“Like I said before, I’m just glad that I was there. Now, I am sure you need some sleep, and you are more than welcome to stay here, especially considering you are already in bed,” I told her, and she grinned up at me. “Tomorrow, we will see if we can find your car. Is there anything else that you need?” I asked her.
A blush filled her cheeks, and it was adorable, but I could tell that she was embarrassed. Maybe she needed to go to the bathroom and was embarrassed at my having to help her. She definitely was not getting around with that swollen ankle. She lowered her eyes to the bed.
“Um…I haven’t eaten anything today except a couple granola bars. I’m starving,” she finally admitted in a quiet voice. I smiled at her hesitation.
“Food is definitely something that I can help you with. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right back,” I told her as I stood from the bed.
Making my way to the kitchen, I really wished that I had something more extravagant to make for her, but if she were that hungry, she would probably be grateful for the sandwich I was making. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I headed back to the bedroom.
Once I helped her sit up against the headboard, I set the plate in her lap. Then I sat down on the edge of the bed beside her once again. She dove into the food greedily, and I was glad that she was not acting timid or shy around me. I wanted her to be comfortable. Adjusting the ice on her ankle, I felt her flinch.
“Sorry. Let me get you some ibuprofen. Hopefully, that will make it easier to sleep,” I told her.
When I came back from the bathroom, I took my seat again beside her on the edge of the bed. I dumped out two pills and handed them to her, and she downed them with a drink of water.
“So, you said you are on vacation. What made you decide to come to Arizona? Do you have family or friends here?” I asked her, curious to find out more about her. She shook her head.
“Honestly, I’ve never taken a vacation since living at home with my parents. I broke up with my cheating boyfriend a few months ago and realized that I needed a break. A change of scenery, you know? I did some research on several different places and ended up deciding on Tucson,” she explained, then took another bite of the sandwich.
Her face had filled with heat at the mention of her ex-boyfriend, and again, I thought it was adorable. Everything about her was adorable. I watched her as she took another bite of the sandwich.
“What was it about Tucson that made you decide to come here?” I asked, leaning back and crossing my arms. I wanted her to be more specific. I wanted to find out what had driven her to come here of all places. Curiosity had made me ask.
“Well, the mountains. That’s why day one of my vacation I ended up there. The hike was peaceful and invigorating. I’ve always enjoyed hiking, and Kansas City doesn’t exactly have mountains,” she replied, and I laughed.
“Kansas or Missouri?” I asked next, and she quickly looked back up at me in surprise.
“I’m impressed. No one ever realizes that there is a Kansas City in Kansas as well. Everyone just assumes Missouri. I’ve actually lived in both, but currently, I live in a suburb on the Missouri side,” she replied. “My parents live there too. Oh shit! My parents!” she exclaimed in alarm.
“Can you hand me my bag?” she asked anxiously, and I lifted it from the floor and set it beside her on the bed. “Mom’s going to kill me,” she said in what sounded like exasperation. I think I even saw an eyeroll.
Grabbing her cellphone from the bag, she placed a call and held the phone to her ear. I could hear a frantic voice on the other end and decided to give her some privacy. Stepping from the room, I left the door open. I had not intended to eavesdrop, but I was fascinated by the woman who was currently in my bed.
“Mom, no, I’m fine. I just didn’t have service for a few hours…I promise you. I am fine…Yes, in fact, I went hiking in the mountains today…It was beautiful. You know how I like doing stuff like that. It’s why I came here…I promise I will make sure to call you earlier next time. I didn’t mean to make you worry…Okay, I love you too. Tell dad I love him too.”
I heard her sigh and wondered what that sigh was for. It was obvious that she loved both her parents, but she seemed to be relieved to be off the phone with them. It surprised me even more that she hadn’t told them what had happened to her. I waited a few more minutes before returning to the bedroom.
“Everything okay?” I asked when I saw the expression on her face.
She sighed again and looked down at the empty plate in her lap. When she looked back up at me and her eyes met mine, I could see a sadness there that had not been there before. For some reason, it brought out a protectiveness in me that I had not even known I was capable of.
“They are…protective. Overly so. It just frustrates me sometimes. I’m twenty-eight years old, and I still have to check in with my parents every day. Who does that? I haven’t lived with them since I was in college. It gets old, but I feel like I owe it to them,” she replied softly.
“I couldn’t even tell them about what happened today. If they knew that I had been injured, they would both be on the first flight out of Kansas City. There was a reason that I took this vacation alone, but they just don’t understand my need to have space. Freedom,” she continued quietly.
“Have you tried talking to them about it? About how it makes you feel?” I asked gently.
She gave me a funny look, then looked at the plate in her lap. I did not have to know her well to read the vulnerability on her face, and I felt bad for putting it there. I should not have pried, and I was about to apologize for interfering when she finally replied.
“I was adopted. I know that’s why they are the way they are,” she began softly.
I could not imagine what that was like for her, knowing that the people who had raised her were not the ones who had brought her into this world. My heart broke a little for her. I reached for her hand and held it while she continued.
