The towel was soft and helped take more of the chill away. I stopped at the doorway, watching thick muscles flex in Blake’s back as he pulled a black t-shirt over his head. My fingers twitched, wanting to embed right into his tanned skin. To tear down the hardness until he was sucking in air above me. Each step to the bed took everything I had. The need to go to him battled with the weakness taking over. By the time I collapsed, Blake was already walking over.
“I think this is going to swallow you, but it’ll do the job.” He looked up and came to a stop a few feet away. For the longest time, he raked his eyes over me. Tightening twisted my core and my hips arched in need. Had I been wrong? From far away, maybe I looked good. With the lights out, I bet I’d look even better. I’d have to remember that.
Blake blinked hard and slightly shook his head. “Let me help you.” He took the long sleeve, dark shirt off the hanger. “You can just wear this for now. I’m afraid all I have are jeans. We’ll put the sweatpants back on before we arrive.”
“No pajamas?” I couldn’t help the small smile that came to my face. Imagining him in silk pajama bottoms, hanging low on his hips made all sorts of wicked thoughts flicker through my mind.
“I don’t…” The words died out as he crawled onto the large bed, sliding his hand under my neck. God, how I wanted to turn toward him and rub my face against the smoothness of his skin. A subtle scent of something altogether Blake had my eyes closing so I could take more into my senses. The fragrance intoxicated me. Pulled at my insides until my legs moved in his direction in an effort to curl around his frame. Salvation. Make everything disappear. Even if only for this moment. Take it all away. Save me from my own mind. From the hell of the last month.
“Sit, Kaitlyn.” So soft spoken, yet direct.
My eyes fluttered open, the need gone. I obeyed and let him slide the shirt over my head. He hadn’t been lying. As I put my arms through the sleeves, I knew the material would have hugged every muscle he possessed. With me, it engulfed my skinny body. Hell, if I had been a few inches taller, I could have rocked the runaway. Cover modeling had worked because of my face. The curves and my height had kept me from getting on the catwalk. Not that I minded. The last thing I had wanted was to be any more exposed than I already was. Seeing my face on billboards and magazines had been more than enough. To have a room full of people surrounding me and taking pictures while I was displayed in some see-through or ridiculous outfit was not my cup of tea. The handful of strangers I was exposed to on shoots was more than enough.
“There.” He pulled the shirt down and eased me back. Blake’s palm didn’t move from the back of my neck. “Can I ask you something, Kaitlyn?” The length of his thumb made a path over the front of my throat and he stopped abruptly, removing his hand. “What will you do when you go home?”
“Hmm.” I thought over his question while I sat up and pulled the covers back, climbing under them. The silk was cool against my skin, but quickly became a comfortable temperature.
“I mean, do you have somewhere to go? Friends? A boyfriend?” He looked down. “I just need to know you’re going to be alright after I take you back.”
Did he really care? By the way his brow furrowed, it told me he did. The good part of him was shining through. I could see it was bothering him that one of the slaves might not fare so well after his rescuing. Well, I had to give him props for caring enough to ask.
“No need to worry, Mr. Morgan. I’ll be perfectly fine. I have a place. Friends. No need to stress over it.” All lies. If everyone knew I was missing, my apartment might not even be available anymore. Not at the rate they charged. My shit was probably sitting out by the road or in storage somewhere. Who knew? I’d never met a person who’d gone missing before. As for friends, no, I wasn’t going to any of them looking like I did. They were all shallow. Fake. Just thinking about running into any of them made me feel sick. What would they think about what happened? My looks? I didn’t want to know.
He shifted on the bed and laid down next to me. “What about a deeper connection. A boyfriend? Someone who can actually take care of you?”
“I take care of myself just fine. Never needed a man for that.” Pain flickered in my back as I rolled onto my side, facing him. The movement had taken so much strength, my eyes instantly closed from exhaustion. At his deep exhale, I almost smiled. What did he think about that response? I couldn’t tell. Maybe he assumed, or it was quite possible he didn’t like my answer.
