Page 25 of The Stolen Dagger
Then Adrian found me. The past I tried so desperately to run from had found its way back to haunt me.
Hehauntedme.
My body locked up and my breath hitched as the fear of that knowledge spread.
But then I thought of Drew and was able to breathe again. With the warmth of his body wrapped around mine and the almost-kiss we had back at my apartment, I knew I was safe.
I didn’t want to give that up.
I had tried to push him away and deny my feelings, but I didn’t want to anymore. Maybe that was selfish and put us both in danger, but I was already in a dangerous situation with Adrian. What was a little more?
I shifted against Drew.
The thought of him, even Leah or Tyler, getting hurt because of me made my stomach roll. I had to make sure that didn’t happen. I needed to focus and not get distracted by myfeelings for Drew, at least until everything with Adrian was over.
Drew’s arms tightened around me. “I can feel you tensing up against me. What are you thinking so hard about right now?”
“Nothing, it’s just—” I sighed, nuzzling deeper into his chest. “After that night, I didn’t think I’d ever have this again. You and Leah. I completely ruled out these kinds of relationships from my life because of Adrian.”
I paused, thinking the worst. “What if Adrian does come here? What if he goes after you and Leah to get to me? What if one of you gets hurt?”
Drew pressed his lips into the top of my head. “I won’t let him get anywhere near you or my sister. I promise.”
I opened my mouth to disagree and say he couldn’t promise something like that, but Drew tightened his arms again.
“There’s nothing he can do to you right now, Katherine,” he reassured. “Just relax and get some sleep. We’ll go from there in the morning.”
I relaxed back into his firm chest, agreeing that sleep would be best, but one last thought ran through my head.
Drew’s plan was to wait until Adrian came to me, but I didn’t think I could do that. I couldn’t sit around and do nothing.
I needed to know why Adrian thought I had this dagger. It had to be connected to that night that changed everything. Otherwise, why would he think I had it at all?
For the first time since I ran away, I was finally willing to find out more.
I’d been too afraid before, but now I needed answers.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KATHERINE
The first things I noticed when I awoke the next morning was the warm body pressed against my back and the heavy arm draped across my waist.
Drew.
I smiled and blinked away the sleep from my eyes. Sunlight filtered in through the pale blue curtains draped over the window on the wall in front of me as Drew’s room came into view.
Ever so slowly, I shifted my hips and turned on my back to face him.
Drew’s eyes were closed, and his dark lashes fanned across the top of his cheeks. His tempting lips were just barely parted, allowing his soft breaths to escape.
He looked so peaceful sleeping like this. The crinkle of worry that usually graced the place between his dark brows was nowhere in sight.
He was beautiful. Although, I’d never tell him that. His ego was big enough.
As if he could feel my gaze or hear my thoughts, his green eyes opened sleepily, and he smiled.
Embarrassed at being caught staring at him, I pulled away and twisted to get up from the bed, but the arm around my waist tightened, preventing me from going anywhere.
