Guarded Desires

way from the city. Luke's eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, his jaw clenched in a tension that Amelia could feel even f

he silence. His voice was low, steady, but there was an edge of urgency u

window as if expecting to see someone tailing them. "But where else can we go? If my father's really behin

wheel. "We need to go somewhere no one

ve any pla

r of something unreadable passing over his face. "I have

Amelia aske

nd hike the rest of the way on foot. It's

"safe" to her, but at the same time, she knew Luke was right. They neede

said, finally

w, watching the trees grow denser, the roads narrower. She wasn't used to being so far from civilization. Even in her college days, when things got tough, she always had

ll clearing, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and a

to her. "This is where we park. We

in surprise. "W

ic smile. "The rest of the way

ated groan. "Are you serious? After everything we'v

n't exactly plan for this wh

ding the trek ahead. But she grabbed her

ly over fallen leaves and underbrush. The moon provided some light, but it was faint, and the path was un

to wear thin. "Luke," she called out, stopp

der, though she could tell by his tone h

e said, her frustration bubbling over.

ng in the moonlight. "You're doing fine, Amelia. I know i

cool night air. "Easy for you to say," sh

oving to her waist in one smooth motion. Without warning, h

oing?" she exclaimed, he

ul despite the seriousness of their situation. "You s

ver his shoulder, she couldn't help but notice just how strong he was. She felt the ripple of his muscles beneat

cing these things-not now, not when everything was spiraling out of control. But it

at the edge of a small stream. The water trickled softly over smooth stones

re," Luke said, se

humidity and exertion, and her muscles ached from the long hike. She stepped toward th

ng her from the corner of his eye. His gaze flickered over her

the curve of her shoulders. She wasn't overly conscious of her body on most days, but somethin

ilt like a soldier, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his muscles defined and lean. But what caught her attention now were the scars. She hadn

. "Occupational hazards," he said quietly, ges

at suddenly dry. "Doesn't

expression unreadab

ed. But despite the wounds, his body was impressive-a testament to the strength he carried, both physical and emotional.

in her mind. It was a dangerous feeling, she knew that much. Luke was dangerous-not just because of the world they were tangled in,

eminded herself, was a l

sense of something unspoken hung between them,