Page 50 of Desperate Temptations

“I’ve picked up a little of what happened today.” He looked at Cain. “I’m definitely staying here for the duration, but I can’t see that any charges will be filed against either one of you.”

Cain had one arm over the back of Jessa’s chair and the other hand in her lap, surrounding her.

“I know, but if I needed backup, I wanted you here.” He turned toward Jessa, who watched them intently. “Jessa, this is Cullen Mathews. He’s a friend and damn good lawyer.”

Jessa held out her hand, giving him a shaky smile.

“It’s nice to meet a friend of Cain’s. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”

“I agree with you. I’ve heard a lot about you. I never expected this guy would settle down.”

Jessa looked affectionately at Cain.

“I’m pretty lucky we found each other.”

A gruff, loud voice broke into their conversation. “Okay, folks, let’s get this done. Mrs. Owens, please tell us what transpired today?”

Nobody spoke up to correct him. As far as Cain was concerned, she was his wife.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Three hours later, Cain pulled into his driveway. After he shut off his truck, he turned to face Jessa. She was asleep against the door, her head tilted, her hand tucked under her chin.

He couldn’t be prouder of her. She had stayed calm and steady during the questioning, answering all the questions precisely, even when they asked the same one more than once, she stayed patient.

He was concerned about the information Cullen had pulled him aside to give him when they were leaving. Gary was dead. Shot through the forehead in his apartment. The police expected it was probably Martinez, but were waiting for ballistics on his gun before documenting it in the records.

Cain did not look forward to sharing this new development with her. He didn’t know if she would be happy or sad, now that she knew it was Gary who killed Drew. Either way, it was going to be a shock. He didn’t know how many more blows this tiny woman could take without breaking. Right then, he needed to take care of her. She was exhausted, they both were.

He got out and went around, slowly opening the door so she wouldn’t fall. He gathered her in his arms, carried her up the sidewalk, and inside. When he made it to the bedroom, he lay her down on the bed.

Cain was amazed that she was still deeply asleep. He undressed her carefully, took his own clothes off, and slipped into bed beside her. After he tucked her tightly against his body, he kissed her forehead and then fell asleep.

He woke sometime during the night and turned her on her back. He was unable to wait a moment longer. Cain pressed his cock slowly into her, waking her by slow, delicious degrees. She became fully awake as he seated himself inside her.

Jessa’s heavy eyes fluttered open. She raised her arms, circling his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. Their lovemaking was leisurely and soft, taking a long time for both to finally let themselves go. After, they held each other, falling into a deep sleep.

Cain took her two more times that night. He couldn’t seem to be able to get enough of her. Cain couldn’t get the memory of Jessa in Martinez’s old building, surrounded by men with guns who wanted to harm her, out of his head. He never wanted to feel that kind of fear again.

He had a lot to say to her. He wanted to ask her why she took the chance to kill Martinez. Did she know he would have shot her without any remorse? Maybe it was because the thought of Martinez raping her and then selling her was more than she could take?

The light of the sunrise spread through the bedroom, but they stayed in bed. They were too tired from the previous emotional day and continued to hold each other and sleep well into the day.

Chapter Forty-Eight

They both decided to take a few days off together. She needed a break and the time to come to terms with everything, and there was no way he’d leave her alone to deal with it herself. Besides, he needed to just be with her, see and touch her all the time. He hadn’t gotten over how close he’d come to losing her. Hell, he might never get over it. It didn’t help that she was not getting better, but was slowly getting more depressed as the days passed.

Cain worried when every day she seemed to withdraw a little more. He hoped the next day she’d be better, that she’d pull herself back. No matter what he did or said, it didn’t seem to help her. He mentioned bringing in a counselor, but when he brought up the subject, she firmly dismissed the idea.

Jessa was looking increasingly tired, depleted of energy. He had to push, cajole, and sometimes beg her to get her to eat.

When he heard her crying in the shower one morning, he’d had enough. No matter what, he would get some answers. Cain pushed his way into the bathroom, sliding the shower door open, finding her sitting on the shower floor, her arms wrapped around her bent knees, her head tucked, sobbing.

He turned off the water, grabbed a few big fluffy towels, and gathered her into his arms. This was it, if she wouldn’t talk to him, he’d call in someone else and demand she speak with them.

He sat them in the big leather chair in the corner of his bedroom. He dried her gently, then used another towel to pat and squeeze water from her long hair. The whole time she sat still, not moving, but still had hot tears running down her face.

He leaned back and pulled her to his chest. He released the breath he hadn’t known was buried in his lungs, relieved when she relaxed against him.

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