Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Liam
I pumped my arms and legs, pounding down the dark road. My lungs burned and sweat soaked through my shirt, but I couldn’t outrun the rage blazing through me.
Of all the things, it was her fucking bedroom that put me over the edge.
Not her getting scared while we were out—once possibly from catching sight of the erection I couldn’t fucking control.
Not her almost admitting that her neighbor had fucking abused her.
It wasn’t even how she’d panicked when she tried to touch my cock.
Her courage for that impressed me, not that I’d let her touch me if it required bravery to do so.
No, it was her fucking bedroom. Her bed was pushed into the corner of the room, even though there was plenty of space to center it.
It reminded me of the guys in the Army who’d sleep with their backs to the wall, when they were able to sleep at all.
The nightlight and the baseball bat propped between her bed and the nightstand corroborated that scenario.
A scenario where Jenna lay in bed scared and helpless, first as a little girl trapped in a real-life nightmare, and now as an adult, still scared, as much as she tried to hide it.
Her apartment was a perfect metaphor for her.
On the surface, it was warm and bright, with colorful pillows and blankets and happy pictures, like the Texas longhorn in a field of wildflowers hanging over her dresser, but the scared little girl she once was still lurked under the surface.
Sweet on the outside, scared on the inside.
I’d known it from the moment I met her, but tonight was the first time seeing it up close and personal, and I fucking hated it.
God, I wanted to kill the motherfucker. I’d killed terrorists and traffickers and murderers, and although I was glad to do my part in ridding the world of dangerous scum, I’d never enjoyed the idea of taking a life.
Until now. I’d show him what fear feels like.
Then I’d rip him apart with my bare hands. Starting with his fucking dick.
My phone burned in my pocket. I had two computer gurus on speed dial. With one message, by this time tomorrow, I could have all the info I needed to be bashing in her neighbor’s face. It was so tempting, but I couldn’t. Not without Jenna’s approval.
I ran faster, but I couldn’t outrun the image of Jenna’s face as I left her. Fuck. I should’ve chosen the punching bag tonight instead. I was an ass for leaving so abruptly, but I couldn’t breathe in there. I’d needed to get away to deal with the fury raging through me.
She was so good. Sweet and caring. She always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. She brightened every room she entered. Like a firefly. It was fucking bullshit that such a ray of light had to exist in such a dark, shitty world.
No one deserved the shit she’d had to endure, and I couldn’t save everyone. I would save Jenna, though. I’d be the hero she should’ve had all along.
Determination settled over me as I turned toward home, my steps steadier now. Jenna was a warrior, but her fight wasn’t over. And if she let me, I’d be by her side, holding her hand every step of the way.
I called Jenna as soon as I walked through my front door.
“Hello?” she answered, her sweet voice unsure.
I’m sorry, Firefly. I’ll never give you reason to doubt me again, I vowed to myself. One day she’d know it, too.
“I’m sorry I left the way I did.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. I just needed a little time to process everything.”
“And did you?”
“Yeah, I went for a jog and did some thinking.”
“At midnight? And what kind of jog? I doubt your definition of a jog is the same as mine.” Her teasing tone eased the pressure in my chest. Finally able to breathe, I went to the kitchen for a glass of water.
“It may have been more of a run than a jog. I did some good thinking, though.”
“And?” she whispered, sounding nervous again.
“And I’d like to see you again soon. And I’d like to keep talking to you every day.”
“I’d like that, too.” I heard the smile in her voice, and fuck, I wished I was there to see it.
“Good. Can I see you tomorrow?”
“I’d love to, but I have plans in the afternoon with Juliette and Nicky.”
“You usually go to the gym in the mornings, right? Want to go for a jog before you see them? And can you do dinner after your plans?” I didn’t care if she knew how desperate I was to see her.
I wanted her to know it. It was also a reminder that I knew she went to the gym in the mornings because I knew her.
Even though tonight had only been our second date, we’d been friends for a long time.
Jenna agreed to both, and her light giggle was music to my ears.
“Are you going to go to sleep soon?” I asked.
“Probably not. I don’t think I could fall asleep yet.”
“Want to keep talking?”
I drank another glass of water while we talked about working out, then I locked up the house, set the alarm, and got undressed as we discussed her plans to go to the mall tomorrow, whether or not Nicky and Ryan would ever get together, and about our favorite places in San Antonio.
Eventually, she started slurring her words a little.
“I’d love to talk more, but I’m getting tired,” I said, feigning a yawn. “Are you getting tired, too?”
“Yeah, I should go to sleep.”
“See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Firefly.”
