Page 99 of Perfect Liar

It was all just senseless. What was the point?

We didn’t yet have a clear shot to the car, so Thomas moved us into a brick alcove next to the store’s entrance and put my back against the wall, using his body to shield mine.

“I’ll get you to the car as soon as I can, Ellie.”

I gripped his arms and locked on to his eyes.

“Yes, okay. I know.”

Ben appeared close behind Thomas’s back.

“Thom, come on…follow me. Stay right on my heels.”

Thomas looped his thick arm tightly around my waist.

“I’m going to be holding on to you, Ellie. You must not let them separate us. No gaps between us. Understand?”

I wiped angrily at the stupid fucking tears running down my face and nodded.

He winked.

“Quite right. This is nothing at all.”

At three a.m., Will slipped into bed and pulled me into his arms.

I turned to him, putting us face-to-face, and we wove our arms and our legs together like the threads of a well-made tapestry. I buried my face at the base of his neck.

The city lights outside the windows gave him just enough light to see me. He twisted strands of my hair around his finger. Exhaustion was clear in his voice.

“There’s a beautiful blonde in my bed.”

I pressed my mouth against his warm skin, and a secret smile curved my lips.

“And she’s mine,” he added.

“How did you know it was me?” I teased.

He cupped my chin, pushed my head back, and inhaled against my throat.

“As beautiful as you are, I know you by your scent alone.”

“Will, that’s a little creepy, you know.”

He inhaled again and moaned.

I dragged my fingers over his jawline, through his beard. He hadn’t trimmed it, so it was longer than his usual scruff.

“You seem really tired…sweet dreams.”

He let out a small grumble as we joined our lips and closed our eyes.

“Baby, I was lost before you came home to me…lost…destructive…”

His vulnerable whisper faded, and we quickly fell asleep.

But just five hours later, rain pounded against the windows and woke me.

And he was gone again.