Chapter 7
Glancing at Genna, standing ramrod-straight and clearly struggling to hold it together, Parker clamped his jaw shut. He hated nothing worse than seeing a strong, capable woman like her reduced to fighting back tears.
When she raised her gaze to meet his, he saw the shattered emotions and terror in her eyes. Immediately, he pulled her close, noting how fragile her slender body felt. Trembling, she clung to him.
“I can’t,” she muttered, against his chest. “I just can’t.”
Unsure what she meant, he made a sympathetic sound and continued to rub her back. He’d offer her comfort until she let him know she didn’t need it any longer.
And, despite the heat simmering in his blood as he held her close, he refused to take advantage of her distress. Not in any way, shape, or form.
When she pulled out of his arms, he quickly released her. Stepping back, he jammed his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t touch her. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked gently.
“No.” She swallowed hard. “I’m not. In fact, I have a huge favor to ask. Would you mind if I stay at your house again?”
“Of course, I don’t mind,” he replied. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”
“Thank you.” Glancing around as if she expected someone to step out from the shadows, she met his eyes. “Until the police figure out who is trying to break into my house and why, I’m going to take you up on it.”
Though his first reaction—joy—made him want to grin, he knew that was the last thing she needed right now. Instead, he gave her a grave nod. “Why don’t you go get packed? Take as much as you need, but remember, we can always come back and get more clothes if you need them.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t bother to hide her relief. “Give me a few minutes. Go ahead and help yourself to a drink or snack or whatever you want.”
That said, she hurried out of the room.
When she returned a few minutes later, she not only had her usual backpack, but pulled a medium-sized duffel bag with wheels. “I think I got everything,” she said. Her tremulous smile tugged at his heart.
“Let me help you.” He grabbed her duffel, which she released without protest. Outside, he waited while she used her remote to set the alarm before locking the front door.
He waited while she got into her vehicle and started it, then jumped into his. She followed him to his place. He drove in silence, matching the quiet darkness of the middle of the night. The streets were mostly deserted, the stoplights flashing red.
When they arrived at his place, she got out of her car slowly, almost as if she were sore and hurting. Parking, he grabbed her duffel while she shouldered her backpack, and he led the way into his house.
Inside, he walked down the hall to the guest bedroom. “I washed the sheets and remade the bed,” he told her, turning on the light.
“Thanks.” She took a step past him into the room. Looking around, she exhaled. “You know, someday, if you want, I can help you with a little interior decorating,” she said, looking around the impersonal setup.
He chuckled. “You don’t like hotel room chic?”
“It’s okay,” she said, her voice cautious. “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. You’ve been kind enough to let me stay here and then I critique your décor.”
His chest squeezed. He couldn’t help but notice the way her hands still trembled as she set her backpack on the bed.
“It’s fine,” he replied. “I admit, I hired a designer to do some of the house, but only focused on the areas where I spent a lot of time. Until you, no one has used this guest room, so there hasn’t been much of a need to spruce it up.”
Nodding, she covered her mouth to mask a yawn. He took that as his cue to go. “Get some rest,” he said. “We’ll sleep in since we’re off. We can head up to Valdez once we’re up.”
She didn’t even try to disguise her exhaustion or her relief. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
When he stepped into the hall, she closed the door behind him. He stood out there in the hall for a minute, realizing how lucky she’d been. If not for her new alarm, the outcome could have been a lot worse.
The only reason her earlier text had pulled him from sleep had been that his smartwatch had vibrated. Late-night texts were rare and usually only brought bad news. Which meant, of course, that he’d sat up, turned on his lamp, and read it.
Pure adrenaline had jolted through him the instant he’d seen her words.
Without conscious thought, he’d pulled on some clothes, grabbed his truck keys and sped to her house.
He’d known better than to call to ask her to clarify.
She’d said someone was in her house. He hadn’t wanted to take a chance of giving away her hiding place.
He got undressed, slid into his bed and turned off the lights. She was safe and that’s all that mattered. Except, he couldn’t stop thinking of her, alone and frightened, trying to sleep in the room down the hall.
Finally, he somehow managed to drift off to sleep.
