needed understanding, caring. He wasn’t sure he had it in him to give her that, but he’d try.
Cord checked his watch, frowning. It had been thirty minutes and she hadn’t stirred. She needed sleep.
He knocked on the bathroom door. Nothing. He called out as he turned the knob. Finding it locked, he cursed and yelled her name.
A muffled response eased his worry. But the door remained locked. Stepping back, he studied the lock. Child’s play. Two minutes later he walked inside to find her asleep, tremors shaking her as the now cold water chilled her body. Picking her up, he ignored her murmured protest and wrapped a fluffy, peach-colored towel around her.
Cord carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. He knew he should let her sleep. Instead he found himself sitting on the bed, staring down at her. Brushing back her long, silky dark hair, he couldn’t resist running his hand down the side of her face, smoothing over skin as luxurious as cream. He could’ve lost her today. When he’d seen that guy grab her, a surge of violent, possessive fury had risen with such force he’d barely been able to contain it.
His woman.
Someone had dared to touch his woman. The fact that her attacker was still out there revolted him. Taking a deep breath, Cord worked on keeping himself calm.
He stood to leave.
“No, no,” Kayla mumbled . He turned back. She was frowning in her sleep, her hands clasping the bed cover tightly.
“No, please,” she sobbed brokenly. His stomach clenched at the sound. She let out a loud cry, her head thrashing on the pillow. Cord sat beside her, running his hand over her hair.
“Shh, angel, relax,” he crooned. She settled a little, although her forehead remained puckered. Unable to resist the urge, he rolled her onto her side, slipping behind to spoon her.
Kayla let out a shuddering breath before relaxing back into his embrace. His cock pulsed, pressing against his jeans uncomfortably. Cord took a deep breath and shifted backward, needing to get away from her tempting body.
But she followed, scooting back into his embrace, and he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
It was going to be a long, sleepless night.
* * * * *
Choking, sputtering, lungs begging for air, Kayla rose into consciousness on a wave of adrenaline and fear. Sweat poured from her skin in slow rivulets as panic suffocated her.
Someone was here. Someone was coming to harm her.
She opened her eyes, peering around wildly, her hand grasping at her throat. No, she refused to do this. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. Repeating that mantra, Kayla gradually managed to ease the stranglehold that panic had on her. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she was hit by the scent of sandalwood—wicked, delicious man.
Cord.
“Oh shit.”
Brief flashes of memory revealed Cord pulling her from the bath, carrying her, placing her on the bed.
He’d seen her naked? Touched her?
A curious mix of embarrassment and arousal coursed through her.
Kayla hadn’t let any man other than her brothers touch her in the last four months. Yet Cord had managed to sneak beneath her body’s defenses, bypassing the panic and fright and replacing it with longing.
It was crazy, feeling this way. She shouldn’t want anyone to touch her, should she? And especially not Cord. She was a job to him. She couldn’t forget that.
* * * * *
The smell of sizzling bacon greeted her as she exited the bathroom thirty minutes later. Surprisingly her stomach growled. She walked toward her kitchen, following the heavenly scent.
“I didn’t think you could cook.”
Cord turned when she spoke.
“I picked up a few skills over the last couple of years,” he replied, his gaze roaming over her body, heating her blood. “Have a seat and I’ll dish up.”
Kayla blushed, her entire body tingling from that look.
“I’m not hungry.” She crossed her fingers behind her back at that little lie. For the first time in months food actually
Cord checked his watch, frowning. It had been thirty minutes and she hadn’t stirred. She needed sleep.
He knocked on the bathroom door. Nothing. He called out as he turned the knob. Finding it locked, he cursed and yelled her name.
A muffled response eased his worry. But the door remained locked. Stepping back, he studied the lock. Child’s play. Two minutes later he walked inside to find her asleep, tremors shaking her as the now cold water chilled her body. Picking her up, he ignored her murmured protest and wrapped a fluffy, peach-colored towel around her.
Cord carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. He knew he should let her sleep. Instead he found himself sitting on the bed, staring down at her. Brushing back her long, silky dark hair, he couldn’t resist running his hand down the side of her face, smoothing over skin as luxurious as cream. He could’ve lost her today. When he’d seen that guy grab her, a surge of violent, possessive fury had risen with such force he’d barely been able to contain it.
His woman.
Someone had dared to touch his woman. The fact that her attacker was still out there revolted him. Taking a deep breath, Cord worked on keeping himself calm.
He stood to leave.
“No, no,” Kayla mumbled . He turned back. She was frowning in her sleep, her hands clasping the bed cover tightly.
“No, please,” she sobbed brokenly. His stomach clenched at the sound. She let out a loud cry, her head thrashing on the pillow. Cord sat beside her, running his hand over her hair.
“Shh, angel, relax,” he crooned. She settled a little, although her forehead remained puckered. Unable to resist the urge, he rolled her onto her side, slipping behind to spoon her.
Kayla let out a shuddering breath before relaxing back into his embrace. His cock pulsed, pressing against his jeans uncomfortably. Cord took a deep breath and shifted backward, needing to get away from her tempting body.
But she followed, scooting back into his embrace, and he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
It was going to be a long, sleepless night.
* * * * *
Choking, sputtering, lungs begging for air, Kayla rose into consciousness on a wave of adrenaline and fear. Sweat poured from her skin in slow rivulets as panic suffocated her.
Someone was here. Someone was coming to harm her.
She opened her eyes, peering around wildly, her hand grasping at her throat. No, she refused to do this. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. Repeating that mantra, Kayla gradually managed to ease the stranglehold that panic had on her. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she was hit by the scent of sandalwood—wicked, delicious man.
Cord.
“Oh shit.”
Brief flashes of memory revealed Cord pulling her from the bath, carrying her, placing her on the bed.
He’d seen her naked? Touched her?
A curious mix of embarrassment and arousal coursed through her.
Kayla hadn’t let any man other than her brothers touch her in the last four months. Yet Cord had managed to sneak beneath her body’s defenses, bypassing the panic and fright and replacing it with longing.
It was crazy, feeling this way. She shouldn’t want anyone to touch her, should she? And especially not Cord. She was a job to him. She couldn’t forget that.
* * * * *
The smell of sizzling bacon greeted her as she exited the bathroom thirty minutes later. Surprisingly her stomach growled. She walked toward her kitchen, following the heavenly scent.
“I didn’t think you could cook.”
Cord turned when she spoke.
“I picked up a few skills over the last couple of years,” he replied, his gaze roaming over her body, heating her blood. “Have a seat and I’ll dish up.”
Kayla blushed, her entire body tingling from that look.
“I’m not hungry.” She crossed her fingers behind her back at that little lie. For the first time in months food actually
Similar Books
