“What was that?” I whisper against his neck.
His heartbeat quickens. Is he scared of guns?
“This place is near a hunting area. Nothing to worry about.”
My heart clenches. Poor animals.
Dante starts walking. I frown and try to wriggle free, but he only tightens his grip.
“You’re not planning to let me go?”
He smiles. “I’d be a fool if I did.”
“I can walk by myself, thank you very much!”
He doesn’t reply, and I roll my eyes at his silence.
He finally puts me down when we’re in front of the gates, hidden by bushes and a few trees.
“Are you ready to climb again?”
My mouth falls open.
Oh, God.
A smirk spreads across his face as he leads me toward the fence.
“Do you want to drive?” he asks once we’re far enough from the house.
I’ve just caught my breath after nearly dying over that fence. This time, I let myself fall deliberately, hoping he’d catch me—and he did. Though my heart almost burst out of my chest, and I had to summon all my self-control not to shout.
I arch my eyebrows as he stops. He’s serious. “A-are you sure? I don’t know how to—”
He interrupts me by pulling the seat back from the steering wheel. He pats his thigh, and a shiver runs down my spine.
“I promise not to touch you more than I need to teach you.”
I exhale slowly. Trust. I need to trust him.
But…
“You could easily… do things you shouldn’t.”
“I know.”
Our eyes meet for a few moments before he reaches into his pocket, takes something out, and gives it to me.
A knife.
“Keep it close to you. If you even think I’ll do something you don’t want, stab me.”
He says it so nonchalantly, it catches me off guard.
“What? Where?”
“Anywhere. It doesn’t matter.”
My jaw falls open.