Chapter 12 #2
"He's back then. You're telling me that's the same man who wants to harm your family? What does he want with me?"
"He has obviously been watching us and figured out that we're seeing each other." Letting go of her hand, he rose and paced towards the window. Was he out there, staring at the building? He wondered.
"You should have told me."
He turned at the accusation in her voice.
"I couldn't."
"You should have given me more credit. Not even a phone call? Do you know what your leaving did to me?"
"Kady-Ann, I was trying to protect you. Furthermore, I had no idea what the hell was going on.
One minute we were seeing each other and the next, I was bundled into a plane and shipped out of the country.
My phone was taken from me. I had no way of communicating.
The threat was real, the danger present, and I had no say in the matter. "
"I had a nervous breakdown!"
Her exclamation had him staring at her in shock.
"What?"
Now that it was out, she could not stop the rest. Surging to her feet, she walked over to the fire, the cold seeping into her skin.
"A month after, I kept going to your house to see if you'd returned, and I snapped.
I guess I was exhausted as well because I wasn't sleeping and everything took its toll.
I ended up in the hospital and spent three weeks there. "
"I had to be sedated most of the time. Kyle was my anchor. He helped me snap out of it."
Landry shook his head as if to clear it, and even so, he could barely think. "You were in the hospital."
"Yes."
"Jesus. Jesus Christ." He felt sick to his stomach.
"I did this to you. Good God, I did this to you and now...
" He felt as if he was suffocating. "I should have stayed away from you.
" His eyes were burning and he felt as if a fist was squeezing his heart.
"No-" He held out a hand when she started towards him.
"I cannot touch you right now. I need some air. "
"Where are you going?" she asked in alarm as he started towards the door.
"I need some air. I need a minute. I'm sorry." With that, he bolted from the room. By the time she dragged on her jacket and headed down the stairs, she heard the front door slam shut.
"Damn you, Landry." Whirling, she raced back up the stairs and picked up her phone to call him. When she heard it ringing inside the room, she realized he had left without it. Trying not to panic, she raced back downstairs and went to look out the window. Where was he?
Dragging the phone from her pocket, she called her brother.
"Not a good time."
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm in the middle of a consult. Can it wait?"
"How long?"
"Thirty minutes at the most. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just call me back, please."
"Kady-"
"I'm fine. Call when you can." She hung up and continued her vigil at the window.
***
It occurred to him after he had been running for ten minutes that he had left without a jacket and he was wearing dress shoes. Slowing down, he realized that his headlong rush had brought the guard who had been outside in his car, driving him down.
He did not stop. He violently wished the bastard who was ruining his life would confront him. At the rate of how he was feeling right now, it would feel good to beat him into a bloody pulp.
A nervous breakdown. Dear God, what had he done to her?
Feeling his breath tearing, he stumbled to a stop and leaned against the sturdy oak tree.
Fighting to catch his breath, he ignored the vehicle that had slowed to a stop a few feet away.
The sensible thing to do was to ship her off, or to end things with her.
But that was not something he had the strength to do, and he had a feeling that it was too late.
Somehow, Massey had figured out that Kady-Ann meant something to him and was planning on using that information to do him harm.
The idea of the man being that close to her was making his skin crawl.
He was obviously letting them know that he could get to them any time he had a mind to. And he had to get back to her.
Bracing his hands on his knees, he took several bracing breaths. Ignoring the guard, he ran back to the apartment.
***
Whirling around at the sound of the door opening, she got there in time to see him stumble inside. His face and clothing were drenched with sweat and he was shivering.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she cried. He stood there swaying and let her beat him on the chest with her fists. "You told me that a madman is out to get you and what do you do? Go off running in the damn dark. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? God!"
"I put you in the hospital." His hands lifted to grip her wrists.
"I don't deserve to even be in the same room.
" His face was stark with pain. "But God help me, I cannot stay away from you.
I'm so in love with you, I cannot think straight.
I thought about letting you go, thought about it for a full minute and felt the panic gripping my very soul.
" He hauled her up against him, eyes glittering. "I cannot let you go."
"I don't want you to, you idiot." He was soaking wet and shivering, but she held on tight. "I never wanted you to. It so happens that I love you too. Always have and always will. Nothing will ever change that."
His eyes darkened and she could feel his body trembling. This strong and beautiful man was laying his heart at her feet and wasn't afraid to show his vulnerability.
"I won't let him hurt you," he vowed. His hands slid up her arms, rubbing, soothing, comforting, a promise he was making to her.
"I won't let anything happen to you; I swear it.
I couldn't survive losing you again. I don't deserve you, good Christ, Kady-Ann, I should let you go, but I can't, God help me, I can't."
"Try it and see," she whispered shakily.
"This time I will follow you to the ends of the earth and tie you to me.
" That made him smile, even if it was a bit wobbly.
She was relieved to see that he was no longer wearing that despairing look, and his lips were no longer pinched with strain.
Sliding her hands up and over his chest, she melted against him.
"I want you," he rasped.
"You have me. Always."
With a feral growl, he swung her into his arms and crushed her lips. With unerring accuracy, he headed for the stairs, managing to keep his lips on hers.
She had left the doors to the suite open. Lifting his head, he walked in and laid her gently on the bed. When she started to undress, he shook his head. His hands were still trembling as emotions curled and raged a war inside him.
"I want to do it. I want to gaze at every inch of your body. Mine." His voice was whisper rough, a note of wonder added. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he removed her boots, tossing them aside. Taking her feet in his hands, he massaged the insteps slowly, his eyes holding hers.
This was his miracle, he pondered fiercely. This was his second chance with her, and he had no intention of blowing it. He had inadvertently caused her to suffer and that was something he would have to live with.
"I'm sorry." His voice thickened. Releasing her feet, he set about taking off her dress slacks, sliding them over her hips. His eyes flared as the skimpy red lace was revealed. "I cannot tell you how much. I never meant to hurt you."
"I know." She moved restlessly beneath his seeking hands, needing him with a ferocity that had her toes curling. Just seeing him like this, disheveled, hurting for her, willing to make up for the past was doing something to her heart.
Something more. She loved him completely, the sharp edge of that love tearing jagged strips inside her. It was too intense, too powerful to be contained.
"I won't hurt you again," he vowed. His breathing was rapid and the long night of seduction he had half planned inside his head was disintegrating.
Her skin was petal soft, flawless, and beautiful.
He removed her sweater, his breath catching at the rise of her breasts, the nipples already hardened buds through the lace.
Her hair was loose and spilled all over his pillow.
Desire made her eyes slumbrous, her lips dewy.
She was biting down on her bottom lip, her teeth white against the glimmer of lipstick she still wore.
Has there ever been a more beautiful woman? he wondered with fierce pride.
"You're mine."
"Yes."
His hands shook as he removed the last layer of clothing. Dropping them at the side of the bed, he passed his hands over her quivering stomach.
"I want children with you." His large hands spanned her belly, and he could imagine her being heavy with the child he placed inside her. "A family. Our family."
"Landry-" She moved restlessly, clamping a hand around his wrist.
"Would you like that?" His voice was harsh, his face taut.
"Yes. Please."
"Not yet. I want to see you tremble with need for me. I want you to scream my name. I need to know that you want me half as much as I want you. I need that."
"I do."
"Not yet. But you will," he promised.