I let out another yawn. “You need sleep.” Marco rises with me in his arms.

“You know I can walk, right?”

“Not chancing it.” He carries me out of the party and down the stairs. He doesn’t stop until we’re at his truck. He opens the door and places me gently inside. The way he’s handling me, you’d think I was made of glass. Then he goes and puts my seatbelt on.

Who the hell is this man? I watch him round the front of the truck in a jog. “It will warm up fast.” He grabs a coat from his back seat and places it over my lap to keep me warm after he starts up the truck.

“The drive isn’t far.” I lean my head back. My eyes are heavy from all the crying. I let them fall closed, having no clue Marco isn’t taking me home. Not to my own at least.

5

Marco

I can’t help but to keep glancing over at her, making sure she’s still there. So many times I’ve imagined what it would be like to have her in my space. Even now, her sweet smell fills the interior of my truck. How long have I wondered what she smelled like? Three years. My mouth waters wanting to know what she tastes like too.

This is not how I thought this night was going to go. I wasn’t sure if I’d bid and leave knowing no one else got her. That was the idea I had in my mind, but if that had been the case, I wouldn’t have lingered. I wanted my time with her. I way underpaid for what I actually got. The deal was a couple hours of a date, but now I’ve got her in my truck. I’m almost to my cabin. The snow is starting to come down hard.

We could get trapped out here for a few days. I could live out here for a year if need be, if not longer, without having to go into town. I’m always prepared. I have access to a natural spring and generators if need be. The barn I built with my bare hands two years ago is back away from my cabin out of sight and is fully stocked. Unfortunately, I don’t think Eve is going to let me keep her locked away for a year, but at least I have tonight.

I pull my truck up as close to my front door as possible. It’s cold, and Eve’s fair skin turns red quickly, I've noticed. Silently I slip from the truck and make my way to the house. I unlock and disarm my alarm.

“Komne.” I call to my dog Snow to come. Snow lies in waiting until I give him a signal to move even if he can smell me coming. He stays hidden in the shadows as a second layer of protection to the home. He sniffs at me, and I know he can smell Eve.