Blake’s scent got stronger as I felt him move closer.
The hair was brushed back from my face and sleep beckoned. Keeping my eyes open a moment longer was impossible. I let the gentle caress relax me until I was somewhere between deep sleep and unconsciousness. Tingles covered every inch of my body while I lingered. In the far off distance, I could hear Blake’s light breathing. Still his fingers worked through the hair next to my face. Just as I felt myself begin to fall, his whisper broke through.
“Rule three—broken.”
Chapter 5
Blake
Getting from the airport to the hospital was an absolute fucking circus, even in the back of an ambulance. Media was out in droves, thanks to my former partner. Three women rescued, one being famous, did not make for an easy transition. I stood in the waiting room for three hours before the doctor showed up saying Kaitlyn was placed in a room and I was free to go in.
As I watched her sleep, hooked up to wires and an IV, I couldn’t shake the sight. She may have been cleaned up and showered again at her request, but the whole setting put me on edge. The doctor said she was okay, minus the infection. She was malnourished. Dehydrated. They were pumping fluids and antibiotics into her and she was already doing a lot better. Still, I couldn’t stand to see her this way. What I missed was the tough woman who had killed her owner. Who tramped through almost three miles of snow in thin boots that made her feet bleed just to escape. The one who stood up to me when she ripped the towel out of my hand. Fuck, I’d wanted to bend her over my knee for that little outburst. I bet her ass would glow beautifully. The image had my cock hardening, painfully.
Distance. I needed some of that. For hours before we arrived, I watched her while she slept. Even when the fever returned and I woke her up long enough to give her more pills, my arms pulled her into me and I held her while she shook from feeling cold. The nails that sunk into my chest while she tried to bring me impossibly closer made my beast become even more attached. Pain wasn’t something I experienced often and that side of me wanted more from her. An equal dish of giving and receiving. Yes. My warped fantasies were getting out of control. The sooner she was gone, the better.
“What’s rule three?” Kaitlyn’s groggy voice had me looking up. Shit. She’d heard that? “You’re awake. How do you feel?”
The bed groaned as she pushed the button to come to a sitting position. “Rule three?”
“Not a clue what you’re talking about. You hungry? I can see about getting you some food. You’re probably starving.”
Her hand came to rest on her stomach. The sight of the IV needle taped to the back of her slender hand had my lips pushing into each other. The doctor said she’d be good to go by morning if everything came back normal. I couldn’t wait. Then, she’d be stronger and I wouldn’t have to see her like this anymore.
“Since you’re not going to answer, I guess food will have to do.”
“Good. Just tell me what you want.”
A moan came from her mouth. “A big, greasy hamburger, some fries, and a big ass soda.”
I laughed. “Easy enough to get. Give me a few minutes. I’m going to go pass it by the doctor. There’s a really good place down the road. It’ll do the trick.” Not only for her, but for both of us. I hadn’t eaten in close to thirty hours. Sure, I could have grabbed a snack on the plane, but that would have meant I had to leave Kaitlyn. Even now, I didn’t want to.
Distance. Right. I stood and she reached for me. Such a small gesture, but it didn’t go unnoticed by
what I harbored. The possessiveness I felt clutched to her need for me like a druggy desperate for a fix.
My hand lifted as I stepped within her reach. The connection of our fingers laced in each other’s was right, on too many levels.
“Thank you. For everything. I’ll never forget this.” Her lips kissed the back of my hand, leaving my mind momentarily blank. So much gratitude. Sure, I’d gotten thank-you’s, smothered in tears. Even kissed on the cheek once by the mother of one of my girls. But in Kaitlyn’s eyes, there was something different. Almost intimate. A yearning tugged at some part of me that I couldn’t understand. Behind all that, there seemed to be an unspoken question. Was there? Could I have been imagining it?
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m here in any way you need me. All you have to do is ask.” There. I’d spoken the words. It was up to her to come forward if she indeed wanted to talk about anything. Or ask.
