Touched by Vicki Green

a little slower.
“She’s going to be ok, bruised and battered and pretty shaken up. She’s one tough lady.” I just wonder what would have happened if the bouncers and I hadn’t been there, a few minutes later or not at all. When I couldn’t find her at the station, I headed to the club immediately. I was so angry at her. I told her no more clients, only me. Did she think I wasn’t serious or was it just her stubbornness, her rules? Of course, my anger subsided quickly when we couldn’t open her door and then hearing her muffled screams then the panic set in. I literally thought I was having a heart attack trying to get through the door and then when we got in my heart stopped all together. I’m falling so fast and hard for my angel.
“Thank God you were there. What scumbag did this to her? I’ll fucking kill the SOB. I’ve told her she needs to carry a gun in that purse of hers. Dammit! She’s so stubborn,” she screams in my ear again. I’m going to need to put her on speakerphone if I ever talk to her again.
“She’s sleeping right now and I had my private physician come and check her injuries. She’s in good hands here. Can you keep an eye on her place until she returns, please? Don’t expect her back this weekend.” My eyes are getting heavier the longer I sit here. I need to end this call quickly.
“No problem. I do it anyway. I’ll even go up and water the fifty million flowers all over her apartment. You just take care of our girl. You really like her, huh?” Snarky, but sweet. I like her.
“More than you know. I’ll let you know if anything comes up but she’ll be fine here.” With that, I hang up, put all Jade’s belongings back into her purse and head to my bedroom. She looks uncomfortable in her dress, so I sit beside her, remove it gently and pull one of my t-shirts over her head, pulling it carefully down her body. It’s rather large on her but makes for good sleeping attire. After removing my clothes, except for my boxers, I climb in bed next to her, my head laying on my hand and watch her sleep. She’s so lovely, so beautiful and such a strong woman, but she’s also so pig headed and stubborn, yet determined. I wonder what made her work at a strip club, why that path? I need to find out. I must find out. I want to know everything about her. Not being able to keep my eyes open any longer, I lay my head down on the pillow and let them close.

C HAPTER F IVE
Damn, it hurts to move. Rolling slowly onto my right side, I feel some relief from my sore and aching body, but bump into another body. Opening my eyes quickly I look at the intrusion. Knox. Where am I? Disoriented, I look around the room, and memories begin to flash in my mind. He brought me back to his place. This is his bedroom. My eyes move back at him, and I watch him sleep. He looks exhausted, that’s how I feel, but damn he’s even sexy when he sleeps. The five o’clock shadow of scruff on his face has turned into a ten o’clock shadow, making him look even hotter, if that’s possible. He was so caring last night, so gentle and sweet. Fuck! I’m falling in so deep, and I don’t know if I can let go enough to fall all the way. I want to, God, I want to so badly, to be able to care about someone other than myself, to have someone actually love me, but I’m not sure I can. Shivers go throughout my body, so I snuggle up to his side to get warm, laying my head on his shoulder and close my eyes.
My eyes open slowly, squinting from the light coming in through the blinds on the window. My left eye hurts and feels swollen, but at least I could open it. The aroma of flowers fills my nose. Rolling over, I wince from the soreness in my body and the pain from my leg and bottom. I rub the sleep from my eyes and scan the room. I gasp when I see all the arrangements and bouquets of roses that were at my apartment are now filling his room. I try to sit up, but lay back down, exasperated from the pain and frustration. I’ve never