Page 40 of Desperate Temptations

“Nothing is too much when it comes to your safety. Go to sleep. We can argue more in the morning.”

She made a huffing sound but settled closer against him, holding onto the arm he had placed under her neck.

“Night, Cain,” she said, yawning.

“Night, Baby.” Cain’s eyes stayed open long after she fell asleep. His mind was in overdrive, wanting to have a plan for every scenario he could think of, so he’d be prepared to keep her safe.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The next few weeks flew by. Moving her into his place required several trips over a few days, despite leaving most of her furniture, dishware, and some personal items at her residence. They moved only her clothes, bathroom items, and beauty products she used, along with a few sentimental things. Cain didn’t want it to look obvious that they were moving her out, so they took smaller loads than usual.

Cain was careful to pay close attention to the vehicles around him on their trips back to his house.

He was a little worried about how she’d react to his home. Thankfully, she instantly liked it. It was larger than hers and in a better neighborhood, but it was the backyard she fell in love with. It was like his very own Garden of Eden. After unpacking what they’d brought over from her house, she would go out there to relax. The deck was huge, with a grill and kitchen area tucked into one side. On the other end was a large fire pit with a comfortable, cushioned sofa and chairs.

She’d asked him that first night if he would mind starting a fire even though the night air was pleasantly warm. They ended up making love under the stars before he carried her inside to his bed. Since then, it had turned into a nighttime ritual.

Cain was pleased that in just a week, she’d made herself at home, putting her own little touches around the house. Her shoes by the door, a book in the den, or flowers in the kitchen. He felt a deep satisfaction at having her in his home, from her clothes that took up most of the closet, to her feminine products spread out on the bathroom vanity.

She’d become such an integral part of his life in such a short amount of time. He knew if she ever moved back to her house, it would tear him apart.

On the first Saturday, he took her to a shooting range. He’d bought her a sweet little Ruger SR 22. It fit into her small hand perfectly and was easy for her to use with a minor kickback. He could tell she was nervous at first, but the longer she practiced, the more she began to become comfortable and started to really enjoy it.

Before they left that day, he made sure she filled out an application to carry. When she was approved, he’d make sure she had one in her car and maybe a small one for her purse. He didn’t know how far she’d let him go, but he wanted her to be always armed.

She got used to him driving her to and from work. She laughingly told him one night that she wouldn’t mind him driving her everywhere, that it was nice having her very own chauffeur. It was something he’d gladly do for the simple fact he knew she’d be safe if she was with him.

Cain and Quinton continued to poke around, finding more and more unsettling things about Gary. The more they found out, the more concerned they became. Jessa never asked, and he didn’t keep her up on any new information they received. He just wanted to keep her as far away from the situation as possible.

Cain made sure they weren’t followed to and from home. When her carry permit was approved, he bought a Glock 9mm for her to keep in her car and a .22 for her purse. She preferred the smaller .22, but with practice, she became proficient enough to handle the 9mm. They continued to practice at the range every weekend. She progressed steadily, using some of his different guns to get a feel for them. He was thrilled she enjoyed target shooting as much as he did, and he could tell it helped relieve some of the stress of her days.

Cain was determined to figure out what threat there might be for his woman. Until he got his answers, he’d watch her like a hawk.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Their lovemaking became more and more intense. Instead of taking the edge off their passion, with time, it only increased. Jessa couldn’t remember not being with him. He wasn’t an easy man to live with, she realized more than once. He tended to be incredibly arrogant, antisocial, and abrasive, and that was only the As.

Cain’s personality was so dominant inside the bedroom and out that she had to be careful how much control she gave him, or he’d take her over. The more time they spent together, the more he realized he could push her only so far before she pushed back.

One night, he forbade her from doing something. She tried but couldn’t remember precisely what they fought about, but he just about had his head whacked when she threw a bowl at him. It was a large metal bowl that could have done some damage had he not ducked. He dodged the other things she threw while stalking toward her, catching her up in his arms and tossing her over his shoulder. He chuckled at her angry threats, then swatted her butt when she tried to bite him.

They ended up in bed early that night and destroyed the room with their frantic lovemaking. The bed covers were on the floor, pillows were across the room, a shoe was on the nightstand, and the table lamp was on the floor.

Later, they found her panties on the overhead ceiling fan and laughed over that, not remembering how any of it got there. In the end, she did what she wanted to do.

The love she felt for him was intense and seemed to grow deeper every day. He made sure she understood where the relationship was going, often. She found she couldn’t think of a good reason to move back to her house when the time came. This felt like home to her. Her house held both good and bad memories of Drew, but many of them were lonely. If she was really moving on, she needed to do it right and let go of the house.

He was thrilled when she shared her plans with him. They talked about waiting until they figured out what Gary was up to. It would be too much to think Gary wouldn’t find out about her house being sold. Jessa agreed she wasn’t in a hurry.

As long as she was with him, she was happy. As the days passed, they got into a routine. As happy as she was, she still couldn’t let go of her fundamental need to know what happened to her husband. Until she knew everything, she felt like she couldn’t give Cain one hundred percent of herself because a small part still belonged to Drew. Not that she’d tell Cain that. Her love for him deepened by the day, but the turmoil still simmered beneath the surface, and it was getting harder to hide it from him.

Jessa wanted them to move forward and begin a life together. The only thing she could do was pray she’d get the answers she needed.

She knew Cain was concerned about her emotional well-being, and he did everything he could to make her happy. But he also did everything he could to deepen the bond between them.

Their lovemaking took a darker turn. One she never thought she’d enjoy. It seemed Cain was obsessed with her ass. The first few times he’d fingered her, she had to fight the urge to flinch away from him. She always thought good girls didn’t do anything like that, but she was beginning to realize she wasn’t as good as she always thought she was.

She’d always felt something was missing from her and her husband’s sex life, but had never needed to delve any deeper because she was happy with Drew.

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