Our hands broke apart and I took that as a sign that maybe I was wrong. Or it could be that she wasn’t ready yet. I’d wait, but for how long? I had maybe two days left with her here. Then we’d head to California, where I’d spend a day or two there to make sure she was settled. It wasn’t much time.
Nurses darted back and forth through the halls. I came to a stop at the desk where one was entering something into a computer. The cats on her pink scrub top rose and fell with each breath.
“Excuse me, Miss Summers is hungry. I’ll just be going to get her something to eat if that’s all right.”
The nurse didn’t even look up. “That should be fine. She’s only here for observation. Most of her tests have already come back clear, so I’m sure the doctor wouldn’t mind.”
“Great.” I turned, passing Dominguez as I headed toward the elevator. “No one is to go in there. No one.” The cop was a rookie when I left. Now, he was quickly moving up in the ranks, but I still didn’t trust anyone to keep Kaitlyn safe but myself. She might not be in danger anymore, but I wasn’t risking it.
“Got’cha. I’ll be here.”
I nodded and closed the distance, pressing the button to take me to the main floor. A man with balloons and flowers emerged and I had to push the damn “Get Well Soon” balloon out of my face. Something about him didn’t feel right. He looked familiar. I turned around, watching as he approached Kaitlyn’s room. Dominguez stood and I jogged back.
“It’s okay. I know her.” The man was cut off by the cop stepping in his path.
“No one’s allowed in there with Miss Summers. You can leave the stuff at the nurse’s station, over there.”
“Bullshit.” He laughed. “Kate knows me. She’d want me here.”
My jaw tightened as I came up behind them. “Who are you and how do you know her?” The anger in my tone was so strong, I had to pull for control. The dark hair fell to one side of the man’s eyes as he turned to come face to face with me. There was no doubt in my mind that the two were acquaintances. Judging by his impossibly good looks and perfectly tailored clothes, the guy was clearly a model of some kind. That just pissed me off even more.
“If you have to ask who I am, you don’t deserve to know.”
I shook my head in disgust. “That’s not winning you points to get through the door. I decide who sees her and you are definitely not getting in.”
“Is that right? Well, my agent, also Kaitlyn’s agent, just got off the phone with the Chief of Police. How do you think I’ve made it this far? We’ve been granted permission to see her any damn time we want. We’re the closest thing to family that she has. Now, tell your officer to get out of my way and let me through before I remove him myself.”
“How’d you get here so soon? We’ve only been in Houston a couple of hours.” My question was asked out of suspicion. I didn’t like this man one bit.
Dark green eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Not that you need to know, but I’m doing a shoot in Dallas. Mickey called me the moment he heard the news and I hauled ass here. Happy?”
Dominguez was on the phone. I didn’t need to know what was being said to see that the man was telling the truth. I ripped the flowers from his hand and pushed open Kaitlyn’s door.
“Visitor.” The announcement was laced with bitterness, but I didn’t care. There went the only time I had left. She’d probably have this piece of shit taking her back to California. It aggravated me to no end.
“Preston?” Kaitlyn leaned forward from her sitting position and lowered her head. While it shook slowly, I wasn’t sure what to think. There was no sexual chemistry between them that I could detect. And, I’d know. I was studying every little movement and breath that left both of them.
The bastard bumped my shoulder as he moved around me. Fuck, I wanted to stick my blade into him. The flowers and balloons were jerked from my hand. The automatic response left my fist clenching
“Kate. We were all so worried.” He placed the pink roses down on the window sill and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Look at me, honey. Let me see you.”
“Leave.” A sob escaped her as she stared down.
“You don’t mean that.” Preston’s hand cupped her cheek, but she jerked away. “Kaitlyn. Look at me.” The tone had my eyebrows raising. I knew power when I heard it. I walked to the side, more toward her.
Blue eyes rose to me while she placed her hand on her cheek. She was afraid for him to see her like this. It had to be the scar on her face.
