Page 32 of Unspoken Confessions
I snapped out of it and was sure that my silence hadn’t gone unnoticed.
I turned my head to look at Jameson and he shot a side-eye in my direction. His brow lifted in question and as my lips thinned, I shook my head. I could see the shrug even in his quick jogging pace. The funny thing was, though his body said he didn’t care, his eyes kept lingering on me every time he did that look around bodyguard thing. I tried not to roll my eyes when he did it, but I could only assume it was a habit. I guess it was a good one to have in his line of work. I should have just been thankful. I was sure with the hat and aviator sunglasses, no one even knew who I was. Even if they did, the worst thing that would happen would have been that I’d have to stop my jog and talk to a few people. It wouldn’t have been so bad.
Without warning, he slowed his pace and dropped behind me.
My heartbeat picked up because I was sure that he was seeing something I couldn’t. Was I in danger? It was all I could do to keep my body moving forward. I wanted nothing more than to stop and check out my surroundings. But if there was a problem, I had to believe that he would take care of it and he’d keep me safe while doing it.
He shifted to the other side and like I knew he was trying to herd me away from whatever it was, I moved over in the opposite direction.
Since I was in freak out mode and not paying attention, I didn’t even see the uneven edge of the path. My foot slipped over the loose dirt and rocks that hadn’t been packed down like the middle of the trail. Before I knew it, I was going down, and not smoothly either. I hit the ground, the impact knocking the air out of me temporarily, and since there was a hill, I continued to move downward. I felt something sharp and hard scrape over my knee and cheek as I slid to a stop.
Really, it hadn’t been that steep of a hill, but I still felt like I’d fallen and rolled a couple hundred feet. Truth was, I’d probably made it a few feet. It definitely wasn’t life-threatening, but I still wanted to cry like a baby. The uncertainty of what Jameson was concerned about and the fact that I’d taken a tumble in front of a handful of people had strange feelings coming at me from all sides.
“Oh, my God! Are you okay?” A high-pitched voice said and I simply kept my eyes closed. Great, someone had seen my less-than-graceful landing. But really, what did I care? I shouldn’t have. The fact that Jameson had been right behind me to witness it was honestly worse. “Hey! What? I just want to check on him. Ugh, you are rude.”
Then I could hear the person walk off and that was when I opened my eyes. Jameson’s big, strong back was the first thing I saw. He was clearly in protective mode, blocking me from whoever was trying to get close. Despite the annoying pain I felt all over, I smiled. But of course, I wiped it off my face before he turned around.
With his hands on his hips and a concerned look in his eyes, he stared down at me.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I mumbled and sat up. He reached out and I didn’t hesitate to take his hand. Once I was on my feet, his big hands wrapped around my shoulders to hold me steady. “I think I can walk back to the car.”
I mean, at this point I practically felt like I knew what he was thinking, so why not make it easier on both of us and just answer.
Luckily, the trail looped around to the beginning and even luckier, we were close to the end.
With a little help, I made it back to the SUV. I’d feel this for a few days, but it really wasn’t that bad. No sense in being a baby about it. I just wanted to get behind the tinted windows of the vehicle as fast as possible. Then go shut myself up at home and lick my wounds in private.
But Jameson had other plans. Or so I assumed by the way he opened the back and gently moved me to rest against the bumper.
I sat there a little awkward while he dug around for something. A First-Aid kit. I wondered if he was simply being nice or if I looked that bad. I was almost afraid to know.
He pulled my sunglasses off and set them to the side. Knowing he wasn’t going to let it go, I turned my hat around so he could get a better look without the bill being in the way.
“I promise, I’m fine,” I assured him as he took my chin between his fingers and tilted my head to the side so that he could examine my cheek. It was throbbing, even if I was trying to be tough and play it off, and I imagined there was a bit of blood there. Probably all crusty and dry by now, and real fun to clean off.
His brows pulled together as he took in the wound. Then his gaze slid to meet mine, making me realize that I was staring into his eyes a little too intently. It was like I was silently calling him to look at me. To see that I really was alright.
And then there this moment.
Yep, a moment.
I felt it and I was pretty sure by the little heated flair in his eyes that he was too. It was a mix of lust and… something else. Something more desperate and needy. I was sure my look mirrored his. It was that moment that I wanted to close my eyes and wish with all the power in the world that he would kiss me. Everything faded away. I forgot where I was. I forgotwhoI was. I forgot that I couldn’t want things like that.
But here in this moment, with this strong, silent man, I wanted to sayfuck it. I wanted to offer him everything. And I wanted him to take it all.
Then he cleared his throat and turned his attention back to my cheek. I tried hard to hide my disappointment.
I had no right to feel that way.
Not until I could find a way to break free of this horrible cage I’d put myself in. Yes, I was starting to see that I was really the only one responsible for holding myself back, even if it was my father that was always the one in the back of my head every time I wanted to fly.
He released me for a moment in order to grab something out of the First-Aid kit.
As I tried to look away so I didn’t seem like I was desperate to have his eyes back on me, my gaze was drawn to his chest. Kill me now. His shirt, which was snug to begin with, was now soaked with sweat and clinging to his every sexy, solid dip and ridge. And since it was a bit chilly today, his nipples were hard points sticking out as if they were screaming to get my attention. They called for my fingers. For my tongue. They taunted me with how they’d feel brushing up against my bare chest. I was seconds away from ripping off his shirt and mine just so I could feel it.
I subtly breathed him in. A mix of sweat and earth and woods.
I became dizzy as he reached for my face again. Yep, pretty sure all the blood was rushing south. I barely registered the sting from whatever he used to clean me up.
