Chapter 9 Zach
ZACH
She’s crying. I knew it was coming. I could tell in the last hour that she was overwhelmed, and I’m kicking myself for not being more discreet when checking the box.
Maybe I’m going too far, but Sky’s stalker is unhinged.
I found trackers on my truck and her car and removed them both before we left this morning.
There’s no doubt that he knows where she is and is probably following her everywhere she goes.
I made sure we weren’t being followed when we drove here, but because of the nature of her business, the world knows she’s here.
Every post and image Sky is tagged in from Whisked Away shows the enemy her exact location.
I stand outside the bathroom, listening to her sob softly. There’s steam coming from under the door, and I can smell the scent of her lavender soap. My chest feels so tight that all I can do is stand here and try to breathe.
It guts me, and I’m fighting with myself because more than anything, I want to walk in there and hold her.
As soon as the water shuts off, I move away from the door. I check the deadbolt again, making sure it’s locked. I pull the edge of the curtains tighter, making sure that no one can see in. It’s habit now, double and triple-checking things, but it’s a necessary one.
I hear her shuffling around in there, lids snapping open, more water running, and when the door finally opens, I can’t stop myself.
I slowly walk toward her. I take the contents of her hands and drop them on the dresser before pulling her into my arms.
She’s stiff at first, but I don’t let her go. I slide my hand up and down her back, soothing her the only way I know how.
I haven’t hugged anyone in a long time, but this feels good. Almost too good. The hitch of her breath hits me hard.
Finally, she melts into me, and before I know it, she’s crying again.
I pick her up, and she gasps. “Zach, I’m too big.”
I’m holding her bride-style, and I look into her eyes. “Don’t say that. You’re perfect.”
She wants to argue, but she bites her lip and lets her head fall against my shoulder. I move to the chair in the corner. I sit down, holding her tight against me. Her sobs continue, and with each one, my heart hurts a little more. I wish I could save her from this.
I whisper low, “I’ve got you, sweets. You’re safe right here. I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry you’re going through this. I promise I’m going to keep you safe.”
She pulls back and looks up at me with wet, glistening eyes. “What about you? Do you promise you’re going to be safe too?”
Gutted.
That’s the only way I know how to describe it.
My sister and our parents worry about me and want me to be okay, but this feels different. “Yeah, I’ll be safe too.”
I’ve made the promise before to family, but this is the first time that it feels like more than just words. And I know it’s impossible to promise someone that you will protect them, but I know more than anything, I will die trying.
As we sit here, looking into each other’s eyes, the moment explodes between us. I’m not sure which of us leans in first, but our lips touch, and I feel the kiss go through my entire body. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and I know I don’t ever want this feeling to end.
I tilt her head, deepening the kiss. Her tongue slides against mine, and I tremble. My cock is hard under her hip, and she shifts her weight on me. A groan erupts from within, and I force myself to break off the kiss.
We stare at each other wide-eyed, neither of us saying anything.
I’m the first to speak, and I know it’s the wrong thing as soon as it comes out of my mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
She tenses in my arms, puts her hands on my chest, and tries to lift herself off me. My arms go around her. “Don’t. Don’t move.”
She shakes her head. “Zach, this is confusing, and to be honest, I’m not equipped to handle it.”
I try to understand her. “Handle what?”
She blinks. “You ask me to be your girlfriend but tell me it’s for the job. You kiss me and then apologize. I just… I can’t do this.”
“I want you,” I tell her with complete honesty.
She opens her mouth and then closes it.
I know I owe her an explanation. “But no matter how much I want you, now is not the time. I’m here to protect you.”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out. “And what? After this… when you catch the guy… what happens then?”
I search her face. “Well, first I’m going to have a talk with Logan and let him know my intentions.”
Her voice is a whisper. “Your intentions?”
I nod, cupping her cheek in my hand. “Yeah. I intend to date you and make you mine for real.”
If she asks me what that means, I’ll tell her. It might scare her off, but she needs to know that this is the real thing. Her hands slide from my chest to my shoulders. “So you’re for real about this? You really do like me?”
I hate that she seems like it’s so hard to believe. How can she not know how beautiful, smart, and amazing she is? “Yes, I really do like you.”
She leans in, and it takes everything in me to stop her. “But we should wait, sweets. We shouldn’t do this until you’re safe.”
She blinks up at me, and I hate seeing the vulnerability on her face. She doesn’t have to say anything for me to know that she’s wondering if I’m being real. I’ll have to prove it to her, and I’ll be happy every day to do just that.
This time when she raises up, I release my hold on her.
She walks slowly across the room, and I give myself a few minutes. My body is hard just from having her on my lap, and even though there’s no doubt she felt it on her hip, I don’t want to draw even more attention to it.
When I’ve gained a little bit of control, I stand up. “I’m going to shower.”
She nods without looking at me.
I grab some things from my suitcase, and before I go into the bathroom, I remind her, “Don’t answer the door for anyone, Sky.”
She finally looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I got it.”
I disappear into the bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror. I look like a man on the edge. Keeping my hands off Sky is going to take every ounce of control I can muster. Her scent is already on me, clinging to my shirt.
I remind myself that she’s my best friend and business partner’s little sister.
I remind myself that I’m supposed to be protecting her, and to do that, I need to keep this professional.
I don’t like it. I want it all with Sky, and I don’t want to wait.
But what kind of soldier would I be if I didn’t have discipline?
I turn on the shower, spinning the nob to its coldest setting. I quickly get undressed and stand under the spray. On contact, it takes my breath away, but I let it flow over me until I can normalize my breathing.
I make quick work of getting cleaned up, resisting the urge to wrap my hand around my girth and pleasure myself.
I step out of the shower, dry off, and put on underwear and shorts.
I pull my shoulders back, trying to collect myself for what I’m about to walk into. The woman that makes me feel things I’ve never felt before is on the other side of the door, and somehow, I have to keep her safe… and keep my hands off her.
The toughest mission of my life isn’t in some foreign country, in a desert or some jungle. It’s in a motel room, trying not to touch the only woman I want.