“They lost their first child when he was just four years old. A drowning accident. It was a series of miscarriages after that, and the last one resulted in a complete hysterectomy. Adoption was their only choice if they wanted children. Because of that, I let them be overly protective. It just…gets old sometimes,” she admitted.
This woman had a lot of heart and a lot of compassion. That, and she did something to my insides that made me feel all sappy. But now, she needed some sleep. I could tell that she was exhausted, and it was already after midnight.
“Let me help you get these blankets down. I’m sure you are exhausted after your day,” I told her, and she nodded.
Once she was settled comfortably on the pillows, I pulled the blankets over her. Before I could pull away, I felt her hand on my arm and turned and looked down at her.
“Zeke, I just wanted to say thank you again. You didn’t have to help me. You didn’t have to bring me to your home and feed me. I appreciate it. I want you to know I really mean that,” she said softly.
I patted her hand on my arm and smiled down at her. She had no idea what those big green eyes were doing to my insides.
“You are very welcome. Get some sleep,” I told her gently. Then I walked to the door and shut the light off, closing the door behind me.
Walking into the living room, I pulled out my cellphone and called Brady. He answered on the second ring. After explaining what had happened this evening, I told him I needed his help getting Chelsea’s car. We arranged a time to meet in the morning, and then I headed up the stairs, once again using one of the spare rooms.
Chapter 5
Chelsea
I watched Ezekiel step out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Then I let my mind drift back to the events of the evening. I had crawled for hours, and when night fell, I had wanted so badly to just give up.
With the cold temperatures at night, I knew that I could freeze overnight. All I had was my sweatshirt, but when I had left the resort that morning, I had not intended on being on th
e mountain after dark. Then I had seen the wolf.
I immediately froze at the sight of the enormous animal. I had never seen a wolf so large, but perhaps it was the distance that made it seem larger. It seemed like the wolf was watching me, and I knew that it knew I was there.
I pushed back away from it, forgetting about my ankle and trying to put more distance between us. But when the pain shot up my leg, I collapsed on the ground. It was useless, and I was going to become some wild animal’s prey. Being torn apart by the creature’s teeth seemed a horrible way to go.
I waited for a long time with my eyes closed tightly, but nothing happened. When I finally opened my eyes again and looked back to where I had seen the wolf, it was gone. That made me wonder if I had actually seen it after all. Perhaps the pain, and the anxiety of being lost and alone and hungry and cold, was making my mind play tricks on me.
Searching the distance with what little light was coming from the moon, I knew that I was all alone. Rolling back to my hands and knees, I continued working my way slowly down the mountain. It was about an hour later that Ezekiel had shown up, and now I was lying in what was obviously his bedroom.
He had been my hero, even carrying me for over a half hour. I could still remember the feel of the muscles in his arms and chest against me, and his face should have been among the demigods. And wow did he smell like a man! When I had buried my face in his shirt, it was his scent that distracted me from the pain and nausea…and then he had cared for me.
He had washed the blood from my scrapes and cuts, wrapped my ankle, fed me, and gave me his bed. He didn’t have to do any of that. Then he had listened to me talk about my parents. I had never intended to reveal so much of myself to a complete stranger, but for some reason, I had a feeling that I could trust him.
He had listened to me, and from the expression on his face, I could tell that he was really listening. He had wanted me to open up to him, and it had just felt right to do so. It still surprised me that he had been so easy to talk to, even on a subject that was particularly touchy for me to talk about.
Then I realized that he also made me feel safe. Not even my ex had ever made me feel like that. None of my exes had for that matter. There was something about Zeke that just pulled at me. It was like I had known him for years instead of just a few hours. That thought scared me just a bit, but I still believed that I could trust him.
On the mountain, he had told me that he would not hurt me, and for some reason, I had instantly believed him. Somehow, I just knew that it was true. There was no way that I could describe what I was feeling right now, but maybe I just needed to sleep on it. Things would be better in the morning.
Closing my eyes, I pictured Zeke’s face. His dark hair was slightly longer than a business professional’s style, and the ends curled up just a bit in a wave. His firm jaw had made him seem even more masculine, if that were even possible. His broad shoulders and muscular build were all male, and he had to be well over six foot as well.
His eyes were a brilliant blue. I had never seen eyes so blue and bright. I could easily stare into those eyes for hours. They made me feel like I was swimming in a pool of blue, and when his gaze met mine, I had felt like I was lost again. But in a good way this time.
His lips had been in a tight line while he carried me, but when he was sitting beside me on the bed, the tension was gone from his face and he was relaxed. When he smiled, I felt flutters in my chest and even my pussy had responded to him.
I had never had such a reaction to a man before, especially not a complete stranger, and maybe it was just because he had rescued me. Hopefully, I would feel more normal in the morning, but for now, I was exhausted.
When I woke the next morning, sunlight was already coming in the windows of the room. It took me a few moments to remember where I was, and then the events of the previous evening came flooding back.
