Chapter 31
Shannon
Jamie took one step closer, his gaze never leaving her.
She threw a hand up. “Stay back.”
“Shannon.” His voice was a low rumble, carrying the edge of a command.
Her stomach knotted at the creases in his forehead, how his gaze drilled into her.
“How the hell did you get in here?”
Skirting the room, she darted through the kitchen, her heart thumping, as she headed into the bedroom. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Before she could even think what to do next, she sensed him move behind her.
Doing a one-eighty, she folded her arms across her chest, trying to hide the turmoil inside, but her breath caught in her throat when she saw him.
He filled the doorway, his presence captivating. His hair was damp, towel dried from getting caught in the storm, and he hadn’t bothered to fix it, letting the strands drape his forehead.
He’d removed his shirt to dry it off, the muscular contours of his tanned abs exposed. His belt buckle fell to one side, his smart trousers soaked through.
He embodied masculinity, raw strength radiating from every tight inch of him. The guy didn’t just live masculinity—he wrote the damn book on it.
His arms crossed over his chest, a stance that only amplified the width of his shoulders, and his eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers with a burning intensity.
Shannon swallowed hard, her body betraying her as she stood frozen, captivated by the overwhelming power of him.
He was rugged and magnetic in a way that made her heart beat harder, even as her mind screamed at her to stay in control.
But she couldn’t. There was no denying the pull he had on her.
“Leave,” she gritted out, before pulling clothes from her drawers, desperate to find something to wear.
She yanked on a clean hoodie, her hands trembling as she slid her arms into the sleeves.
“No,” his voice was hoarse, low, and filled with an authority that both unsettled and soothed her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
In two quick strides, he was there, towering over her, his height and build imposing yet not touching her in any way.
His dimple had vanished, his expression stayed tight, but his eyes held something deeper that had her thinking he might actually care.
Her hair, still damp from the rain, clung to her cheeks and her lashes fluttered, doing her best to bat away tears.
She bit back a sob, her breathing ragged under his intense stare.
“Please… Just turn around and walk away,” she pleaded.
“What happened, Shannon?” he demanded. “Talk to me, love. I wanna know.”
Her head shook from side to side, the truth choking her. No one could know.
“I don’t want you here.” Her voice cracked, the lump in her throat refusing to go away.
His jaw clenched, and his spine went poker straight.
“I’m not going anywhere until you name the bastard who hurt you,” he said, his tone carrying an undeniable authority.
He widened his stance, crossing his arms as if he needed to stop himself from reaching for her. “Give me the name. Now.”
“Please, Jamie. This has nothing to do with you. Just go.” Her gaze fell to the messy bed sheets, the same ones she’d fixed that morning—or did she?
“Did you do that?” she asked, pointing a shaky finger at the bed.
The crease on his forehead deepened, and he stepped into her, his voice now a mix of confusion and concern. “What?”
Her brows snapped together .
“I made my bed this morning. Like I do every day…” She struggled to remember. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.”
Jamie reached out and swept up a tear from her jaw. When her head jerked back at the light touch, he clenched his jaw and let his hand fall.
“Sorry,” she whispered, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s not you…”
“I know it’s not me, because I’d never, ever fucking hurt you,” he murmured, almost like a warning.
Shannon looked up at him, the urge to bury her face in his chest overwhelming.
She fought it, though, forcing herself to stay strong even though his closeness was both soothing and electrifying. She couldn’t stop the flutters in her chest as he dipped his face closer.
“Let me in, Shannon.”
The tips of his leather shoes nudged against her toes, sending a jolt of awareness through her body.
“Is this why you stopped texting back?” His hand moved to tease the wet strands of hair from her cheek, the touch so tender it made her heart stutter. “I’ll fucking kill whoever did this.”
The raw anger in his voice was unmistakable, and the fist at his side tightened like he battled the fury inside him.
“I don’t need a hero. I can sort out my own problems. Please, go.” She looked away, drained of strength.
“Not going anywhere, love.”
Jamie scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bathroom, setting her feet on the fluffy mat at the shower.
Supporting her with his solid body, he turned on the shower, holding his hand under the stream, waiting for it to heat up.
Their gazes locked, and for a fleeting second, something unspoken passed between them. Her pride screamed at her to force him away, to not let him get too close.
But her heart ached for the comfort he somehow gave her.
Jamie crouched, his eyes level with her zipper as he pulled it down and took his time to pull them past her hips, careful not to rush.
As they reached her ankles, he paused for a moment, his gaze flicking upward, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“You’re wearing them,” he said, his voice low.
