Page 262 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
I closed my eyes at the memory. “The town was overrun a week later.”
When I opened my eyes, Emma was staring up at me. She approached, laying a soft hand on my shoulder. The understanding in her eyes floored me, and I almost broke down, almost fell to my knees and buried my face in her midsection.
But now was not the time to expose my pain fully. She’d asked me what was going on, and I’d told her. Now that she knew about my failure, my inability to keep the woman in the desert safe, she’d have to realize how little control I had over circumstances.
I’d almost lost her, just like the woman I’d been sworn to protect. And the fear her being hurt or worse had been so enormous that I’d nearly lost my mind. I’d wanted to kill, to maim, to make sure that no one ever considered harming her again.
“You should go,” I croaked. “Back to your father and brother. They can keep you safe.” I shook my head, shrugging out from under the hand on my shoulder. “I can’t say the same.”
CHAPTER 18
EMMA
I’d listened carefully to his story, the evidence of his pain causing an answering hurt inside me. Jack had put his life into protecting people, only to find out that he couldn’t save them all. It was a huge burden to carry around, and it went a long way towards explaining his behavior.
He turned away, suggesting I leave. But I couldn’t, not now. “You did keep me safe,” I insisted, following him and pulling on his arm until he turned back to face me. “You beat back three men with guns who could have killed you and me.”
Jack stared down at me, indecision on his face. “It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. I shouldn’t have let you get involved.”
I frowned. “I understand wanting to keep me safe. My father and brother have pulled this crap all my life. I made the choice to get involved, and you couldn’t have stopped me if you wanted to. It was my fault the men showed up. I’m the one that put us both in danger.”
I regretted it now, playing detective as he’d said before. I would have never wanted any harm to come to Jack, and clearly the events of yesterday had dredged up memories he was working hard to forget. “I’m sorry. I should have been more careful, should have listened to you.”
He nodded, then grabbed her arms. “Yes. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. I don’t think I could survive it.”
His words shot through me like an electric shock. “I’m fine,” I whispered. “I’m not hurt.”
His finger traced the bruises on my throat as if to call me a liar. I brushed his hand away. “Just a couple of bruises,” I said. “No lasting damage.”
His eyes were full of an emotion I couldn’t name. I could see the doubt on his face, and could only try to reassure him.
“You can’t protect me from everyone, Jack.”
Suddenly I was pulled tight into his arms. “You’re wrong.” His voice was hoarse, and it sent a shiver through me. “I can protect you from everyone. Everyone but myself.”
His lips hit mine and it was like an explosion of passion. I was instantly overwhelmed. His kiss was more powerful than anything I’d experienced, and my knees gave out. Jack caught me, holding me close against his hard body.
When I finally came up for air, I responded. “I don’t want to be protected from you,” I breathed. “You’re everything I’ve always wanted.”
He groaned in response, swinging me up into his arms and carrying me out of the living room. Setting me back on my feet in the bedroom, he went to his knees on the mattress settled on the floor and pulled me down beside him.
Enfolding me in his strong arms, he kissed my neck. “Oh, Emma,” he whispered. “What did I do to deserve you?”
I smiled, but before I could reply, he’d captured my lips again. The kiss was barely on this side of savage, and I responded, unable to help myself. My hands clutched his broad shoulders, my nails digging into his back.
He covered me with his body and I wrapped my legs around him, trying to get closer. He growled, annoyed at the clothes that were keeping us apart. I pulled the shirt over his head, and he returned the favor, then barely managed to get my bra off before he ripped it to shreds.
Our pants followed, and soon we were blessedly naked with each other. The look in his eye sent shivers through me. I’d never been this desired, never been on the verge of being consumed.
I wanted him to take me, to take all of me, and to give me all of himself.
I licked his lips and it made him grin, then his mouth descended on mine. When he’d kissed me breathless, he worked his way down, stopping to torture my breasts with his divine mouth. I was soon mewling beneath him, begging him to give me more.
His smile was wicked and I felt a rush of moisture to my core. While he sucked a nipple, his hand crept lower until I felt a finger tracing my slit. It slid inside and I let out a sigh of pure joy and relief.
But that finger only served to tease me more. It was joined by another that moved deep inside me until I was crying out for release. When his fingers found my clit, I started to shake, knowing I was already on the verge.
He swallowed my moan and kissed me, his tongue probing my mouth, licking and teasing me until I bit his bottom lip in frustration.