I closed my eyes again and relaxed against the amazingly soft bed. It was even more comfortable than the bed in my room at the resort, and I knew that I had slept like a baby. I smiled at the thought.
Today, I had to get to my car somehow, but I had no idea how that was going to work. I had sprained my right ankle, so it wasn’t like I could drive it anywhere. Hopefully, Zeke would be willing to drive me back to the resort.
I’m sure that he wanted me out of his hair as soon as possible. He probably just felt responsible for me since he had been the one who found me and brought me back to his house. It was still hard to imagine that I was in a stranger’s house and had slept in his bed. Jessica would have a fit when I told her. That thought made me grin even more.
Opening my eyes again, I pushed up to a sitting position. I knew which door led to the bathroom, but it was a long way away on the other side of the room, and this room was huge. I took in the masculine décor, noticing the rustic feel to the room.
I had been in too much pain last night when he carried me here to look around, but if this bedroom were any indication, I had a feeling that this house was huge. The bed was huge with four large posts at the corners. The headboard was made of wooden slats, and it reminded me of the trees in the forest.
The walls were painted an eggshell color, but the décor in the room all matched the surrounding desert landscape. A large painting in a wooden frame hung on the wall. It was a painting of the mountains, and it was beautiful. I wondered if Ezekiel knew the artist.
Glancing again towards the bathroom, I realized that now, I really needed to use it, but I was not sure how to make it there with my ankle. Crawling on my hands and knees again was an option, but I think my knees had had enough.
Throwing back the blankets, I looked down at my swollen ankle. Some of the swelling had gone down, and I wondered how long it would be before I would be able to walk on it. Usually, bruises healed fairly quickly for me, but this sprain I knew was really bad.
Carefully sliding my legs over the edge of the bed, I realized again that I was not in my jeans. My eyes fell on the numerous scratches and the bandage just below my knee. For some reason, a smile spread across my face as I remembered Zeke taking my jeans off. He had tried not to look at my panties, but I know how sexy they were.
I grinned as I stood from the bed onto my good foot. Now, I just had to get to the bathroom. Hobbling along the wall, I inched my way across the room, using the wall and any furniture for support.
When I heard the knock on the door, I froze. The bed was now several yards behind me, and I was not even halfway to the bathroom. I was definitely aware of the lace panties and my state of undress now that I was on my feet.
When the door opened, I felt the heat flood my cheeks. Zeke stood in the doorway, and I noticed his perusal of my body. All I had on was my t-shirt and panties, but the shirt wasn’t long enough to fully cover my ass. He was a man, after all, but I was still embarrassed by his perusal.
“My eyes are up here, Zeke,” I finally said, pointing at my face. A grin spread across his face and that made me smile in return.
“I’m sorry. There is a beautiful, half-dressed woman standing in my bedroom, and I could not resist,” he said with a chuckle. “However, you obviously need some help,” he said, turning serious again as he moved across the room towards me.
I shrieked as he bent and lifted me in his arms once again. There was nothing I could do except wrap my arms around his neck as he carried me to the bathroom. I was officially mortified, but wow did he smell good. Somehow, I managed to resist sniffing him.
I would never have been able to look him in the eyes again if I had done that, but his scent filled my senses and warmed me inside. I had never reacted to a man like this before, but Zeke stirred something deep inside me that I had never felt before. It probably should have alarmed me, but for some reason, it didn’t. Zeke made me feel safe.
When he stepped into the bathroom, I was in awe as I looked around. It was the largest bathroom that I had ever seen. We passed a glass door on the right, opposite a long vanity with double sinks.
When Zeke reached to open a door in front of us, I realized that it was a water closet. At least I would have some privacy. I definitely did not want to take care of business with him in the room. I was embarrassed enough as it was.
Zeke stepped inside the rather large room, considering there was only a toilet in it, and carefully set me down on my good foot. I reached out a hand to the wall for support.
“Take your time. I’ll be right outside the door when you are finished,” he said gently. Luckily, he kept his eyes on mine this time. I nodded and turned away from him. This moment was just way too awkward already, and I could not get my mouth to speak.
When I was finished, I opened the door, and Zeke was waiting for me. He carried me to the sink so that I could wash my hands, and then he lifted me again. I was beginning to get used to the feel of being in his arms, but I knew this would not last long. I needed to get back to the resort and let Zeke get on with his life. For some reason, that thought made me sad.
When we left the bathroom, he carried me back to the bed and set me down on the edge of it. Then he knelt in front of me and lifted my leg. His hands gently probed my bruised ankle, but it was not nearly as tender as it had been before, and luckily, a lot of the swelling had already gone down as well.
“Do you need help getting dressed?” he asked, looking back up at me. I bit my lower lip, not sure how to respond. I wasn’t sure if I would need help or not.
“Um…I don’t know,” I finally replied honestly. He ended up helping me after all. There was no way that I could have gotten those jeans back on over that ankle. When I was fully dressed once again, he stood in front of me.
“Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet,” he told me. I felt my surprise at his words, but I did not have time to think about it before he lifted me again from the bed. This time, he strode from the room.
His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series Page 4