Her breath caught as she realised what he meant. His red boxer briefs, soaked through, were the only thing of his she had left.
“They’re comfy. That’s all,” she muttered, the lie hollow as it left her lips. “You can have them back once I’ve washed them.”
“Keep them, love. They look better on you.”
Her fingertips skimmed his shoulders, the heat of his skin sending a buzz through her. She jerked her hand away, forcing herself to focus on the bathroom door.
As he tugged her breeches from her feet and pulled off her soaked socks, the fire inside her sparked.
She tried to block out the overwhelming pull of his presence, but her body betrayed her, reacting to every movement, every breath between them.
“Look at me, love,” his voice was low but firm, the command softened only by his concern. “I need you to see me. To trust me.”
The weight of his gaze made her heart race, and despite the walls she’d built, a part of her couldn’t resist. As he knelt before her, she lowered her gaze to meet his.
Their direct eye contact left her vulnerable, exposed, but a sense of safety had her muscles relaxing, his silent power wrapping around her like a protective shield.
“Who hurt you?”
The way he said it was different this time. There was no command in his tone, only a raw, guttural need to fix whoever had broken her.
His anger was still there, but it was tempered by something deeper—a promise, a vow to make things right, no matter the cost.
“Don’t pity me. I’m fine,” she croaked, forcing out a strangled gasp.
She let him peel off the boxers, aware of his gaze drilling into every bruise. Jamie had always asked for her trust, and she had given it to him.
This time, the circumstances were different, yet she still surrendered without a fight.
“This isn’t who I am, Jamie,” she said, her voice tight with the effort of holding her composure. “I’m stronger than this.”
She was the girl who fell off Trixie mid- competition, broke two fingers, and got straight back in the saddle, charging toward the finishing fence.
Shannon had more guts than most men, but this entire ordeal had stripped away her defences, knocking her self-esteem sideways like an out-of-control truck.
Jamie rose, snaked his arms around her, and unhooked her bra, his breath warm against the side of her face.
“I know who you are,” he said. “Being vulnerable in situations like this doesn’t make you weak. Surviving whatever this is makes you the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
He placed a slow kiss to her bruised shoulder, the gentle sensation deeply anchoring.
Her body, as if pulled by some unseen force, moved closer to his chest.
Somehow, the closeness felt like home, comforting and secure, making her curse herself for wanting to stay there, wrapped in the safety of his powerful arms.
When her bra fell between them and her nipples brushed his skin, he drew in a breath, the sound of it sending a jolt of heat straight to her core.
Jamie inhaled, stepped back and took her hand, helping her balance as she stepped into the cubicle. Warm water hit her cold skin, and she closed her eyes for a beat.
Jamie stayed back, his arms crossed over his chest, his hip resting against the narrow vanity.
“I’m gonna need that name, Shannon.”
“Leave it, Jamie. ”
He gave her a moment to adjust to the warm water before crouching down, selecting a half empty bottle of lavender body wash from the tray. He squeezed a small amount into his hand and began rubbing it in slow, circular motions, the soft scent filling the air.
Her eyes widened when he stood, her chest tightening. She was naked, vulnerable, and at his mercy.
Knowing Niall was gone for a few days made it easier to relax into his touch, even if only for a moment. Even though Jamie was with her again, she couldn’t let him in.
However, this final moment together would be her secret, one that Niall would never know about.
Jamie’s hands moved over her skin with the care of someone who had no intention of crossing boundaries.
His palms glided across her curves, never straying too far, never rushing. He hesitated, his breath ragged, as though he fought an internal battle to keep his hands steady.
Her heart raced, her emotions swelling in her chest, and they hadn’t stirred from lust. No, Jamie McGrath was being careful, nurturing her in a way she’d never experienced.
Slippery soap slid over her shoulders, and she shivered at the divine sensation. When his hands lathered her thighs, she leaned into the touch, her fingers pressing into the tiles for balance.
“This isn’t a good idea, Jamie,” she whispered, her voice strained. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Yeah, I should,” he said. “I won’t do anything. Keep your hands on the wall, take deep breaths and relax. ”
As his hands lingered on her skin, Shannon’s heart waged war with her mind.
Every part of her screamed for the independence she had fought so hard to maintain, yet the warmth of his touch, the gentleness in his care, made it harder to hold on.
This isn’t who I am .
I don’t need him to ruin everything.
I’m stronger than this.
“After this, Jamie... I need you to leave and never come back.” She forced the words out, trying to regain some control of herself.