“Yes, very lucky.” She dragged her gaze from his biceps to his face. The tender concern in his voice was at odds with his distant demeanor. “So where am I now?”
“In my cabin, about three miles from where your car ran off the road.” Hesitating only momentarily, he walked across the room to the window and drew back the curtains to reveal angry, swirling flurries and frozen trees blanketed in white. “Storm picked up again this morning—it’s Friday, by the way. All the roads are closed, otherwise I would’ve taken you into town.”
“Friday,” Katie whispered. It had been almost a week since she’d left Tahoe. No doubt her clients wondered where she was. Not to mention her parents and her older sister. Oh, God. Alarmed, she threw the blankets off her body and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Do you have a phone I could use? I need to let my family know I’m not dead—my clients, too. Everyone probably thinks I am.”
The man raised his hand and took a step closer. “I don’t have a phone. Listen, be careful. You’re probably very weak.”
No phone. That meant she was trapped in a cabin in the woods with a strange man, and with no way to let anyone know where she was. A very real feeling of helplessness overwhelmed her, followed by a jolt of stark fear. She didn’t know the first thing about this guy, who had apparently seen her naked already. Desperate to regain at least the illusion of control, she struggled to stand. “How about a computer? With Internet?”
“No, I’m sorry, but—“
He stopped talking and raced forward as she finally pushed up off the mattress, and caught her around the middle when her legs dissolved beneath her. Cradled in his powerful embrace, she felt instantly safe. Protected. The sensation triggered another burst of memory—being held in these arms, surrounded by this scent, his naked skin against hers. A hot surge of lust rocketed through her body and wrenched her back into the present. Gasping, she stared at him in shock.
He took a shuddering breath and carefully placed her back on the bed. Then he stepped away quickly. “Let me get you something to eat. You need to regain your strength.”
Katie wasn’t sure what frightened her more—her strange, uncharacteristic lapse, or the realization that she was completely dependent upon a stranger. Careful not to reveal her unease, she crawled back beneath the comforter and arranged the blankets over her chest. She had no idea whether her body’s memory of this man was delusion or reality, but the way she’d just reacted to his touch rattled her to the core. She’d never felt anything like it before. The fact that the guy acted like he couldn’t bear to be around her only made it worse.
“I know you want to contact your people, but there just isn’t any way to do that from here. As soon as the storm lifts, I’ll take you to town. I promise.” He turned away, but not before she noticed the impressive bulge in his jeans. That he was in a similar state of arousal didn’t comfort her in the least. The man was a stranger. Nobody knew she was alone with him in his home. She was having strange flashes of lying naked in his arms, yet she hadn’t been conscious in days. And apparently she was too weak to walk, let alone fight him off if it came to that.
“Are we all alone out here?” She wrapped her arms around her stomach and tried not to let on how terrified she suddenly felt.
He hesitated. “Yes.” For the first time since entering the room, he made brief eye contact. “But you’re safe here with me, Katie. I swear it.”
When he looked at her, she nearly forgot to breathe. It wasn’t just the impact of those piercing eyes finally landing on her, but also the way they seemed to see her in a way that she wasn’t sure she’d ever really been seen before. She knew it was ridiculous to feel this way—not even a minute ago, she’d been worried that he was getting ready to attack her—but that didn’t change how his gaze made her feel inside. He looked at her as though he loved her. As though he would even die for her. She couldn’t fathom what would inspire that level of devotion from a man who didn’t know her at all. It frightened her. So did the sudden realization that he’d called her by name.
“I looked at your driver’s license,” he said, answering her unspoken question. “Your purse is next to the nightstand, on the floor. And your clothes are drying now. I can bring them to you when they’re ready.” He tore his gaze away from hers. “They were soaking wet by the time I got you home. I tried not to look at…you…any more than necessary.”
Katie blushed. “Given that you know so much about me already, maybe you can tell me your name?”
“Rafe Whelan.” He walked to the doorway and paused with his back to her. “I’ll bring you lunch, then leave you alone. I’ve got books, if you like to read, or paper and pencils, if you wanted to write or draw. No television, I’m afraid. No computer, either.”
She doubted she would be able to relax enough to do anything except sit and worry. Her life was literally in this man’s hands. His very strong, masculine, sexy hands—which could be serial killer hands, for all she knew, or those of a sadistic sexual predator. After her reaction to having those hands on her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d not only undressed her, but also initiated some kind of intimate contact she only vaguely remembered. And now he reeked of guilt and shame. How could she read or draw or nap, especially, with that hanging over her? Afraid to alert him to her growing suspicion, she scooted back against the headboard and pulled her knees to her chest. “A book would be nice.”
He nodded and started out the door, but something made her call out to him. “Wait!”
Rafe stopped and glanced back in her direction. “Yes?”
“When do you think the roads will be open?”
“I don’t know.” He turned and stared at her with an intensity that raised the fine hairs on her arms. “Soon, I hope. I want to get you back to your people just as badly as you want to go. Believe me.”
