Chapter Forty-One

Mallory

It’s almost midnight and still no sign of Nox. I texted him earlier, it was just a kiss face icon, but still no reply. I was trying to lighten the mood after all that happened today. I guess it didn’t land. I mean… How could it? He’s dealing with a brutal murder. Honestly, I’m just hoping he’s okay, waves of fear have threatened to pull me under multiple times today. I worked through part of my break to make up for the time I was late this morning. With the few remaining minutes I had, I scarfed down a bagel and read up on all I could about the most recent Henderson Mill murders. I already know just about every possible detail there is available about the eradication that happened there and at my house decades ago.

Since my perusing this morning, I feel like I’m being watched. That same tingling awareness I felt in the department store parking lot, right before Nox showed up. I know he isn’t around this time though. I always check but no one is ever there. I’ve probably gone and freaked myself out after brushing up on the current events, but I can’t shake the unsettling feeling.

I emerge from behind the bar with a tray of beers and a platter for the group of regulars that always come in for darts and wings. They whoop when they see me coming with their food and drinks, instantly elevating my mood with their friendly and welcoming personalities. Never once has this group of middle aged men been rude or inappropriate with me and it settles my nerves. I throw a few darts with them while they pick at their food and tell me some of the latest town gossip they apparently don’t give a damn about. Gazing up at the clock hanging above the main entrance, I frown. The hours have whittled away and now there’s only six minutes until I’m off. I start to clean up and go to clock out at the computer.

“Are you ready to go, gorgeous?” I spin at the voice, and there’s Nox. He's sitting casually at the bar, looking hot as sin dressed in all black with a leather jacket, and slicked back hair. Lock it down, Mallory, he isn’t going to fuck you. But, why not?!

“Almost, I just have to grab my stuff.”

“I’ll be waiting.” He winks and I think I’m having heart palpitations. I scurry off and have to try three times to open my lock because my brain is glitching out. I shove everything into my bag, slam the locker closed, and click the lock. I practically sprint out of the back room and collide with another body. A whistling crack cuts through the heavy silence then I’m immediately swamped by the unpleasant aroma of body odour. Embarrassment mixes with fear as I realize this isn’t Nox that I’ve bumped into. It’s a stranger and my hackles raise.

“I’m so sorry, I was in a rush and not paying attention to where I was going. Are you okay?” I ask.

Blue eyes bore under my skin and again, I have that unsettled feeling. Something presses into my sternum and pushes me back from him. I glance down and see a police baton resting firmly against my exposed flesh.

“No harm, no foul, darlin’.” His voice is raspy, making him seem older than his appearance. It's almost like they don’t match? I don’t know how to describe it, but it's unsettling. My eyes scan the imposing man in front of me. He isn’t intimidating in size but in the presence he exudes. His gaze locked onto the spot where his weapon meets my skin. The awkward silence is deafening until I finally register what it is I’m looking at. It's another cop. The Crystal Creek Police Department badge is staring me right in the face. I force myself to relax, this man works with Nox. I wonder if they’re partners and that’s why he’s here.

“Thanks, well, have a good night,” I say. He lifts the metal from my chest and tips his Policeman’s hat at me. I move out from under the baton and watch as he turns, making his way down the hall, nightstick swaying at his side as he disappears around the corner. Odd, maybe I just don’t like any man except Ghost or Nox. Maybe I need to get over my trauma so I’m not scared of every male on the planet.

I turn the corner and make my way back towards the restaurant when a cat call whistle cuts through the silence. I snap my head up and see Nox standing by the main doors, looking like the typical bad boy right out of one of my dark romance novels. It’s so very hard not to stare. I eat him up with my eyes and I know he loves it. His eyes darken as I approach him. “If you keep looking at me like that, we won’t make it out of this hotel.”

“That’s completely fine with me,” I smirk.

“Mallory, behave,” he growls. Nox opens the door for me and his warm palm smacks me on the ass as I walk past him.

