Page 193 of Wallflower

“Excuse me?” I snap.

“If a man you didn’t know entered your room, threatening you and your sister, you’d handle it. Or at least scream. Wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe I’m processing,” I fumble, because he’s not wrong.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that you’reprocessing, but it’s not how to get me out of the room without issue.” His hand raises slowly, fiddling with the tie on my bathrobe, before fisting it and yanking me close. My hands shoot up, gripping onto his muscled arms. He’s something solid to cling to as I fall through multiple levels of memories.

Ripley leans down, brushing his nose softly against mine as he breathes me in. My nipples fucking ache, and I hold my breath, hanging on his every word. Rip’s lips graze across my cheek, and my nails dig into his biceps, toes threatening to curl at the sexual tension he’s weaving. His hot mouth feathers over the shell of my ear as he whispers, “It’s how to get me on my knees for you when your sister’s within earshot.”

Breath stutters from between my lips as his eyes travel back to mine. “Rip,” I whisper, though it sounds more like a desperate moan.

He gifts me another soul-wrecking smile, and I move to taste it, taste the crimson welling at the cut.

He shoves me back onto the bed, eyes never leaving mine as he peels off the t-shirt adorning his muscular frame.

“I knew you remembered me,” he growls, following me down onto the fluffy comforter.

I barely register his words, too worried that he’s injured because of the blood painted across his chest. “Are you h?—”

Ripley’s lips slam down on mine, cutting off my concern and stealing my breath.

“Run away with me,” he says between urgent kisses. It’s like he can’t get enough, like he’d crawl inside me and live there if it was possible. Little does he know I feel him there, deep within the marrow of my bones.

I’ll never be without him.

“Please.” His words are desperate, hopeful. But how can I leave? “Come with me.”

“I c-can’t,” I eek out between our moving lips.

“Don’t say that, flower. Give us a chance.”

“How?” I ask, pulling away from him slightly.

A devious look flicks across his face. “There’s nothing stopping you.”

“What do you mean? How can I just leave? What about Maximus?” I whisper-hiss.

“I’ll kill him the second you’re safe.”

“What about the plan?” We talk like we aren’t strangers at all. I guess, technically, we aren’t. Not really. I’ve lived a whole other life with him somehow.

“Fuck the plan, you’re all that matters.”

Any objections I was fumbling for dissolve as I melt for him.

But I can’t let him think I gave up that easy. “What about Chelsea? Sam and Brad are still out there…my parents too.”

Ripley shakes his head, shaggy hair swaying in front of his eyes, tickling my cheeks. “No, they’re not.”

I observe him, deeply. Knowing him better than he knows himself, I assume he took matters into his own hands. “Did you do another bad thing?”

A deep laugh chuffs from his chest. “I did many bad things, and regret none of them.”

His lips meet mine, soft and pleading.

“I’ll ensure your sister’s safety, send her home with a full guard team if I have to. Just…run with me.”

One month later