Hearing the sincerity in his words, but unsure what to make of it, she gave him a reluctant nod. She didn’t want him to know that she distrusted him. Not while she was a prisoner in his home. “You saved my life. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Something that looked like regret passed across his face, but he covered it nicely with a smile that made Katie’s stomach flip-flop despite her best efforts to remain unaffected. “If you’re still cold, I can prepare a hot bath for you. And give you privacy, of course.”
She couldn’t think of a worse idea. “That’s generous of you, but I’m okay. Thanks.”
He left with a curt nod, the smile vanishing from his face before he’d even turned away. Katie shuddered as he closed the door. Alone with his dog—Shilah—she sank her fingers into the coarse fur that covered the back of his neck. “Are you here to keep me warm, or to guard me?”
Shilah rolled onto his side and exposed his belly in a clear attempt to solicit a stomach rub. She complied, feeling a little silly about her fleeting paranoia. The dog was just an overgrown puppy. Perhaps his master had a similar soft nature.
There was no real reason to assume that Rafe meant her any harm. So far he had been polite and respectful, and he was clearly trying to keep his distance—even if to an unsettling extent. If not for the guilt in his eyes and the downright disturbing flashes of what might have happened while she was unconscious, she would have no reason to see him as anything other than a hero. But it was obvious that something was off. He seemed overly anxious for her to go, as though he couldn’t stand being around her. Somehow she felt like both an intruder and a prisoner—unwelcome but stuck in his house, unable to leave.
Yet despite all that, her body stirred as she thought about him. Dark-haired with a couple days worth of scruff covering his chiseled face and a leanly muscled body, he was her fantasy man come to life. And those eyes…Katie whimpered as her inner muscles clenched, sending a ripple of pleasure down to the tips of her toes.
For a moment she sat stunned. Then she slowly eased her hand beneath the waistband of her sweats and sought out her labia with tentative fingers. Slick wetness coated her trimmed hairs,
her inner thighs, her almost unbearably sensitive folds. She’d never felt anything like it. Gasping, she tore her hand out of her pants and wiped her fingers hastily on the sheets.
This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t her.
Had he slipped her some kind of drug? Taken advantage of her when she was unconscious? Even if she had vague memories of wanting it, she hadn’t been in any condition to consent. Had he done something to put her in this state so that if she remembered what he’d done, she would think it was her idea?
Katie closed her eyes and fought to recall the details of her rescue. She’d been so out of it mentally that she’d thought Rafe’s appearance was a dream or even a dying vision—being taken out of the car, carried through the cold, then eventually warmed in his embrace. But it hadn’t been a dream. At least not all of it. That something had happened between them was obvious.
She wasn’t sure how to stay in Rafe’s house without knowing what it was.
CHAPTER FOUR
Rafe knocked on the door again some time later, startling Katie upright in bed. She’d only meant to rest for a minute, not wanting to be vulnerable when her host returned, but Shilah had put his head on her belly as soon as she’d lain down and she’d lost track of time petting him. Now Shilah grumbled as she shot ramrod straight against the headboard before calling out, “Come in.”
The door opened and Rafe walked inside without glancing in her direction. He carried a bowl, a piece of crusty bread, and a glass of water. Clearly in a rush, he set the food on the nightstand and backed away. “I hope you like chicken soup.”
The savory aroma hit her in the face and made her mouth water. Any concern she might have had about being drugged disappeared at the prospect of filling her stomach. She snatched up the bowl, then gave him a sheepish nod. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
“You can have more if you’d like.” For the first time, a trace of humor crept into Rafe’s voice. “But you should probably take it easy. Your stomach needs to acclimate to having food inside it again.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Katie said as she shoveled a spoonful into her mouth. She moaned, undone by the warmth and flavor of the broth, not to mention the promise of sustenance. Never again would she take food for granted. Ever. “Oh…this is so good.”
She looked up and Rafe quickly averted his gaze from her chest. Swallowing, he rasped, “I’m glad.”
Though he’d traded the snug jeans he’d worn earlier for a pair of loose sweatpants, Rafe’s arousal remained obvious. She tried not to stare. Had he been excited this whole time, or was he reacting to her unselfconscious enjoyment of her lunch? Either way, she vacillated between being frightened, embarrassed, and pleased by the evidence of his desire. The longer he went without trying to initiate physical contact, the more convinced she became that he wasn’t planning on assaulting her. Not while she was conscious, at least.
She frowned. If she wanted to know what had occurred while she was unconscious, she would have to ask him. Even if he wasn’t willing to tell her the truth, she might learn something from the way he responded. “Can you tell me what happened after you got me out of my car?”
Panic flashed in Rafe’s eyes. “What?”
“After you dug me out of my car…I don’t remember much, and what I do recall, I’m not even sure really happened.” Katie hesitated, unsure how much she wanted to say. She hated to accuse him of behaving improperly when he hadn’t done anything overtly threatening. So maybe he was a little aloof and a lot awkward. The guy lived in the middle of the woods. People skills probably weren’t among his strengths. She decided to start with an easy question. “Did you carry me back here? I swear that’s what I remember, but…it seems a little crazy, in my head.”
