.

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