Free Dark Desire by Bec Botefuhr Page A

crushed, truly crushed. I grip my coat as I’m rushing out the door. Jagger calls out my name but I slam the door before he can reach me. I rush through the complex and out the gates. It’s dark and my vision is blurred from tears. Drown him? Dark? Is that how I come across? I know I’ve had a dark life, but I’ve always tried to be a kind, caring person towards others.
    I rush across the road and head for the beach, I need to breathe. When I hit the sand I bolt left, knowing Jagger will go right. He thinks I’ll go to the little cove I like, so I make sure to go in the opposite direction. I’m running across the sand with tears falling down my cheeks when I slam into a hard form. I fall backwards, landing on my ass with a cry.
    “Whoa there little lady, ”
    A hand reaches down and lifts me, and I feel my breathing cease for a moment when I look up at the man holding onto my arm. I can see him quite well under the light shining down from the sidewalk lamps. My eyes widen and my mouth opens slightly as I look into those familiar eyes. I’ve seen those eyes before; I’ve looked at them almost every day for the last two months.
    Sky blue , crystal clear and beautiful; they’re Jagger’s eyes, only they’re not on Jagger. I study the man’s face, taking in his chiseled jaw, his long, thick dark hair that’s pulled into a pony tail and his full lips. This man is Jagger’s father, without fail. I have never seen two men so alike before, the only difference is their age. The man holding me has an older face, but aside from that…it’s scarily similar.
    My heart quickens and I struggle away, trying to yank my arm free. Jagger has told me about his father and from what I know he isn’t a nice man. Not in any sense. He steadies me again, his fingers tightening on my arm. He’s studying my face closely and his features are soft and unfrightening, which scares me more.
    “Now Willow, calm down, I’m not here to hurt you.”
    “How do you know my name?” I cry.
    “I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are.”
    I scan his massive six foot frame. The man is huge; bulkier than Jagger. He would stop most women in their tracks with a build like that. He’s a very attractive man; I can see where Jagger got his breathtaking looks.
    “Please, I don’t want any trouble. I didn’t want any of this.”
    He smiles softly. “Willow beautiful, I’m not here to cause trouble. I was coming to see my son and in the next minute I was being bowled over by a very beautiful woman.”
    “I…I…didn’t bowl you over, ” I stammer.
    He laugh s and it’s a rich, rusty sound.
    “I don’t mind, I assure you A ngel.”
    Why is he calli ng me names like beautiful and Angel?
    “Don’t call me that. ” I whisper.
    “What will I call you?”
    “Willow!” I snap.
    “Willow, I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to see my son.”
    “I assure you he doesn’t want to see you.”
    “Whatever he told you, is true. I did bad things to him Willow, but that was a long time ago. I was an alcoholic; I went away and got help. I can’t make up what I did, but he needs to know it was never his fault. He can beat me if he wishes, but it has to be done.”
    My heart softens just a touch. I know sometimes life isn’t perfect and people get tangled up in messy shit. He outright admit ted to what he did and didn’t try to spin me a little lie, so maybe he is here for a good reason.
    “Tonight isn’t a good night, Maggie and Mary are over and it’s not going well.”
    He looks down at me, his blue gaze burning into mine. “My daughter is there too?”
    “Yes, but it’s not my place to take you back and just throw you in their faces.”
    “Fine, I understand. Tell them I’m here though, will you?”
    “Yes, I will.”
    He reaches out and strokes my cheek, causing me to stiffen.
    “Be careful running around out here alone, babe, bad people want you…”
    “Excuse me?” I whisper.
    He smiles, but it’s not charming