Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
MATTHEW
My eyes stay closed as I slowly come to my senses, unsure what woke me up but knowing something is different. Everything is quiet. I can feel the warmth of the sun peeking through the window, shining on my face, while the scent of flowers surrounds me.
Wait… Flowers?
My eyes fly open, and I find the top of a honey-haired head tucked under my chin.
Jessica.
The events of last night come rushing back all at once.
Her terrified voice when she called me.
The panic building inside me, knowing she needed me, and I couldn’t get there fast enough.
The fear that I wouldn’t make it in time.
The relief when I saw her.
The anger after seeing what that son of a bitch did to her house. Her bedroom.
Her.
Just thinking about it makes my jaw go rigid.
She’s here. She’s safe.
I let my hand skim over her back, my fingers tangling in her soft hair.
She’s safe.
Maybe if I repeat it enough times, I’ll actually believe it.
She moves slightly, and I have to stifle back a groan.
Jessica is sprawled over me, her arms wrapped tightly around me.
Her face is nuzzled into my naked chest with parted lips.
Her warm breath tickles my skin while she breathes evenly, clearly still asleep.
One of her legs lies nestled between mine.
The shirt I gave her last night has risen slightly, and I can feel her wet heat pressing against my naked thigh.
She wiggles again, almost like she’s trying to find a better position, her knee moving slightly higher and brushing against my hard cock.
Fucking hell.
I grit my teeth as I look at the ceiling.
Torture.
This is pure fucking torture wrapped in the most innocent package that is Jessica Richards.
I will my body to be still, praying that she stops wiggling so much.
I know I should probably try to get out of bed, put some distance between us, but damn, she looks so content the way she is. I don’t have the heart to move and risk disturbing her. Not after everything she’s been through.
So I lie here, forcing myself to go through the boring police regulation manual that had almost put me to sleep on more than one occasion. But even that doesn’t help my body to relax.
How the hell can it when she’s right here? Dressed in my freaking shirt with nothing else beneath it? Her hot pussy rubbing against me?
Hell.
I’m going straight to hell.
Jessica’s been put through the wringer, and all I can think about is getting her naked?
I lift my hand and run it over my face before letting it drop to the mattress.
When my eyes pop open, I find a sleepy pair of amber irises directed at me.
We just stare at one another for a moment.
I hold my breath, unsure of what to do or what to say. Yes, she asked me to stay with her, but that doesn’t mean shit. Not when the events of last night finally register in her mind.
The corner of her mouth lifts a little, her arms tightening around me slightly. “Good morning.” Her voice is low and raspy, making goosebumps rise on my skin.
“Morning.”
“What—” Jessica blinks, and that’s when it happens. Her smile falls, her eyes grow distant, and I witness the exact moment she realizes that last night actually happened.
I extend my hand slowly and brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “You okay?”
Jessica gulps audibly. “Yeah. For a second, I forgot, but now I can’t unsee it. The wall. The photos…” She shudders visibly at the memory. “I just want to go back to before all this happened. I don’t know how I’m ever going to return to my house again.”
I press my lips to her forehead. “We’ll figure it out. You take your time.”
“He followed me, Matthew.” She looks up, fear reflecting in her eyes staring right at me. “He followed me, he watched me, he took pictures of me when I wasn’t looking. I…”
If the guy were here right now, I would kill him with my bare hands for putting her through this. For making her this scared.
“Hey…” I sit up and rest my back against the headboard, pulling her up with me.
She’s nestled against my side, one leg thrown over my lap as I wrap my arm around her middle.
“Just breathe. It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get him, you hear me?
We’re going to get him and lock him up where he belongs. He won’t hurt you again.”
Jessica rests her head against my shoulder. “I dated him for a year.”
“This is not on you. You didn’t cause this. It’s all him.”
“How didn’t I see it?”
“Some people are master manipulators. They’re just so good at hiding it, you can’t see it until it’s too late.” I slip my finger under her chin and tilt her head so she meets my gaze. “But he’s not getting away with this.”
Jessica nibbles at her lip. “What if he tries to hurt you?”
“Let him try.”
The words echo in the room, the promise in them unmistakable. A part of me wishes he would try so I have a reason to lock him up sooner.
“Matthew…”
“Nothing will happen to me.”
I skim my thumb over her lower lip and tug at it, making it pop. Jessica’s eyes stare into mine before they dip to my mouth. Her breath hitches slightly.
“You can’t know that.”
“Well, I do. You don’t have to worry about me, Trouble.”
“I always worry about you. It’s impossible not to.”
Her words settle deep inside me. She looks at me through those long lashes, her cheeks turning pink as we just stare at one another.
Suddenly, I’m aware of how close we are. How mere inches separate us. Her fingers skim over my cheek.
I don’t even try to resist it as she pulls me down, her lips pressing against mine.
A low groan escapes my chest as she kisses me softly, my arm tightening around her and pulling her closer.
But that’s the only thing I allow myself to do.
Hold her. I let her be the one to dictate the pace, to take what she needs in order to feel safe.
Every muscle in my body grows taut with restraint as I fight the need to take.
To take her and everything she offers.
To make her forget about everything and everybody else.
Jessica breaks the kiss, those molten eyes blinking open and staring into mine with need.
Undoing.
She’s my fucking undoing.
The only one who could ever bring me to my knees.
“Matthew—”
A buzzing phone somewhere snaps us out of our little bubble.
Cursing, I gently move her to the side and slip out of the bed. My back is turned to her, and I go in search of the annoying device. I find mine first, but the screen is dark. Then I spot Jessica’s bag, pick it up, and fish out her phone. Mae’s picture mocks me from the screen.
“It’s Mae.” I hand her the phone.
“Matthew…”
I shake my head. “Answer her. I’m going to take a shower.”
A cold one.
A very cold one.