“You broke into my house. That’s why not. I think you might need help. That or a jail cell. I don’t sleep with crazy-assed women. Like I said, you need some serious help.”
“I do need help.” How does he know that? Do I look desperate? “I thought I could offer you sex in exchange for your help.” I shrug. “It’s the only thing I have to bargain with.”
He scrubs a hand over his face. “You’re giving me a headache. Can we start with why you followed me home? Why are you here?”
“I need a place to stay.”
“No!” He folds his arms. “You can’t stay here.”
I could tell from the way he was looking at me last night that he was aroused. Pity I was too angry with him to take advantage of that situation. “Just a couple of nights. I could—” I lift my hand to touch him, but he takes a step back.
“Hell no! I don’t care how gorgeous you are. You’re clearly a few cards short of a full deck.”
He thinks I’m crazy. I suppose I can’t blame him. I only wish I had learned more skills during my lifetime. I have one to speak of. I know how to kill someone in under five seconds. Other than that, I’m not much good at anything.
“You need to get your clothes back on, and you need to get the hell out of my house.” He points at his bedroom door.
“I need a place to sleep.” I need far more than that, but I can see he’s in no mood to talk. I don’t want to overwhelm him.
“I need peace and quiet and a good night’s sleep. Looks like we’re both fresh out of luck.” He flicks on a light switch. I follow him into the living room, where he turns another light on. He’s looking around the place. “Where are your clothes? This is insane. I can’t believe you came to my house. Who the hell are you anyway?”
“Nia,” I blurt. I hadn’t planned on telling him, but I’m desperate. “He’s after me.” It’s true.
“Who?” Rage’s eyes turn murderous. “Your husband…your boyfriend? Who’s after you?”
“Not my boyfriend anymore.” I shake my head. “We were…together, and then…” I stop there.
“You have some asshole ex after you?”
I nod. It’s not a lie. Not really. “He’s threatening to kill me. He will kill me if he finds me.”
“That’s why you’re so desperate?” Before I can answer, he goes on, “It doesn’t matter, you shouldn’t break into people’s homes and offer them sex. That’s fucked up!”
“I’m desperate!” I plead, meaning it. “I need help,” I repeat the same words from earlier. Also, I need to find a way to get him to have sex with me. It’s key to my plan working. Why did I walk out of that club last night? Why did I let my emotions get the better of me? Why was I feeling so emotional in the first place?
I see his stance soften but not by much. “Where are your clothes?”
I shrug. I don’t have clothes. How do I tell him that? He won’t understand.
“Forget it!” he growls. I hear him mumble something about my hair doing a good job of covering me up. All except my pussy. I have to bite back a smile. I follow him as he walks back into his room. He opens a door, rummages through his closet, pulling out a t-shirt. “Put this on.” He throws the garment at me before pulling some shorts on himself.
I tug the shirt over my head.
“One night.” He sounds stern. His eyes are dark and narrowed. “I will give you a ride to the police station in the morning. You can tell them about your situation. I’m sure there must be a shelter in Newfolk that helps women like you.”
I nod.
It’s something, I guess. I don’t tell him that a shelter won’t do me any good. That the local police won’t be able to save me. I’m looking at the only person capable of doing that. I need to somehow convince him to let me stay longer. I need to…get onto his good side. I need his help in a big way. Rage isn’t inclined to help me. It isn’t personal. He isn’t inclined to help anyone. He’s a closed-off loner with anger issues. The latter is why I need him. The former is why I will struggle to convince him. My life depends on it, and so I will keep trying. There is no other way.
Rage opens another closet and takes out a pillow and a blanket. “You can sleep on the sofa.” His face wrinkles in disgust.
He tries to hand me the items, but I don’t take them. “There’s a perfectly good bed.”
“That’s my bed. I will be sleeping in it.”
“There’s enough space.” I know I’m pushing it, but I’m not sure what his problem is.
“I don’t share,” he growls, his voice low.
No, you don’t! I know this is a sticking point. I can see it. It’s written all over him. “Of course,” I push out. “Thank you for letting me stay. I knew when I saw you that you would be able to help me.”
He looks at me pointedly. “Don’t get too used to it.”
I can see he means it. Rage plans on taking me to the station first thing in the morning. “Thank you,” I say.
“Go and sleep. No fucking around.”
I nod.
“I mean it!”
“So do I.”
“I have excellent hearing. I’ll—” His eyes narrow. “Why are you smiling?”
“If your hearing is so excellent, how did I sneak up on you earlier?”
He frowns. “I have no idea.” He takes a small step forward. I think I see him sniff the air. “Don’t try it again. I’m ready for you this time.”
I smile and then turn and walk away. Maybe there’s some way I’ll be able to convince him to let me stay longer in the morning. Somehow, I doubt it.
I don’t want to give everything away just yet. If I come clean too soon, he’ll treat me like I’m a hot potato. I need him invested first. Right now, that seems impossible. I stretch out on the sofa and close my eyes. I need a good night’s sleep. Maybe the morning will bring new ideas and possibilities. I wish I was more skilled at seducing a man.
6
Rage
There is a knock on the door. It’s only six-thirty. Who the hell is at my door at this time of the morning? I’m yawning as I open up.
It’s Death.
I frown at him. Then I turn and walk back into my house. I know he will follow, and he does.
“Where is it?” Death says as he closes the door.
“It? What it are you referring to?” I ask as I fire up the coffee machine.
“The dog,” Death says, looking around my place.
I mutter a curse as I see Death’s nose twitch. “I smell a woman.” He sniffs the air again.
I can’t believe I forgot about the girl. I curse again as I look around the space. The blanket is crumpled on the sofa. I think she did sleep here. Where is she now? The bathroom door is open. I double-check inside anyway. Then I check my bedroom and bathroom. My cabin is small. I like it this way. Neat, tidy, and uncomplicated. It’s home. I’m at relative peace here. I frown when I get done searching.
She’s gone.