The room was silent, but he felt he could hear her heartbeat. It was so strong, so intoxicating.
But he stopped himself there. He had to. He couldn't give into temptation, not yet. It was too soon. He had to earn her first. And she had to earn him.
"Don't worry, my love," he said, letting her go. "Our time will come soon. Just you wait..."
With that, he got up and left the room, making sure each lock was secured shut on his way out.
He returned to his own room and sighed, pressing his back to the door.
He was proud of himself for being so strong. He smiled and continued to watch the screen, a smile on his face as he watched her sleep.
"I'm so proud of you," he said softly. "So proud."
He picked up the large red marker off his desk and went to the calendar, marking off another day done, another day closer to their big day. He grinned, feeling warm.
Only a few more days, and she would be his forever.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Nicky pressed her foot on the gas pedal, the engine roaring as the car rapidly gained speed. The road was straight and the pavement was smooth, the tires gripping the asphalt. Beside her in the passenger seat, Ken was silently reviewing Sarah Mills's file.
They hadn't talked about last night, and Nicky had no intentions of bringing it up. It was awkward as hell. The whole morning, they'd been quietly tiptoeing around each other, but the weight of it all hung in the air. Nicky just wanted to focus on her job, and not think about how she'd lost herself in her panic. She didn’t want to think about how Ken’s hand on her shoulder had made her feel safe, or how in the dead of night, they’d opened their hearts to each other, just a little.
They were on their way to Sarah Mills's husband's house. Well, according to the file, it was more like a trailer. But it was a bit of a drive out.
"I still can't believe those idiots," Nicky said to fill the silence. Ken glanced over at her, so she continued. "The negligence of it all. Not properly reporting this case. If it is related to Meghan, it could change everything."
"I don't expect much more from cops like that," Ken said. "They probably just wanted to close the case and move on."
"But Sarah Mills was never found," Nicky said. "Why even become a cop if you don't want to save lives?"
"Maybe they're just in it for the paycheck."
"And the pension?"
Ken shrugged.
"It's a good thing we're here to fix that," Nicky said. "Let's hope she's still alive."
Ken sighed. "You really think she is?"
"We'll find out soon enough."
The car lurched and bounced over the terrain as Nicky drove, following the GPS's directions. The dirt road was rough, poorly maintained. The car's tires crunched over the gravel as it made its way through the forest. The trees were tall and green, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled the road with a warm glow.
When it said to turn left, Nicky slowed the car down and looked both ways. The road was bumpy and narrow, and she could see the trees on both sides of it. A canopy of branches blocked out the sun, turning the air gray and cold.
"This is the address?" Ken asked skeptically.
"That's what it says..."
Beneath the wheels of the car, Nicky could feel the ground getting mushier and wetter. It was like they were driving right into a swamp.
"You sure we're on the right road, Lyons?" Ken asked.
Nicky was focused on trying to keep the steering wheel straight, but she felt herself losing control. "Yes, Walker, this is the right road," she said, irritated.
The trees crowded closer, their branches snaking across the road until Nicky couldn't see anything but leaves on either side.