Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
M allory
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm.” The tone of his deep voice swept a dozen vibrations through me.
“You will?”
“Always. Until the end of time.” He brought my face closer as he lowered his head, tenderly rubbing his fingers across the base of my cheek. Every time he did, which wasn’t often enough, my core tingled.
Before capturing my mouth, he swept his tongue from one side of my lips to the other. His action was wet and… sloppy.
My eyes jerked open and instantly I was terrified. There was a huge blur covering my field of vision, a wild mountain of white hair. Hair? Wait. Was that fur?
“Jax, let her sleep. I told you she’d been through an ordeal. She needs her rest.”
His voice was deep, a little rough around the edges and definitely not holding the tone of passion that I’d experienced earlier.
In my twisted dream.
Beckett.
Bits and pieces of images started to float through my mind. Blood. A knife.
His face.
Shivering, I moved my arms and legs, ensuring both that they weren’t broken and I wasn’t tied down. I wasn’t. A huge blanket covered me, soft and warm. I’d been dreaming about Beckett. Again.
Jax swiveled his head toward his master and I heard the thumping of his tail. His front legs were directly on my chest, his toes flexing as he made the decision whether to obey the man who fed him.
He did, but not without another solid and very wet swipe of his tongue across my mouth and nose. He was a large dog, at least ninety pounds, so when he jumped off, the pressure off my chest was tremendous.
I remained exactly where I was, attempting to gather my bearings, unable to remember a thing except for coming home from the clinic and… What happened? Why was I here? Not that I minded a wet tongue licking me, but from an oversized pup?
A single sound captured my attention and I slowly allowed my eyes to drift toward whatever it was. Just the smallest hint of movement and my head throbbed. That’s when I remembered the gash on my forehead. My arm felt like a dead weight as I lifted it so I could touch the injury.
I expected to feel congealed blood, but other than a slight bump and the ragged edge of a cut, my skin was smooth.
“I disinfected the wound. You should be fine.”
His voice again. Him. The man who’d rescued me from the side of the road. The man who could play Scrabble like nobody’s business. And the man who’d… saved my life from an unknown assailant determined to kill me.
That’s when I jerked up, instantly regretting my quick actions. Nausea filled my stomach, a blinding ache taking up residence in my head. “Oh, God.”
Another memory hit me harder than the body aches. There was a dead man inside my house, lying right in the middle of my kitchen floor. He had vacant eyes like I’d seen in a police drama.
“Take it easy,” Beckett advised and suddenly, there was a glass placed in front of my eyes still held by the man.
I lifted my head as I reached out automatically, my fucked-up mind still putting the pieces together. Basically, I’d been tossed around like a kewpie doll by assassin number one and could have a mild concussion. I’d been saved by possible assassin and definite killer number two who’d then accused me of knowing assassin one before kidnapping and taking me… Somewhere. I had no idea where I was except for on a huge leather couch in front of a roaring fire, the fabulous stone fireplace with a thick heavy wooden mantel straight out of some glossy magazine.
Oh, and I’d fucked assassin number two as well. Or was I wrong? Assassin number three? I was losing track. A laugh bubbled to the surface since I was obviously living out some episode of a spy thriller.
Yep. I was having a banner week.
What would come next?
I accepted the drink, trying to avoid any skin contact, but either he pushed so our fingers would touch or I had. Either way, a series of electric sensations rocketed through me. I immediately jerked my hand away, sloshing some of the liquid on myself in the process.
He chuckled in his dark and husky tone, moving around the table toward one of the chairs. With purpose, he sat down and immediately stared at the fire. Several seconds passed by, then minutes.
Okay, this was going to be the way we played the game?
Jax was right there, allowing me to scratch behind his ears. He was bright eyed, his long tongue hanging from the side of his mouth and his tail constantly moving.
“How’s Jax been doing?” I asked to break the ice.
“No signs he went through anything.”
I shifted so I could take a better look at the stitches. Beckett had obviously had him resting. That was good. “What about you? You were bleeding through.”
“I cleaned the wound while you were sleeping. No big deal. It’s starting to scab over.”
While it was completely inappropriate, I burst into laughter. “While I was sleeping? Do you mean while I was unconscious from a possible concussion obtained by some crazed man I don’t know who broke into my house?”