“She said leave.” I moved closer, grabbing her hand as she reached out. Her arms were wrapped around my waist so fast it made the room spin. The way she clutched to me was out of pure desperation. The heart monitor she was hooked to started beeping wildly at her crying. “I said, get the fuck out.” Rage took over as I watched her break down.
The guy’s eyes grew big as he caught sight of her back from the opening of the gown. Although the worst wounds were bandaged, a lot of the marks were still visible. “Jesus Christ,” he whispered. “Oh shit. Kaitlyn.”
I couldn’t help it. I leaned over the mattress, gripped into his hair, and jerked his attention to my face. “Get the fuck out before I make you. And, so help me, you really don’t want to see what I’d love to do to you.”
“Let go before I break your hand.”
Kaitlyn cried harder and I gave one last pull as I disconnected my fingers. The man stood, but didn’t move.
“When she faces me and tells me to leave, I will. Until she looks into my face, I’m not going anywhere.”
A nurse walked into the room. “Everything all right here? Kaitlyn, sweetie, you want me to get these men to leave?” The older woman had hovered around her the first few hours. I liked the nurse instantly, but right now I wasn’t so sure. No one was taking me away from Kaitlyn.
Rule four—no providing protection after the fact—broken.
Kaitlyn needed me to save her from having to face this bastard. I’d do it, even if it meant dragging the motherfucker out of here by his thickly gelled hair.
“No, it’s okay.” Kaitlyn sniffled and pulled back. As she looked up at me, I felt her fear. Her pain. “I have to do this, don’t I?”
My head shook even though I knew it was probably best for her to face reality. “You don’t have to. Not right now. I’ll make him leave. You’ll never have to see him again if you don’t want.”
“Hey, now, wait a minute.” Preston stalked around the bed to stand a few feet away. If he would have been any closer, I would have choked the life out of him for making Kaitlyn bury her face back into my stomach.
“I have to.” Her head lifted and she slowly turned to her guest. The tightening of her grip on my hand portrayed what I knew she was feeling. I hated that she was so afraid. “You couldn’t just leave? Is this what you want, Preston? Because if so, here it is. I’m giving you my full attention. Do you see? Are you happy?”
For a few seconds, he didn’t even move. I tried to comfort Kaitlyn with my touch as she let him stare.
“Oh, honey.” I watched his wide chest heave as he sucked
in a deep breath. “That’s why you wouldn’t face me? Because of this?” He came forward and ran his finger down the scar. At the contact, she turned her head away. “It’s not that bad. And you don’t have to keep it. There are doctors, creams. All sorts of things that can make it disappear. At least the majority of the discoloration. It’s not even that noticeable.”
Why hadn’t I told her that? She had been upset about her appearance. Divulging the truth would have helped. But I liked the scar. It was who she was now. A survivor. Saved by my hand. Maybe it was selfish of me, but I didn’t care.
“I’ve seen it, Preston. I’m done for. My career is over.” She looked down. “Just go. Tell Mickey to not even bother coming. You’re all busy. No reason wasting time here.”
Preston sat back on the bed and she moved her feet to accommodate him. My blood boiled, but I let him continue. No reason looking like an asshole in front of Kaitlyn when she’d yet to glance back at me to show she truly wanted him out.
“You may think modeling is over, but I’m telling you it’s not. Kaitlyn, look at me.” Preston’s finger settled under her chin and angled her to face him. “Remember that incident in Cancun two years ago when I slipped from the boat and cut my side on the pier?”
“Of course. You were bleeding all over me as we took you to the hospital.”
Preston pulled his shirt up, revealing perfect six pack abs. My eyes rolled as I looked away.
“Do you see where I hit?” He eased her free hand to the V right by his hip. The closer her head moved toward him, the more I saw red.
“Oh…shit. You had a scar. I really deep one.”
He grinned. “And, now I don’t. It was a lot worse than yours, Kate. Do you see where I’m going with this? Yours is just a setback. In six months, you’ll never even remember the way you look.” Preston dropped his shirt. “Now, enough. Be happy. You’re safe. Home. Alive.”
BLAKE: Captive to the Dark Page 5