Page 104 of Prey

Ryleigh was quiet on the drive home.

She faced the window, and I would have thought she had fallen asleep if the lights outside had not caught her reflection, showing me she was wide awake.

We didn't move when I finally pulled into the parking lot.

I shut off the engine, and we stayed in the car for a moment. Safe in our own little bubble.

Then, “Roman?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Do you think we'll ever get to go back to the cabin again?”

She missed it. That had been the place I took her to when I decided to drug her and abduct her. But she missed it, and she probably felt safe there.

I knew the feeling.

Everything had been so easy.

“Yeah. When things settle down a bit, I'll take you there, and we can stay for as long as you want.”

“Promise?” she whispered.

“Promise.”

I'd give her the world if she asked for it.

Getting out of the car, I quickly walked over to her side and opened the door.

She already had her belt unbuckled. She climbed out, and without another word, I scooped her up into my arms. She automatically wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.

“I can walk,” she half-heartedly protested.

I squeezed her to me. “Remember. I'm taking care of you tonight.”

A small sigh escaped, and she snuggled in closer to me.

The lobby wasn't as busy, but we did run into a few people.

I didn't give a fuck.

We hopped on the elevator, and I looked at our reflection on the doors, her wrapped up so tightly around me.

We looked good like this, and I saw my first genuine smile of the night.

The bell dinged, announcing our arrival on her floor, and I got off, moving straight to her apartment.

I was serious when I said I was moving in with her. She was mine, and I didn't plan on spending a single night apart from her if I could help it.

Moving in would be the practical choice.

I used my own key to unlock the door and walked in through the dark apartment.

I bypassed everything and headed straight to the bathroom, setting her down on the counter. She sat there and watched me as I turned on the shower, letting it warm up before making my way back to her.

“Let's wash the day off, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I'd like that.”

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