After The Dark. Cynthia Eden

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СКАЧАТЬ and tasted him.

      If possible, his gaze went even brighter. Be careful. The warning whispered through her mind. You’re about to go too far.

      “I need to talk to you about Latham.” His breath rushed out on a low hiss. “And this time, I don’t want you holding back with me.”

      Oh, hell.

      * * *

      TAMMY WASN’T FIGHTING any longer. A few jabs of his blade and she’d started cooperating quickly. Begging, promising him anything.

      Before he was done, he’d take everything from her.

      After he’d transported her, he’d tied her up, secured her easily, but now her blood was making a pool beneath her body. A gag was shoved in her mouth—just in case she got the urge to scream—and she stared up at him with wide, desperate eyes. The light from his lantern shone on her, illuminating her terror in just the right way...while letting him blend with the shadows around them.

      Does she know there’s no hope? Or does she still think there is a way out?

      He held up her phone in front of her face and snapped a quick picture. “Perfect.” He’d taken the phone—and her bag—when he grabbed her in the parking garage.

      A low moan came from behind the gag. He lifted up the phone, studying the image. “Not too bad, but I don’t know if this angle really is your best. Let’s try again.” Another shot. Another bloody picture. “Much better.” He smiled at her. “You know, I’m really glad I took a few hours to learn my way around your town earlier.” Now he nodded. “Always get the lay of the land, that’s step one. You have to know where to hide. You have to know how to escape. I mean, otherwise, aren’t you just a sitting duck, waiting for the authorities to come?”

      Her eyelids had flickered when he said “authorities.” Oh, that was cute. She did still have hope. “I’m good on the water,” he murmured. “So that helped me. You pay a guy thirty bucks, and you can rent a boat down here for two hours. Gave me time to study your city from land and sea.” Then he’d just gone in and set his plan into motion.

      Step one. Find Samantha Dark.

      Step two. Learn the city.

      Step three. Use the right bait. He thought he was staring at the best bait he’d ever seen. He reached into her purse. “Now, if I know those true-blue FBI types, they generally want to give witnesses their card for contacting later...you know, in case you remember any of those pertinent details they love so much.” He found the business card in her bag. He lifted it up, smiling when he saw the handwritten number on the back. So incredibly helpful. “They just make it too easy.”

      He’d be calling that number, soon enough. But first, he had to get the stage set just right. The perfect location. The perfect distraction.

      And my bait has to be safe.

      He put the card into his pocket and picked up his knife.

      She whimpered, a scared, pain-filled sound.

      Oh, but he did like that sound. His thumb slid along the blade of his knife. Maybe he did have time to play just a bit more.

      * * *

      HE NEEDED TO get his control back, and he needed to get it back now.

      Blake exhaled slowly as he crossed the threshold and entered Samantha’s home. She’d retreated a bit as she stared at him with wide eyes. He shut the door behind him, aware that the tension in his body was just thickening.

      He was rock fucking hard for her. He wanted to pull her into his arms again. Kiss her, taste her...strip her.

      Have her.

      But he knew he was supposed to play things carefully between them. Samantha was important. He’d spent months without her. And if he was finally going to have her back...

      Then they needed to clear the air between them. He had to know just what she was facing.

      And Samantha needed to know just who he truly was.

      “I wanted you from the moment we met.”

      She stood with her back to the picture window. Her arms were crossed over her chest. At his words, her lips parted.

      “You’ve been in my head for months. A ghost, haunting me.” Driving him to the edge. “I can’t do it any longer.”

      Her hair slid over her face as she shook her head. “Do what?”

      He closed the distance between them. His hand lifted, and his fingers curled under her chin. “Play the good-guy role.” A man could only pretend for so long. Then his true colors would start to show.

      “You are good, Blake.” She gave a little laugh, one that held the faintest edge of desperation. “I’m not wrong about that.” Her long lashes lowered, shielding her gaze. “I can’t be wrong about you.”

      Because of Latham. His jaw locked, but he didn’t stop touching her. He couldn’t. “Did you love him?”

      That question had her lashes flying up. She stared at him, that beautiful gaze of hers stark.

      “I want to know.”

      As he waited for her answer, jealousy coiled within him. Dark and twisting. That jealousy had always been there where Latham was concerned. From the moment they’d met, the guy had rubbed Blake the wrong way. Because we both wanted her.

      “No, I didn’t love him...at least, not the way a lover is supposed to. We were far better friends than lovers.” Then she gave another bitter laugh. “Though I guess we weren’t very good at that, either.”

      He was about to grind his teeth to dust, but he kept his touch gentle on her. Samantha and Latham. Lovers. That damn image had tormented him too many times. But soon enough, he’d have Samantha. Blake would have her in his bed. And when he did, he’d banish the memory of Latham from her mind.

      Before he could speak again, Samantha had pulled away from him. “There are things you don’t understand about me. Things that—”

      “That he did?”

      Her head snapped toward him.

      Dial back the jealousy. “You think I can’t handle your secrets, Samantha? You think he could?”

      “He didn’t mind my darkness.” Her gaze skittered to the picture window. “I guess it makes sense now, doesn’t it? He liked that part of me. The part that lets me see into a killer’s head so easily. The part that thinks about murder and death. He was drawn to all of that because he was the same way.”

      “You are not the same.” She needed to see that. “I don’t care what crap Latham fed you. You aren’t.”

      “He was my first lover.”

      Every muscle in his body locked down.

      “He told me I was perfect, inside and out, and after years of hiding the truth about myself from the world, it was nice to have СКАЧАТЬ