Promised (The Promised Series)

rush out of the car and slam the door, hoping I did it fast enough that Shay won’t get a good look at the driver.
    Steeling myself, I make myself walk to the truck without looking back. Thankfully, Linc listens, which I can tell by the gravel being kicked up behind me as he spins out of the lot. I stop a few feet from Shay who’s leaning against the driver’s door with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s wearing his brown work boots, faded blue jeans that cling low on his hips, a white thermal shirt and his favorite brown leather jacket. A tempting package to some, but to me, not so much.
    His pale blue eyes meet mine and I have to stop myself from visibly shaking. My ability to fool him is what can save Linc and myself. “Who was that?”
    “A girl from school.” I throw a little sass in my voice. If I seem weak, he’ll know something’s up.
    “What were you doing with a Gorger?” He straightens himself and stalks closer to me.
    “I lost my school ID and thought I might have left it at the center. She offered to take me over to look. What are you doing here, anyways?” I’m hoping to flip the switch and make this about him being here for me, and not about me showing up late with an unknown Gorger.
    “Your brothers got tied up working and I offered to pick you up, seeing as I’m having dinner at your house tonight.” Fudge, I forgot about that arrangement.
    “We aren’t supposed to be alone.” I remind him.
    “Afraid to be alone with me?” He asks, arching one eyebrow.
    “You know the rules as well as I do, Shay Dawson.” I try to walk around him and head to the passenger side of the truck. He catches my arm and cages me in with his arms against the door he’d been leaning against.
    “I know the rules, but I think your father is going to let me break them a little, seeing as I’ve already slipped the ring on your finger.” He’s so close; I can smell the minty flavor from the gum he’s chewing.
    “And what rules do you think you’ll be breaking with me?” This time, I’m not able to keep the tremble out of my voice. I may see myself as strong, but I’m not a fool. And I know Shay can overpower me in this abandoned parking lot and there’d be no one to stop him. So I bide my time and try not to poke the testosterone driven teen boy who has me trapped.
    “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be saving that for the wedding night, but I’ve convinced him that we don’t need your brothers as our chaperones. He trusts me enough to know I don’t want to soil my bride before our big day.” He lifts one hand off the truck and strokes his fingers down the side of my neck.
    Pushing his hand away, I grumble. “Fine. No chaperones, but we need to get going. You know my mom and she’ll be ticked at both of us if we’re late for her dinner.”
    He presses his body closer to mine and whispers against my lips. “We’ll go, but first a little reminder.” He takes my lips in a rough kiss that steals my breath and not in a good way. I push at his chest and he finally gives in and steps away from me.
    “That wasn’t a girl in the car. Don’t ever lie to me again. And stay the fuck away from him or I’ll show him what happens when you fuck with what’s mine.” I stare at him dumbstruck. I messed us up so bad and now Linc is going to pay for it.
    “Shay.” I begin, trying to find a way to fix this.
    “Get in the truck, now. Like you said, we don’t want to piss your mom off.”
    Without another word, I scramble around the front of the truck and climb into the passenger seat. On the short drive to my parent’s house, I have to fight the urge to pull out my cell phone and warn Linc that we’ve been caught. But Shay isn’t stupid and he would know what I was doing, so I resist.
    As soon as the truck comes to a stop in the driveway, I hop out in a hurry to put some space between Shay and myself. He has other things in mind and anticipates my move because he’s out of the truck and catching me before I make it five feet towards the house.
    He turns me so I’m facing him, his arms looped around the small of my back. We’re so close that I’m forced to place my hands on his chest to steady myself. To an outside observer, it would look like two lovers embracing. But in reality, it’s my cage.
    “From here on out, you will be completely invested in our relationship. No more running away from me. You’ll throw yourself into the wedding plans with your mom. You’ll prepare yourself to be my