Sierra

M y hands quake as I bring them closer to his handsome face. It's too dark to really see him but with the small amount of light I can see the way my tears hit his cheek and slowly get lost in the small strands of his beard. My body shakes uncontrollably at just the thought of having hurt him. I can feel the warmth of his cheek before my fingers meet his defined jaw. I let out a gasp as the movement of his hand leaves me immobile. The pits of my stomach flutter and all of a sudden, his hand is wrapped around my throat in a tightening hold. I swallow against his palm but his hold on me tightens a little more as he moves me closer to his face until I'm so close that I can practically feel the sharp edges of his beard on my cheek. His obsidian eyes dance between mine while his strong musky masculine scent engulfs me.

"Did you think a little bullet would keep me away from what's mine?" He scowls, grabbing one end of his white dress shirt and opens it enough to reveal a bullet proof vest. He lifts his head slightly, and sticks his warm wet tongue out as he licks the tears that had fallen from my skin.

He hums his approval of my cries when he crashes his lips against mine. I open for him, instantly relieved that he's alive, and that he's here. My toes curl as he slides his tongue against the seam of my lips., the saltiness of my tears mixing with the taste of Julian. Our kiss is hungry as though we were both dying of starvation from being away from one another. His warm mouth against mine swallows the moans that escape my lips. He slowly pulls away as I lean into him trying to connect our lips once more even if it means choking myself against his grip.

"I think you need to be taught a lesson, little Mu?eca. So, this is what's going to happen. You're going to run and I'm going to hunt you down. And when I catch you, I'll make sure you understand that you're mine," he says, bringing his lips mere inches from my own. His grip around my throat tightens as he mends our lips together lighting the fire that burns between us.

The unspoken words of our kiss blend with the intensity and aggression of his movements and when he releases his hold on me, I can't help but whimper at the loss.

"I'll give you a head start. Run, bruja," he whispers as his lip curls into a sinister smirk. Every part of my body heats with adrenaline, anger, and lust. The anticipation of him catching me, the unknown has my cunt soaking at the possibilities. I rapidly stand up from where he had me trapped in his orbit and walk towards the door leaving him lying there on his back as he leans back on his elbows. I can feel him watching me as I walk away, the only pieces of my beating heart remain on that hotel floor long after I sprint to my car.

Turning my jeep on, I back out of my spot as fast as I possibly can, while I'm sure I leave tire marks on the road as I pull out of the parking lot. I ended up leaving so flustered and completely breathless that I didn't have a chance to grab my phone.

I'm not entirely sure what to do now other than continuing on my quest to find out what the hell is wrong with me. If he hadn't been wearing a vest, he would have been dead and it would have been my fault. I would have never been able to live with myself. Losing him would have dragged me further down the path to hell and I know he's not mine, but at least he's alive and here. Not only that, but what would have I told Catalina? I would have lost her the same way I would when she finds out who I am. Even now I don't know who I am. I have no choice but to run, but California is the only home I've ever known.

I swallow back the tears that threaten to slam through me. I continue my drive, not letting the sun slowly peering through the horizon stop me. I'll need to stop at a store and get a new phone, and contact Ry to get that app. I'll have to embrace who I've chosen to be until Catalina returns, and then I'll face her and tell her who I am. I'll beg for forgiveness if I have to or turn myself in. I have about five weeks before she's back from her honeymoon, five weeks and then she'll be gone again and I'll be working on living alone without my best friend by my side.

And maybe that's just what I deserve for the sins I've committed, no matter how justified they are.