Page 125 of Once Upon a Fable

“Hey!” I darted forward. “Be gentle with that.”

“You won’t be needing it.” Elbowing me away, he scooped up the rest of the chocolate, candy, packet pastas, and water bottles and stuffed them into the bag. With a glower, he hoisted the stash onto his bare shoulders, fisted the rope keeping me prisoner, then dragged me away from my Jeep.

Away from my freedom.

Away from any hope of seeing my family and house again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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WHAT THE FUCK HAD I been thinking?

Touching her while she was asleep?

Allowing myself to kiss her? Permitting that gooey, fluttery feeling to infect my chest?

The minute she’d fallen asleep, all my hate and hurting had vanished.

I’d frozen in disbelief that she’d willingly fallen unconscious in my presence.

Me?

The guy who’d trapped her, used her, and promised a lifetime of ownership.

Not even my Fable family had been so trusting with each other.

Her vulnerability carved giant holes inside my heart. I’d felt...protective toward her. My entire purpose on earth was no longer about me, but her. My job was to shelter her during the night, safeguard her from monsters, and ensure she remained safe, warm, and comforted.

Christ, could I be any more of an idiot!

Stalking ahead, I tugged the rope binding her to me.

For the past five hours, we hadn’t said a word to one another. We’d trekked through the still damp forest, following the trail that we’d run the night before.

It seemed we were both content to ignore one another.

I didn’t look back.

I couldn’t look back.

If I looked at her again, I’d suffer the same agonizing sensation in mygut of spilling secrets she would never be worthy of.

I wanted her to ask more questions. I wanted—

You don’t have a clue what you want.

You buried that part of yourself years ago.

The sun beat down on us, burning my bare chest and making her moan of heatstroke behind me. Occasionally, I’d stop and throw her a bottle of water and a chocolate bar, but apart from that interaction, I’d put a solid brick wall between us.

When we returned to Fables, she was going back to the basement.

She would be allowed out during the day to help me gather supplies for winter, but she would stay in the dark at night. She would learn her place.

She will accept that whatever happened between us last night was a mistake and one that will never be repeated.

When I took her again, it would be on my terms. My rules.