Page 11 of Drifter
“Yeah, baby. But not at you. I repeat, can I hold you?”
I nod. Drifter puts his arms around me; I melt into his embrace. “I feel safe with you. I haven’t felt that for a long time.”
“That man needs to pay,” he says gruffly.
“You sound like Simon. I had to beg him to stop, or he would have killed him that night,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“Dad took Dr. Sutton’s side.” I sigh, suddenly feeling drained. “I don’t want to talk anymore. At least not tonight.”
“Okay, babe. We’ve done enough baring of our souls for one night.”
We eventually shuffle back to the couch, where I remain in his arms. I don’t remember when or how, but I fell asleep, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek.
Drifter
I should wake Sasha up, but she looks so peaceful asleep in my arms, and I don’t want to let her go. I reach over and grab the blanket she has draped over the ottoman and throw it over us. I put my feet up and close my eyes. I’d like to say that sleep comes easily, but it doesn’t.
It was hard enough to share my own hellish story with Sasha, but hearing what happened to her only makes me want to find this guy and make him feel the same terror he put my Sasha through. My first priority is seeing to my woman and making sure she feels safe.
I shut my eyes and focus on my breathing. It takes a while, but the blissful darkness finally takes over.
Chapter 6
Men with a Purpose
Drifter
Incessant knocking and a man’s voice calling out wake me up. I have a crick in my neck from sleeping in the same position all night. Sasha stirs in my arms. Her eyes open, bewildered, and she rubs the sleep out of them. The voice outside gets louder.
“Sasha! Open the door. It’s me, Simon. Come on, sis, I’m worried about you. You’re not answering your phone, and you’re freaking me out,” a low baritone voice utters. His fist connects with the door again.
That spurs Sasha into action. She springs up and rushes to the front door. Her cheeks are flushed and her hair is messy. She tries to flatten the fluffy strands with her palms, then runs her hands down over her creased dress. Even flustered, she’s gorgeous.
I get up and saunter to join her as she swings the door open. A very agitated man is waiting for us on the other side, his hand raised to pound on the door. He drops his fist the second he sees his sister.
“Jesus Christ!” Simon engulfs his sister in a brotherly hug. “I was worried sick. I’ve been calling and texting for hours.” It’s then that he discovers me standing behind his sister. His gaze moves from me back to Sasha. He holds on protectively to her, and I immediately know I like this guy.
I’m not a small man, and I’m at least three inches taller and bulkier than Simon. In a fight, I’d crush him, but that doesn’t stop him from taking care of his sister. I stretch out my hand. “You must be Simon. Name’s Drifter, Sasha’s boyfriend.”
Simon stares at my hand for a second before taking it, then looks down at Sasha. “Sash, something you want to tell me?”
“Come in, big brother. I’ll make coffee, and we can talk. Before you start, Drifter and I are new. Like really new! The first call I would have made was to you, to tell you about Drifter,” she replies.
Simon comes in, still holding on to his sister like he’s afraid of letting her go. “I get that you’re protecting Sasha, and I appreciate it, but Sasha’s got nothing to fear from me.” Simon slackens his hold. “I’ll start the coffee while you talk with your brother, babe,” I say and drop a soft kiss to Sasha’s lips.
“Thanks, handsome,” she murmurs. Simon and Sasha sit on the stools at the counter while I pour water into the coffee machine.
“Start at the beginning,” Simon says.
“I like Drifter. A lot. I thought he hated me, and it seems I got that wrong.” Then, cheekily, she turns to me and says, “However, I had every right to think he disapproved of me because he would avoid me and take off as soon as he saw me.” She giggles.
“You did the same, sunshine,” I remind her. “The universe had other plans for us, and I stopped fighting what I was feeling for Sasha.” I direct my response to Simon.
“Look, this is all pretty sudden,” Simon starts.
“He knows, Simon,” Sasha says bluntly. “I didn’t want to start a relationship with Drifter with secrets.”