Rafe crossed the room and opened the trunk that sat in the corner. He pulled out a folded comforter, but instead of offering it to her, he held it in front of his crotch, hiding his erection. “I did carry you. I went out for a hike that afternoon on foot, so…” He cleared his throat and glanced longingly at the bedroom door. Once again, he seemed desperate to leave. “Why don’t I let you eat? I’ll bring your clothes when I come back for the dishes.”
“Wait.” She set down the bowl of soup. No way was she going to let the food distract her from her most important goal. She needed to know what she’d gotten herself into. “What happened after you brought me inside? I must have been in pretty bad shape.”
“You were hypothermic.” Rafe’s expression softened. “When I got you here, I took you straight to the guest room. Your clothes were soaked through from the storm, so I undressed you. Then I put you in dry clothes and covered you with blankets. I sat with you for a while to make sure your condition didn’t deteriorate as you warmed.” He glanced at Shilah, who thumped his tail against the mattress the instant he received his master’s attention. “You’re strong. You’re a fighter. Once you were warm and I was confident you were stable, I put Shilah in bed with you to provide body heat. Then I left.”
It was a good story. She wished she believed it. She didn’t know how she knew it wasn’t the whole truth, but she did, in her bones. Rafe was lying to her. His dishonesty was so obvious it made her cringe. While it shouldn’t have hurt her on a personal level—she didn’t even know this man—the deceit stung. Inexplicably, it felt like a betrayal, as though she’d actually expected more.
He finally met her gaze, swallowing visibly at whatever he saw in her eyes. “Let me get your clothes.” He practically dashed out of the room.
Katie gave the soup a sidelong glance. Her stomach growled painfully, and against her better judgment, she picked up the bowl. Yes, Rafe was lying to her. That didn’t mean he’d put something in her food. It didn’t mean he wanted to hurt her in any way. Or at least that’s what she tried to convince herself as she took another tentative bite. She needed to eat. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have the strength to defend herself, if it came to that.
Realistically, he’d had ample opportunity to hurt her if he’d wanted. Chances were, he was just socially awkward or something equally innocuous. He had promised to take her into town as soon as the weather cleared, and right now she had no choice but to believe him. So she was going to eat.
She was surprised when he knocked on the door only minutes later. She placed the empty bowl of soup on the nightstand and called out, “Come in.”
This time Rafe held a pile of folded clothing. “Looks like you were wearing everything you had with you.” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but he sobered quickly. “I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in your own clothes.”
Actually, she was certain that his T-shirt and sweatpants were worlds more comfortable than anything she’d packed for girls’ weekend, but she wasn’t going to say that out loud. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”
Rafe took a deep breath, then dragged his gaze to meet hers. Once again, a heady rush of passion and need flooded through her body and settled between her legs, where it swiftly became a gnawing, yearning ache. She swore she could see her desire reflected in the flaring of Rafe’s nostrils, the darkening of his eyes, the quickening of his breath. Katie leaned forward in anticipation, sensing that he was about to open up to her, that he may even say something that would help explain the chemistry between them.
A muffled knock came from somewhere outside the bedroom, startling both Shilah and Rafe and drawing their attention to the door. Rafe’s face fell at the interruption and a look of cold dread chased away the longing in his eyes. Katie’s heart rate picked up as he strode to the door. “Wait here. I’m not expecting anyone.”
She nodded and rested her hand on Shilah’s head, grateful that the dog made no move to leave. There was no mistaking Rafe’s reaction to this visitor. He was nervous. And why not? He lived in the middle of the woods and the roads were supposedly closed. It did seem unusual that someone would just drop by. Very unusual.
Was this guest really unexpected? Or was Rafe nervous for another reason?
Perhap
s his surprise had been feigned. Maybe he didn’t want her to know that he’d invited someone over? Or that there was someone else living in the house? The possible implications of her increasingly paranoid thoughts turned her insides to ice.
Cautiously, she scooted to the edge of the bed. Mindful that her legs hadn’t supported her the last time she’d tried to stand, she gripped the edge of the nightstand and slowly got to her feet. After a slight wobble, she found her balance and then, gradually, her strength. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to accomplish, but she couldn’t just sit in that bed and worry about who had come calling.
Katie tiptoed to the bedroom door, holding up her hand to Shilah in a silent plea for him to stay. He whined low in his throat as she eased the door open a couple of inches, but didn’t move. Not wanting to leave the safety of the room, she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the doorframe, listening hard.
Two male voices. As she strained to make out their words, a deep, unfamiliar baritone rose in anger.
“What the hell are you thinking?”
Rafe said something too quiet for her to hear, then added, “I had no choice.”
“Of course you did.”
“What? Let her die?” Rafe practically snarled. “That wasn’t an option.”
“Why not? She’s a human, for fuck’s sake. You should never have gotten involved.”
Katie’s eyes flew open. Rafe’s visitor was a straight-up crazy person. He’d spat out the word human as though it tasted bad in his mouth. As though he truly believed he was something else. Something better. She waited to hear Rafe’s response, praying he wouldn’t say something equally as insane.
Unfortunately, another low whine from Shilah drowned out Rafe’s response. She tossed a glare over her shoulder at the dog, shutting him up with one hard look. Then she turned her attention back to the conversation, which had grown even more heated.
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