All signs of the passion I’d seen in the man had vanished. As he slowly turned his head, I could tell he was all about business. He was also angry. The two attacks had something to do with each other. I felt it in my gut. He took a couple of sips of whatever the hell he was drinking, but there was little other sign of life in the man.
“Where am I?”
“My place.” At least he’d answered honestly.
“The cabin in the mountains,” I whispered. He’d taken me out of town. “You know, I think I’m going to be just fine. You can take me back home.”
“No can do.”
“Why is that? Because you have some desire to keep a woman you don’t know hostage?” I was trying to remember any of the details before I’d blacked out. Something did suddenly come to me. “Wait a minute. You accused me of knowing who the asshole was who broke into my house. And why the hell did you just drop by, or was that not really the case? Did you come to my house on purpose?”
I’d moved to the edge of the couch, sipping my drink in hopes the nausea would be kept to a minimum. My head was killing me, but I had the distinct feeling I was very lucky.
Beckett crossed one leg over the other, placing his elbow on his knee and rubbing his index finger across his lips. The man was studying me like a specimen.
“I know you can hear me. Why aren’t you answering?”
Seconds ticked by.
“Tell me about your father.”
His statement, or I should say his demand came so out of the blue I jutted my head forward. I knew I had an evil look on my face. “My father? My father is dead.”
“I’m well aware. You arrived in town for his funeral. Were you close?”
“Excuse me. Both you and your dog were shot by someone, which made it necessary for you to seek help in my veterinary clinic instead of a hospital. You then just appear out of the blue in my home saving me from some crazed man intent on doing God knows what. And now, you’re grilling me like I had something to do with any of it? What the hell is wrong with you?”
A slight flash appeared in his eyes. I didn’t give a shit if I’d made the man angry.
“Tell me about your dad, your relationship, and why you moved back here.”
That meant he’d been checking up on me. I was ready to launch into a tirade, but didn’t have the energy. The shortest method of obtaining information, any information, was to reciprocate. Besides, I had nothing to hide.
“My dad was my rock, the kind of father everyone wanted. My friends were jealous. When we lost Mom, he became a loner, but we were still close even though I lived far away.”
“Richmond, Virginia.”
I swallowed my anger. “Yep. I went to school there and fell in love with the city. I moved back when Dad died. He left me his place. Your turn. Why did you pay all cash when buying this place? That just doesn’t happen, like ever. Why were you and Jax shot and how did you know to come to my place?”
He continued the almost droll stare as he studied me and I finally shook my head.
“Just take me home. Okay?” I remembered there was a dead body there and cringed. “What about the dead man?” I certainly knew what calling the police would do to my life. Oh, great. Now I was thinking about being an accomplice to a strange man’s murder? Or was I trying to protect the man I’d… assisted?
“His body has been taken care of. More crudely than I would like, but nevertheless, it’s done.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you won’t need to worry about any police interference and he won’t be bothering you again.” He took another swallow of his drink.
I processed what he was telling me. “You cleaned up the scene. You removed the body.”
He chuckled. “I made certain you didn’t return home to a mess.”
“Who are you? I mean really. Some criminal hiding out?”
“No one you want to know.”
“Yet here I am. Why is that?” My head was throbbing to the point I felt the thudding in my chest.
“Because someone apparently wants you dead.”
His stark, cold, and unfeeling words struck me hard. “Why would anyone want me dead? This is the town I grew up in. My family lived here. I just purchased a business. I’m nobody.”
“There are two plausible answers. One of them I hope is incorrect.”
“What? Just tell me.”
“Have you ever heard of the Valenti family?”
Was this some crazy kind of test? I could tell by the stern look on his face it was. “An Italian family? I have no clue. We do have a high population of Italians in Vermont, Virginia too, but I’m not a huge fan of Italian food. Why are you asking me this?”
“Because they are very bad people, although their population is dwindling.”
Was that just another clue?
I stared into his eyes, trying to make heads or tails of what he was telling me. “Which makes you a very bad man. Are you running away from them?”
Beckett took the time to finish his drink before answering. “Let’s just say I’m escaping a dark life.”
“And you either think I helped this family find you or that because we bumped into each other accidentally more than once I now have a target on my back. Right?” I was half kidding, but a sick feeling remained in the pit of my stomach.
