Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
WEST
Bellarose is clearly shaken up after the ordeal with Jake. Hell, so am I. We end up leaving him in the woods as we go back toward the cabins, but I hear him curse a few times, so I know he’s still breathing. Unfortunately.
I’ve never been so possessed before. So completely unhinged that I think I might have killed him if Bellarose didn’t tell me to stop. I’d like to think I would have stopped before that happened, but even now I want to turn around and finish what I started.
Instead of doing exactly that with my hands, I’ll take care of it with my wallet.
The first chance I get, I’m filing a report with the camp and then contacting my team.
I’m going to make sure this guy is blackballed from every company that hires him, and then I’m going to have a few friends stop by his house and pay him a visit.
They’ll make sure he can’t ever do what he did to someone else.
The sad fact is that Bellarose probably wasn’t his first victim, but she’ll be his last.
“We’re almost there,” I tell her as I cradle her in my arms.
It was so dark on the way back, even with the lantern, that I didn’t want her to trip over anything.
She didn’t protest as I scooped her up in my arms and held her close to my chest. If anything, she cuddled closer and seemed to finally relax.
In that moment, I knew I was her safety, and I also knew that I would take that job seriously.
Protecting Bellarose has now become my life’s mission.
“Where?” She lifts her head from my chest to look around in confusion. “This isn’t my cabin.”
“I know,” I tell her as I walk up the front porch steps. “It’s mine.”
“Oh” is her only reply as I step inside.
“You’ve been through a lot tonight, and I was worried about you going back to your cabin.” I clench my jaw so I don’t tell her what an asshole her roommate was. “Mine has a landline phone and Wi-Fi in case you want to call anyone.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but I think I’m okay. Just a bit shaken up. I’m better now.”
“I’d feel better if you stayed with me tonight,” I say, and her eyes meet mine. “I’d like to take care of you.”
Something about my words softens her expression before she nods. “I’d like that too.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” I place a quick kiss on her forehead, not wanting to do too much after what happened tonight.
She relaxes against me once more as I carry her through the cabin and back to the bedroom. It’s late, and if she hasn’t had an adrenaline crash yet, when she does, she’s going to be exhausted. As if on cue, she yawns loudly.
“Let me get you something to sleep in,” I tell her as I place her on the bed.
“Mkay,” she mumbles as she automatically snuggles into the pillow.
By the time I go through my bag and grab a shirt, she’s already asleep.
Seeing the peaceful look on her face settles the anxiety in my chest, and I pull up a chair next to the bed.
I have the need to stand guard or at least be ready in case there’s another threat against her.
It’s silly, but I’m not ready to let my guard down. At least not yet.
While Bellarose sleeps, I make some calls and send a few messages about tonight. I make sure someone finds Jake in the woods if they haven’t already and let my assistant Simon know that my cabin is currently off limits. To his credit, he doesn’t ask follow-up questions.
Once I have everything taken care of, I feel the weight of my own adrenaline crash and the following exhaustion. My body is heavy as I sit next to the bed, and my eyes stay closed longer every time I blink.
I’m about to get up from the chair and stumble out to the living room to sleep when I hear Bellarose’s voice stop me.
“West,” she mumbles like she’s dreaming, but I watch her hand slide across the bed in my direction.
“I’m right here,” I tell her as I take her hand, and the strength in her grip surprises me. Bending down, I kiss her cheek, this time letting my lips linger.
“West,” she mumbles a second time and tugs on my hand.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I’m so tired that I can’t fight the urge to crawl into bed with her any longer. Careful not to move too much, I slide in behind her, spooning my body around hers. Of course Bellarose fits perfectly against me. The longer I’m with her, the more I know we were made to be together.
My body wraps around hers, and there’s not an inch of space between us. I surround her protectively, and she sighs like she’s been waiting for this as long as I have. The sound of her heartbeat soothes all my worries away, and I kiss her bare shoulder where her shirt has shifted.
I wish I could stay awake all night so I don’t miss a moment of this. Of what it feels like to have her in my bed. It’s impossible, though. Having Bellarose in my arms has given me a peace I never knew was possible, and I can’t fight sleep any longer.
It might be hours later or only a few minutes, but I’m suddenly wide awake when I feel lips pressing against mine.
“Thank you,” Bellarose whispers after the kiss.
At some point, she turned in my arms, and now she’s looking up at me. I can see the silhouette of her face in the moonlight, and I reach out to brush my thumb over her cheek.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I say, my voice deep and gravelly from sleep. “Nothing I wouldn’t give you.” My thumb moves to trace over her bottom lip. “All you have to do is ask.”
“Will you kiss me again?”
Even in the moonlight, I can see the shyness in her eyes. How can she possibly think there’s a universe where my answer would be no?
“Bellarose,” I tell her as my other arm slides around her waist and I pull her flush against me. I need her to feel how much I want her. I don’t want there to be any mistaking my desire.
“Oh,” she says in surprise, and I’d be willing to bet if I could see the color of her cheeks right now, they’d be fire-engine red.
“I think it might be easier if you tell me when to stop kissing you.” I brush my lips over hers gently, giving her time to object.
“Um, well.” Her breath hitches as her fingers tighten in my shirt. “Based on that new information, I think I’ll just stay quiet.”
“Anything you want, kitten.”