Page 91 of Run For Me
“Yes, like that.”
“Then I hereby declare your bedtime ten o’clock, little dove. I expect you to be in bed by then, or you’ll get a spanking.”
I huff out a laugh. “That isn’t a punishment.”
“Fine. Then you won’t get a spanking.”
I laugh again, shaking my head. We fall into silence, and I wonder if he’s sleeping. I was tired, but suddenly I’m wide awake.
“Do you ever want me to know who you are?” I ask softly.
“Do you want to know?” he responds.
“Some day, yes.”
“Same,” he says.
“What’s stopping you?”
“Are you not having fun?” He nuzzles his nose against the back of my neck, and I notice it’s his skin I’m feeling.
He took off the mask.
All I have to do is turn around, and I’d see him. My heart skips a beat as I consider it. But I’m not ready for this to be over.
“I’m just curious.”
“We’re having fun. Living out fantasies. If it’s working, why ruin it?”
Having fun. Fantasies.
Yeah…
“Should I call you Jaxon now?”
“You can call me whatever you want,” he says sleepily. “Go to sleep. It’s past ten.”
I smile as I pull his arms tighter. I’ve never felt safer in all my life, which seems ridiculous, but there’s a strange kind of comfort in being with someone so dangerous. After all, they’re the only people willing to burn the world down to keep you breathing.
I don’t want this to end.
The words echo in my mind when I wake up, bed empty and cold.
I’m not sure if it was a dream, just my thoughts, or something he whispered to me in the dark.
I have no idea what time Jaxon left, or if the entire night was something I made up. I roll over, burying my face into the other pillow. It smells like him. I smile; he was definitely here.
My schedule is clear for the day, and for a moment, I wonder what it would be like if Jaxon and I were in a real relationship. If he had stayed and we woke up together. Had breakfast together. Went on a hike or to the movies. I laugh when I think of us doingthose things with the ski mask on his face. How weird would that be?
I don’t want it to be like that forever, but how do I know this is forever at all?
I don’t want this to end.
Are those his words or mine?
Do I take the risk of asking or just let it go? I don’t want him to think I’m attached, and that this is going in a direction he doesn’t want, but… I am getting attached. Alarmingly so.
I can talk to him about anything, and he helps me fix my problems.
