Page 15 of Bones

I’ve lost my damn mind, and when I get out of here, I’m going to run as far away from Nate as I can.

BONES

My phone has been blowing up with texts and calls from Skull. Prez has also been trying to get a hold of me, and while I can dodge my brother, Prez is a whole different situation. We just did an hour hike, and I really enjoyed myself. Doc was a little quiet, but I didn’t miss the looks she kept sending my way when she thought I wasn’t looking. We both had showers and are now relaxing.

She’s been looking at me like she wants to eat me, and I’ve been hard since I woke up next to her. But the truth is, I like her. I like talking to her, and I like the peace she brings me. Fucking her will ruin all of that, won’t it? I don’t know if I’m built for commitment. I’m going to fuck everything up. But at the same time, the thought of another man touching her sends me into a rage.

When she mentioned primal play, I wanted to lift her on the counter and take her right there. Throughout the walk, I kept picturing myself chasing her and playing out the scene she had in her head.

We’re both sitting on the front porch, drink in hand. “You know, I’m actually friends with one of those romance authors.”

“Who?” she asks, perking up.

“X.M. Love.”

She stands up, her eyes widening. “No fucking way.”

“Yes, she’s the old lady of my brother, Ghost. She’s awesome, you’ll love her,” I say, smiling at the excitement on her face.

“I love her books!” she muses, jumping up and down and doing a little happy dance. “Who else do you know?”

“I know the owners of Lu’s Sweet Treats.”

“Oh, they have the best desserts there.” She sighs dreamily, and when she goes to sit, I pull her onto my lap. “Your phone keeps vibrating.”

“I know. My brother wants to know where I am.”

“What are you going to tell him?” she asks, smirking. “Is he going to kick your ass for doing something so reckless?”

Likely.

I’m about to respond when I see a car heading toward us. “Oh, fuck.”

“Who is that?” she asks, sounding concerned. “You don’t know anyone out here, right?”

“No, but someone might have figured out where I am.” I tried not to leave a paper trail, but Blade and Angel can usually find anything. “Go inside.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she replies casually, standing up.

I get up and push her behind me. “We don’t know who it is yet. It could be a serial killer, for all we know.”

“I knew some Wolf Creek shit was going to happen out here.”

“Meredith,” I growl, picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder. “Inside. Now.”

I close the door with her in the house and keep my eyes on the unfamiliar car.

“Fuck,” I mutter when I finally see who the driver is. Of all the people I thought would show up here, Pyro wasn’t one of them.

Storming down to meet him, I bark, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Prez wanted one of us to check on you, and I volunteered,” he replies, glancing back at the house. “And when Meredith didn’t show up at the shelter and wasn’t at her house, I put two and two together. I saw you watching her that day.”

“I wanted you to see me watching her. She’s mine,” I declare.

“Is she? Because when I asked her the other day, she said she’s single. I know we don’t know each other well, Bones, and I’ve heard you’re a good man, but something isn’t adding up here. She’s a nice girl, and I want to make sure she wants to be here with you.”

“You need to mind your own fucking bus?—”