Page 5 of Claimed By the Hitchhiker

“I am. But you’re clearly traumatized about something, and the last thing I want is for you to feel like I’m crowding or intimidating you.”

I let that sink in. Another first.

“So…are you gonna tell me?”

“Are you gonna help, Damien?”

“Yes. I’ll do whatever I can.”

There’s no hesitation in his voice. I’m putting my life in his hands, but he’s made me feel safer than I’ve ever had with anyone I’ve known for years, except Elise of course.

If he wanted to hurt me, he would’ve already done so. There’s no stopping him. I can’t stop him. Yet, I know with every fiber of my being that he’ll never hurt me. Never. How I know that for sure, I have no idea.

“Okay.”

“Okay. Let’s start with the easiest question. What’s your name?”

“Dani.”

“Dani what?”

“That’s it. Just Dani.”

A crease forms between his eyebrows. “I meant your surname.”

I look away and busy myself with prying loose the flecks of dried mud near the window. I wish the ground would swallow me whole. “I know what you mean. I don’t have one.”

He’s dying to know more but careful not to upset me.

The women at the compound always told me that men only want one thing from me—my body. So I should steer clear of them because men are animals.

I smile to myself. Damien isn’t one of them, though. Maybe it’s the way his eyes fill with genuine concern or how he makes sure he gives me enough space or how he doesn’t take every opportunity to “accidentally” touch me.

No.

Damien Davenport is different. And just the thought of this big hunk of a man touching me makes my insides twist and my belly flutter with need. The need for what, I’m not sure.

For years, I’ve erected these invisible walls of ice around me, trying not to get attached to anyone. But with him, I feel it thaw and crack just like that.

Trust is a foreign concept to me. I learned that early on. It was costly to expect someone to be there for me and protect me. Elise was the only exception. But now… Now there’s also Damien.

“Aren’t you gonna say anything?”

“Actually, I’m waiting for you to start. I don’t want this to sound like an interrogation, Dani.”

Oh god. Why does my name sound different on his lips? Why does it sound…sexy? I shake my head, trying to ward off the urge to ask him to relieve this terrible, empty ache within me.

“I… I ran away.”

“From who?”

“Father and his men.”

3

DAMIEN

Igrip the steering wheel, my jaw aching from clenching my teeth so hard.

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