they were didn't bother hiding their approach. Their heavy st

ulated. He melted into the shadows near

lutched so tightly around the seat's edge that her knuckles turned whit

ures of three large men. They stepped in without invitat

," Alex's voice rang out lo

're looking for a girl. Small, blonde. So

fits that d

d forward. "Mind if w

he dark, the barrel of his gun alr

s all i

reached for hi

x f

out a scream when Alex covered her mouth tightly wi

shots again int

Alex met him halfway. Fists collided. Millie ducked instincti

of a second gun cocking. Alex kicked it away before the ma

an, seeing both of his partners dead, made to escape.

s, his chest heaving and h

n," he growled, "and you

took a few steps away f

llet through the man's back a

t-gently, but with urgency-and

o follow you around" he said as he drove spee

ear at the sound of gunshots. H

out anything else about her. He put h

e at ease with

*

past the windows. Millie stared straight ahead, hugging

ons. But none of them

dside motel. The neon sign above blinked erratically, cas

oom key and a deep sc

blinked

he muttered, holding

*

A tiny table. A bathroom with flickering lights

at the door. "I'll

can share," she said before she could sto

e tossed his bag onto the corner of the

in was dull now-replaced by something stranger. This man... this complete stranger... had

tried hard not to stare. His chest was sculpted, marked with scars and a few tattoos she c

er. You'll sleep

tter than anything she'd felt in days. She scrubbed away the grime and blood, but no am

wel and her torn tights, Alex had already tak

ed the space

n," he began, his voice measured. "It's run

th a mix of fear and disappointment. "I do

eeting her eyes. "Milli

ds as if speaking its

took a deep breath.

x looked away, his jaw tightening. The silence stret

n, Millie felt a sting of embarrassm

er eyes when she felt a tender h

lli

otionally. Without thinking, she leaned in, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was

his usual stoicism, he cupped her face and kissed her back. This time, the kiss deepe

body. She wrapped her arm around his neck as Alex rocked the bed, making love to her more wildly. She loved

ightened as he contin

ree in his