“But being bad is so much more fun. Tell me, Nox, will you cuff me if I’m naughty?” I taunt. He glowers at me and as soon as I spot his truck, I take off running.

It’s a short distance across the lot but I didn’t expect to beat him to the vehicle. I wait a few seconds and he doesn’t come crashing into me. I turn and inspect the dark parking lot. Taking a few cautious steps away from the truck, “Nox?” I call out.

The truck beeps twice from behind me. Did he just lock me out of the vehicle? I spin back and pull on the handle. Fuck.

I’ve really done it this time. I’ve pissed off my ride home. I don’t see my car in the lot. I expect there to be a lot wrong with it since it’s been neglected the entire time it’s been in my family. I stand there in the darkness, listening for any trace of where Nox could be, but nothing comes. I’m so freaked out, it feels like something is touching my leg. I look but there’s nothing there. Chills overcome my body and I drop my purse next to my feet in favour of putting on my sweater. I know what I’ll do, I’ll call him. That will give him away, right? I reach down to retrieve my bag, but it’s disappeared. What in the holy hell is happening? I get down on my hands and knees to see if I accidentally kicked it under the truck somehow. I bend and peer into the shadows, but it’s nowhere to be seen. I rise and brush the dirt from my knees when something latches onto my ankle. I scream until my throat hurts and I swear I’m going to faint from lack of oxygen. I collapse to the ground and try to unhook myself from whatever is clasped onto me like a vice. It's a fucking hand. Oh. My. God.

“Nox! NOX! HELP!” I scream. Ruckus laughter flows from beneath the truck and I pause. No.

“Gotcha, baby,” he says through a chuckle.

“Are you fucking kidding me! I almost passed away from heart failure!” I shriek.

“You started it.” He rolls out from beneath the vehicle and his golden emerald eyes lock with mine. He’s so pleased with himself, happy and light in this moment after what I can only imagine has been a horrible day. Standing, he extends a hand, offering to help me up. I take it and he pulls me with so much strength, I crash into him. Fuck, he takes my breath away. “Are you ready to go home?” I nod and then hear the doors unlock. He opens the door for me, like a true gentleman, and I climb up. Our travel mugs from this morning are still in the cup holders and the memory sends warmth travelling through my veins.

He looks over to me from the driver's seat, “Sorry I scared you.”

“No you’re not,” I snip.

“No, I’m not. Your face was priceless.” He makes fun of my dramatic screaming face and I can’t help but laugh.

“Such a jerk,” I mumble to myself, but I know he hears it.

“I’m your fucking jerk. Now kiss me, before I change my mind.”

“No.”

“Going once,” he taunts.

“Going twice…” he threatens. If I kiss him now I don’t think I’ll be able to stop. I’ve barely recovered from him turning me down last night.

“You’re really going to leave me hanging?” he pouts. That damn face. It melts the icy exterior I’m trying to project.

“I've got to play hard to get sometimes, it keeps things interesting,” I counter.

“Going three times…” He drags out the last word as I start to lean in, eating up eighty percent of the distance between us. If he wants that kiss as bad as I think he does, he’ll move the last few inches. He’s so caught up in the movement of my body crawling over the seat towards him, he doesn’t even realize he’s moving closer to me too. Hook, line, and sinker.

I stop and his lips push into mine. I’ve won but I don’t care as he whispers against my skin, “Fuck, I missed you.” Butterflies. Butterflies everywhere. Everything tingles, my entire body is a live wire. He kisses me again, softly. It’s full of passion and unspoken feelings. I’m ready to strip him naked and show him just how much I missed him with my mouth. I’ve never been so sexually satisfied and starved at the same time. It’s legitimate torture. Nox pulls back and turns the key in the ignition. He takes a longing look at me and I’m hot all over.

“I missed you too,” I verify.

“Hope so.” He smiles and throws me a wink before pulling out of the parking lot and making our way back to my house.