Ahead of the Darkness Read Online Free Page B

eyes widened and my hand flew to cover my mouth. He almost doubled over with laughter.
    “Did ye just say fuck, in French? And to think I thought ye were all prim and proper like.” He mock shook his head at my profanity.
    “Bloody hell. Can you stop laughing at me for five minutes and help me up. LIKE.”
    “Aye, dinnae get ye knickers in a wad, I’ll get ye from behind.” I couldn’t help the giggle-snort that came out at the comment. Stupid drunk brain.
    I could almost hear the smirk on his face as he slowly put his hands around my waist. He leant in, his rich scent making me dizzier, his warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered, “Don’t put pressure on the ankle. I’ve got you.” And he did.
    His strong hands around my waist lifted me up, surprising me at how effortless it felt as he manoeuvred me on to my good foot.
    “Now, I’m going to call ye a taxi. Ye do live near here, aye?”
    “Yes, but I don’t know the address. It’s on my dead phone.” I showed him the proof of that statement.
    “Aye, what am I to do with ye?”
    “Leave me in the gutter?” I giggled drunkenly, forgetting again not to put pressure on my damaged foot. I staggered back into his chest— his very hard, warm chest.
    “I cannae do that, love. So here’s what ye gonna do. I’m gonna take ye to my place, and we’ll charge ye phone up, turn her on and call ye a taxi. What say ye? I promise nae to molest ye.”
    “I...”
    I looked around and realised we were mostly alone, with only a few possible crazies lurking on the dark streets. With a busted foot, I wasn’t likely to get too far or go too fast. I didn’t really have much of an option, seeing as my alcohol-drowned brain couldn’t remember where I bloody lived.
    “Is it far...?”
    “Nae, it's only a block away, but I’ll help ye walk. Or carry ye, if I must. Ye dinnae look that heavy like.”
    I had to snort at that. I had meat and a fair amount of muscle at 5’8” wasn’t that small, but my already messy head would not have handled him carrying me for any length of time.
    “I’ll risk it and walk...thanks. You don’t look that strong. The last thing I need is for you to drop me on my drunken head. Somehow, I doubt that will help me remember where I live.”
    He laughed, presumably at my stupidity, while shifting to my right side, never taking his left arm off me, as if I were made of glass and would break. He lifted my right arm over his shoulder and placed my hand around his neck, rendering him my personal crutch. I looked up at him, slightly confused as to how this would work logistically with the height difference.
    “Walk with yer left leg and I will support your right, aye. Just put all your weight on me.”
    “O...kay”
    I stepped forward with my left and leaned into him with most of my weight as I moved my right foot, trying to put as little pressure on it as I could but it was still too much, and before I could steal myself off from the pain he noticed my wince. In a spit second he had swivelled me around behind him, ducked down and grabbed behind my knees and hoisted me up onto his back, only knocking my foot once. I squealed and flung my arms tightly around his neck.
    “Aye, love, dinnae choke me. I nae gonna drop ye. I got ye.” And he did.

Chapter Three
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    T he intense aroma of coffee woke me from a rare, dreamless sleep. I stretched and immediately closed my eyes against the throbbing in my head. I buried my face in the pillow. A subtle manly smell washed over me. I breathed it in deeply, then bolted up right. The earth-shattering head spin that came with moving so fast made me moan.
    “Aye, Sleeping Beauty stirs. Do ye want some coffee?”
    A slightly familiar voice yelled from somewhere on the other side of the door, and I noticed the soft hum of music. Gym/bar guy?? I looked down and found myself tangled on a massive, black-suede king bed, completely naked. Ah, merde! I quickly pulled the sheet to my chin and