Crown of Lies

“I’m not after your damn money,” he snapped. “If I was, I could’ve done what they did and robbed you where there were no witnesses.”

The busy city faded around me. “You wouldn’t.”

“You don’t know me.”

“You’re right. I don’t.” I ignored my sudden shiver. “So tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“What do you want? Where are you from? How can I return the favor?”

He bared his teeth. “I want nothing. I’m from nowhere. And you can’t return it.”

I didn’t let his fisted hands or taut body sway me. “Wanting nothing isn’t true. And you’re from somewhere...but I get if you want to keep it secret. Surely, there’s something you need.” I waved my arm at the congested pavement. “You’re not walking for your health.” I pointed at his bloody hands. “Talking about health, you should probably have those looked at.” I moved closer, grabbing his wrist without thinking.

He stiffened.

Electricity sprang from him to me and me to him and every which way around us until we stood in a web of sparks from just the simplest touch.

His jaw clenched; his eyes narrowed and dark. Placing his hand over mine on his wrist, he ever so slowly pulled at my fingers until my grip was no more. Dropping my hand from him, he whispered, “There is something.”

I shook my head, lost and confused and so scrambled I couldn’t follow. He noticed the question in my eyes, answering for me. “There is something I want from you.”

“What? What do you want?”

He glanced away as if he hadn’t meant to say that. For a second, he looked like he’d bolt into the crowds and vanish. But then he cleared his throat. “Do you trust me?”

“What?”

His chocolate eyes locked on mine again. “Do you trust me?”

“I just met you.”

“Doesn’t matter. Yes or no.”

What should I say? That yes, in some weird way, I did trust him. Or no, I wasn’t stupid enough to trust someone who beat up two guys and then kept me longer than necessary in an alley.

He glowered, his intensity once again causing goosebumps. “Yes or no. It’s not hard.”

Slowly, I nodded. “Yes, I trust you.”

“Good.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me off the footpath. Without a word, he herded me across the road. Reaching the other side, he let me go but didn’t move far away.

Shared body heat hummed between us, growing thicker with things I didn’t understand. Things all so new and foreign but desperately wanted. “Where are we going?”

“Central Park.”

“What?” I slammed to a halt. “You can’t be serious. No one goes in there at this time of night. For safety reasons and for security. It’s not open.”

He grinned; the streetlight above him painted him in a golden glow, looking part angel, part devil. “I know a way in.”

I backed up. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s just go home.”

His face darkened then solidified into determination. “You don’t get to do that. You just agreed to trust me.” He stepped forward, his chest brushing mine. The cheap material of the bomber jacket rubbed the lace of my bra, making me achingly sensitive. My neck bent to look up at him, drinking in the way his hair ran wild around his face, and his beard masked him, revealing only what he wanted to reveal.

“I’ll take you home afterward.” His hand came up, brushing aside a wayward blonde strand, his fingers kissing the side of my face.

I jolted but couldn’t move away. The concrete had turned into super glue.

Before I could reply, he dropped his touch, grabbed my hand, and dragged me toward the wall of Central Park.

He looked over his shoulder as we patrolled the rock barricade. Hauling himself up, he swung his legs over and dropped into nothing.

I dashed to the wall and looked down.

In the darkness, I barely made out his shape a few feet below.

His head tilted toward me, once again cloaked in the shadows he seemed to rule over, only his hands and face visible as he reached up. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”

You’ll catch me?

I wanted to yell, but the occasional late-night dog walker on the other side of the street kept me quiet. This was illegal. I didn’t want to get caught. Imagine the publicity if this got out that I’d snuck out on my birthday, almost got molested, gave my dinner to a homeless guy, then gallivanted around the city doing bad things with a total stranger.

Who the hell am I?

I should turn around and find my own way home. I should hop in a cab and pay the driver when he dropped me off with the petty cash that was stored in the cloakroom upon arrival at Belle Elle.

I had so many options.

So I had no excuse when I deliberately chose none of them.

I slung my jean-clad legs over the wall, inhaled deep, and let go.

Chapter Nine

HIS ARMS WERE warm steel.

He caught me in my semi-slide as I plummeted down the rock wall. He didn’t manage to catch my entire weight, and my legs jarred as they hit the ground, but he cradled my torso with infinitesimal gentleness.

We stayed like that for far longer than necessary, swaying in each other’s embrace, somehow deleting the stranger danger and becoming acquainted instead.

He cleared his throat, moving back.

I shivered as his arms unraveled, leaving me to my own gravity, removing himself from my orbit.