Page 91 of Bountiful
“Yeah,” I mumbled. Dave had told me. But I could swear that conversation happened a week ago, not just a fewhoursago.
“Get some sleep.” She patted my cheek. “You’re going to need it to make it through the nexttendays.”
“I know. Thanks again,” I said by rote. “See you in themorning.”
She left, but I didn’t go to sleep. I spent some time staring out the window, watching the cops talk to Dave and then to my brother Benito. Then all the men disappeared from my view, possibly inside the bar. I stood there at the window for a minute longer waiting for them to reappearagain.
Theydidn’t.
I was still wound up. I toed off my shoes and tiptoed into Nicole’s room to check on her. She’d kicked away her cotton blanket, so I pulled it up. She’d probably kick it off again the moment I left. It was midsummer, and the only one who was coldwasme.
I stood there a long time, just watching the rise and fall of her little chest. What would Nicole’s life be like if I were run down by atruck?
It was enough to give me another round ofchills.
As I watched her sleep, I tried not to hear the terrible crack of the car door wrenching off, right after Dave’s arms had yanked me violently into the car. My jaw ached just at the base of my skull where I’d gotten hung up on the door frame. Tomorrow I knew my neck would bestiff,too.
Whatever. I was still here. That’s all thatmattered.
So why was I stillshaking?
The door buzzer sounded,startlingme.
Not wanting the baby to wake, I scurried out of her room, eased the door shut, and then ran to press the lock button. I heard footsteps climbing the stairs at a rapid clip. I opened the door and there Dave stood, his expressionintense.
“Are you okay?” he asked. He didn’t wait for an answer. He pushed inside the apartment and pulled me to hischest.
Strong arms locked around me. The door thunkedclosed.
My nose met the V of skin where his top button was undone. I took a deep, steadying breath of him. He was warm and solid and I exhaled with shameless gratitude. The shaking didn’t stop, though. It actually got worse for a second, as if my subconscious allowed itself to come fully unhinged in the safety ofhisarms.
He made a noise of distress, deep in his throat, and held me even more tightly. He kissed the top of my head. Then he did it again. Big hands smoothed their way down my arms, bringing much-needed warmth to my chilly limbs. “Are you okay?” he whispered gently. His hands swept up my back, until one wide palm cupped the back of my neck. “Are you hurtanywhere?”
I shook my head, but then his fingers skimmed my bruised neck and Iflinched.
Dave tilted my head to see what had probably become a bruise. He made a hissing sound, and his fingers became more gentle as he probed the area. “Are you sure we shouldn’t get youcheckedout?”
“No need,” I choked out. I wasn’t really injured. Justterrified.
His thumb traced my roughened skin. Then he bent down and placed his mouth over the hurt spot. I whimpered as soft lips comforted that spot. Unbidden, my hands dug into his shirt. And I turned my head a fraction of a degree to give him betteraccess.
He let out a sound that was half groan, half growl, and I felt it everywhere. I turned my face again, this time to find his mouth with mine. And we came together in a way that felt completely inevitable, our lips sealing together just right on the first try. “Oh,” I breathed against his mouth, parting my lips. And then his tongue stroked against mine. He tasted like man and warmth and everything I’d everneeded.
Yes.This.Finally.
I rose to my toes and wrapped my arms around him, leaning into all that solid weight. My poor, terrified heart had a better reason to race now. It was impossible to fear for my life when I was kissing the most intoxicating man who’d ever walkedintoit.
And he didn’t miss a beat, folding me closer to his body, those strong hands dipping down to my ass, yanking me against him. His kiss was fierce and desperate. Seconds later, he turned us around, pressing my back against the door. He cupped my chin in one hand and held it there, kissing me with great focus and fire, while his other hand wandered my curves, cupping my breast, slipping down overmyhip.
All the restraint I’d shown these past few weeks flew right out the window. Gone. I undid the top button of his shirt before abandoning that tedious work to caress his stomach instead. He groaned and I moaned and everything was aheatedblur.
He lifted mydress.
I tugged athisbelt.
His mouth found mythroat.
My fingers fumbled to unzip his fly. And then his cock lay in my hand, hard andheavy.