A tortured scream woke him. Genna! Leaping out of bed, jumped into the jeans he’d tossed on the floor and sprinted down the hall to the guest room.
He found her sitting up in bed with the light on, wide-eyed, her arms wrapped around herself. Even from the doorway, he could see how violently she was shaking.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered. “With everything that’s been happening, I think this triggered some past trauma.”
Aching to comfort her, he moved closer and sat carefully on the edge of the bed. When she reached for him, he froze.
“I’m giving your words back to you,” she whispered. “If anything happens between us, I’ll have to initiate it. Well, I am. Now.” She pulled his face down for a kiss. “Make love to me,” she murmured. “Make love to me now. I need to feel alive.”
Though it crossed his mind that he might be dreaming, the press of her sweet and perfect body against his set him aflame. When she pressed her lips against his, he kissed her back with reckless abandon.
The savage intensity of her response brought instant, nearly violent arousal.
Still kissing her, he struggled to maintain control. First, he managed to grab his wallet, fumbling to retrieve the condom. Once he’d put that on, he looked up to find her watching, passion clouding her gaze.
Climbing back into her bed, he slid his hands under her T-shirt, across her silken belly, down the curve of her hip, to find her ready for him.
One touch and she clenched against his finger, her entire body shuddering. Aware he needed to slow things down, he helped her to pull her T-shirt over her head and then stepped back to remove his boxers.
Pupils huge and dark, she looked on as he undressed. He liked that she’d left the light on so he could watch her. Crawling back into her bed, he covered her body with his. Flesh against flesh, he pressed his rigid arousal into her thigh and slanted his mouth over hers.
Wild, untamed, when their mouths met, they devoured each other. “Inside me,” she rasped, guiding him to her. “I need you inside me.”
She was ready for him. As her body sheathed his, he lost the last shredded remnants of his remaining self-control. Passion pounded with each thrust. Her eager response matched his in savage intensity.
They were one in that moment. Joined in more than just their bodies, he felt that zing of connection between their souls.
Certain that she felt it, too, he managed to hold back his release until she shuddered, her body clenching around his.
Only then did he let himself go. When he did, pure and explosive pleasure rocked his world, the intensity unlike anything he’d ever felt.
Except once before, with her. Only with her. As he gave himself to her, surrendering, an amazing feeling of completeness washed over him.
Sated, they clung to each other while their rapid heartbeats slowed and the sheen of perspiration cooled and dried from their skin.
She curled into him, a perfect fit, making him realize there would be no coming back from this.
His life would never be the same again. He could only hope she felt the same way.
How could she not? Both physically and mentally, they’d stumbled across something rare and special, a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love.
He fell asleep with a smile on his face, Genna beside him in the bed.
The next morning when he woke, he slipped from the bed, leaving her asleep and still tangled up in the sheets. He turned once and looked back at her, his heart full.
They made a good couple. She might not realize it yet, but he had a sneaky suspicion that if they could manage to work things out, a long and happy road lay ahead for them.
Whether or not they discussed this now or later, he decided he wouldn’t press her. Instead, he’d follow her lead.
After a quick shower, Parker headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Then he started breakfast, figuring he’d make something basic and hopefully she’d like it. Bacon, eggs and toast. Plus orange juice, if she wanted it.
Whistling while he worked, he realized he could get used to this.
Though he knew she intended her stay to be temporary, just until whoever had been breaking into her house was caught, he couldn’t help but hope she’d be there a while.
Even though he fully intended to put the pressure on the Shelby police force to make sure they caught the guy.
No one, especially not a woman he cared for, should be made to feel unsafe in their own home.
Pleasantly sore, Genna opened her eyes and reached for Parker, only to find his side of the bed empty. As she sat up, she realized she smelled bacon and coffee, two of her absolute favorite morning things in the entire world.
Locating her discarded T-shirt, she pulled it over her head. She grabbed a change of clothes from her duffel and went down the hallway to the bathroom to shower.
Standing under the hot spray, she wondered how she should act around Parker now that they’d made love. Could they go back to the casual friendship they’d begun to enjoy? Did she even want to?