“Goodnight, Liam.”
I hoped she’d fall asleep easily. I’d be happy to talk to her every day like this if it helped give her more peaceful nights.
I was wide awake, though, an idea coming together in my head.
Jenna’s childhood obviously sucked. I couldn’t change her past, but I could give her another chance to enjoy all the carefree fun she’d missed out on.
Excitement filled me as I made a mental list of all the things I wanted to do with Jenna.
All the places I wanted to take her. When I finally closed my eyes, it was to a vision of a happy, safe, smiling Jenna, and I couldn’t wait to make it our reality.
Early the next morning, I eagerly waited for Jenna to buzz me into her building, and then I hurried to her.
When the elevator opened on her floor, she was waiting for me in her open doorway, looking stunning in a pair of pink shorts, a white tank top, and pink and white sneakers.
I rushed forward to help hold Thor, who was lunging to reach me.
“Hey, buddy,” I said as he jumped up, stretching to reach my face. I leaned down and obliged him.
“Thor gets a kiss before me?” Jenna teased.
“He asked first.” I gently nudged Thor down and back into her apartment, closing the door behind us so I could release him.
“Good morning, Firefly,” I said, drawing her to me for a kiss. “You look beautiful.”
“You look good, too,” she said shyly. I was wearing gray gym shorts and a fitted black T-shirt, chosen for how it showed off my muscles. I loved that she liked it.
“Want to go to McAllister Park? Or Mission Park?”
Jenna’s eyes lit up. “Can we go to McAllister?”
“Of course.”
Jenna grabbed her water and a fanny pack, and we were on our way a minute later.
“This is great!” Jenna said as we started our jog. “I thought we’d just go around the neighborhood.”
“We could still do that if you’d rather? I just thought the trails would be fun. Have you been here before?”
“I love this. The wildflowers are so pretty. I’ve walked here a couple of times with Thor, but then I started going to Atteren Park instead.”
“Where do you usually run?”
“A treadmill at the gym. It’s boring, but...”
“But what?” I prompted when she didn’t continue.
She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “It just feels...safer in the gym.”
It was. There was no way in hell I’d want her on a trail like this by herself. Especially if she came before work, it could be desolate so early. But I was smart enough to know saying that might upset her.
“Yeah,” I agreed carefully. “You never know what you’ll find on the trails.” That was neutral enough, right?
“Exactly. It feels a little better with Thor, but still not great. I prefer taking him to Atteren. There’s always a lot of people, and it’s a quick loop so I can go around a couple of times and never be too far from my car.”
“Is that where you want to go before Dylan’s party tomorrow?”
“Yeah. There’s a new path there I’ve been wanting to explore if that’s okay?”
Was it okay that she wanted my help to expand her comfort zone? Fuck yes. And also, fuck no, because she shouldn’t need it. “Of course,” I said with a smile, that now-familiar fury building up inside me again. She was so determined, yet so scared.
“Thor and I just walk, though; no running. He’s too busy sniffing out whatever little critters are around, like last week when he went crazy at that squirrel in the bush. I could barely get him to walk away, and he still kept turning back to growl at it.”
I laughed, but I felt that familiar tightening in my gut, and I always listened to my gut. I didn’t want my anxiety to add to hers, but what if it wasn’t just a squirrel? “Did he bark at it again the next time around?”
She dropped her gaze and said, “We left after that,” like it was a fucking admission.
Dammit, she’d had the same worry. “Hey, you did the right thing. Dogs have good instincts. It’s smart to listen to them.”
We picked up our pace, and it was a beautiful torture.
I wanted to run with Jenna every day. Jogging with a hard-on sucked, but it was worth every painful step.
Jenna ran with beautiful form, her blond ponytail swinging, her ass round and tight, her pert tits bouncing just the slightest bit.
Thank God she was focused on the path ahead and not on my cock.
After a long, steady jog, we slowed to a walk and Jenna looked up at me, her cheeks pink, her smile huge, her beautiful eyes glowing, and her breasts lifting with every heaving breath, and I was a lecherous bastard because all I could see was how she’d look as she came apart under me.
“This was so much fun! Thank you for taking me!”
“It was my pleasure, Firefly.” It truly was, and when she beamed at me, everything was simultaneously crystal clear and a jumbled mess.
I was grateful that she was cautious and safe.
I wanted her to feel free to take risks.
I wanted her to feel safe with me.
I wanted to give her the skills and confidence to feel safe without me.
I wanted to protect her from every danger.
I wanted to open her world and watch her bask in the joy that I knew she’d find in it.