Page 15 of Hurricane
My wife is finally safe.
Colby
What the hell?
He almost seems scared.
I can’t believe it. Big, bad ass, Lucian is afraid.
Of what though? “Your heart’s racing.”
Instead of answering, he clasps me tighter—almost to the point of suffocation. His massive body shakes against me.
In the past, he’s always found me and seemed amused, enjoying the chase as well as torturing me.
This time is different.
Him being frightened freaks me out. I feel the need to soothe him, which freaks me out too. “Everything’s okay. I just wanted some fresh air. A change of scenery, you know?”
“It’s dangerous here Colby. I forbid you from coming back.”
The anxiety in his tone isn’t what I expect. I fight the instinct to challenge his unreasonable demand. He’s not playing around, especially since he called me by my real name rather than one of his silly pet names.
“I mean it.”
“Okay, calm down. With finals coming up I’ll be too busy to come out here anyway.”
My agreement earns my freedom from his smothering hold and his hands fly to my cheeks. His gaze bores into my face.
“Never. Again.”
Uncertain how to respond, I grasp his fingers with my own, trying to find a connection where there’s never been one before. He kisses my forehead in that unexpected gentle way, murmuring against my skin about not losing me either.
He guides me to the small meadow leading back to the trail where his coat lies on the grass. I can feel his body soften and his breathing quiet down the farther we move from the ledge. Thefear may seem irrational to me, but it is definitely genuine. I feel guilty although I’m not sure why. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”
“Just don’t do it again. It’s too easy to slip out there.”
Hints of something he experienced, but obviously doesn’t want to discuss, tinge his words.
“You can do your thinking someplace else.”
I can’t help but giggle at his caveman sounding assertion. His head spins toward me, and he really looks deranged now.
“You think this is funny Colby? You think dying is fucking funny?”
In all the years I’ve known him, this is the first time he’s ever raised his voice to me. He really is upset.
Finally, the realization of his panic hits me, and I must rectify the situation. “Did you think I was going to jump?”
His reply only comes in the form of him sighing and then lifting his gaze to the sky. This time I cup his cheeks and pull his head back down to me. “I wasn’t. I swear. I just like how peaceful it is out here, especially early in the morning.”
He nods against my palms. I’ve never seen him vulnerable before. I guess there’s more to him than I realize.
I smile at his handsome face, still shadowed with terror I’m not used to, trying to diffuse the situation. The more I talk, the calmer he seems to become. “I’d much rather hike than run on a treadmill.”
“Just not here. Anyplace else but here.”
I acquiesce to his demand and nod, which makes his expression clear. Thank goodness. “Let’s head back.”