That’s exactly what he was saying.
“I need to make certain what I’m dealing with.”
I hated the way his voice was soft and velvety while being rough and tumble at the same time. I had both heat flashes and chills at the same time. “I’m the one who was attacked.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I dropped my head. “Hold on. You didn’t tangle with a hunter. You were shot by an assailant.” Reality hit me hard. “You killed the first guy. Didn’t you? There were two of them.”
“Very good, Doc.”
Holy fuck. I willed my mind to shut down, but it was impossible.
“They really want you dead.” I was stating the obvious and somehow, my interaction with the man had placed me in harm’s way.
At least I was rewarded with a strange yet very provocative smile. “They also wanted you dead. At least we won’t need to worry about either of them.”
My assumptions were spot on. He’d killed the person who’d shot him and Jax. This kind of thing didn’t occur in my world. “So you’re holding me captive?”
“Right now, the snowstorm is.”
I’d already heard the howling wind and of course knew the weather forecast. The thought of being snowed in with a strange and highly dangerous man was terrifying. Even though he’d saved my life.
We locked eyes as we’d done several times before. We were searching for answers that I wasn’t certain either one of us had.
“Then what?” I blurted out.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning when the storm has blown out of here, what next? You stand by to ensure more killers aren’t ready to attack or you disappear?”
“Then you go back to living your life.”
I laughed. Of course the sound was one of extreme nervousness. How could I not be anxious around him? “Just like that.”
“Just like that.”
“Aren’t there more of these… killers out there?” I couldn’t believe the conversation I was having with a man I’d watched kill someone. Okay, the dude had been a bad man with horrible intentions on his mind, but still.
“Highly doubtful, but I’m ensuring no one bothers you.”
“For the rest of my life?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
He was serious. Jax lifted his head as if offering confirmation his master would take care of me. “I’ll ask you again. Who are you?”
“A very bad man.” He slowly turned his head toward the fire. “I need to be able to trust you, Doc. Can I do that?”
There were no adequate words around what he’d just told me. None. But he was waiting for if not demanding an answer. “You don’t have anything to fear from me, Beckett. If that’s your real name.”
“Are you hungry?” he asked over the crackling roar of the fire. His expression was still hard, but also far too sensual. I forced myself to look away.
“No. Just tired.” He was shutting down the conversation. Meanwhile, my mind was pitching wild stories and none of them ended well.
“You can have one of the bedrooms. First door up the stairs. Let me take you.”
When he started to stand, I threw my arm out. “I’m perfectly capable of doing this myself.” I placed my glass on the table, tossing back the blanket and trying to act nonchalant when I stood. My legs were like noodles from a combination of the continued pain and fear, as well as a downward spiraling rush of adrenaline.
As soon as I took a single step away from the couch, my legs gave out. My hero was right there yet again, swooping me up into his arms even though I protested immediately.
“I can do this.” I pressed my hand against his chest, but he headed toward a set of stairs. I felt another bandage under the thin material.
“Evidently not. You’ll feel better in the morning.” He glanced down quickly at what I was doing.
“Will you let me check that?”
“I’ve tended to much worse myself, Doc. I already told you.”
“Which is why you have so many scars.” I’d seen a few of them and had felt others mottling his back when we’d… I couldn’t even whisper the word of the sinful act we’d committed in my mind. When I’d hungered for a bad boy, I’d been thinking a guy who rode a Harley. Not a killer with a hero complex.
“I have scars because of my previous jobs.”
“Which were?”
“You should stop asking questions, Doc. That will be in your best interest when you return to your cozy little life.”
I was vaguely aware he’d carried me to his truck only hours before. At least I thought it was mere hours ago. It was still night outside. He carried me easily as if I weighed nothing, Jax following dutifully behind.
A light was already on in the room. He headed to the bed, easing me down onto the comforter. As soon as he backed away, I felt a sense of loss. How unusual.
A part of me wanted to demand answers.
Another just wanted his company.
I was more terrified than I wanted to let on.
I stayed quiet instead.
After taking several controlled breaths, I forced myself to take a good look at where I’d be staying for the foreseeable future.
The bedroom itself was stunning. I could have envisioned a stark room with nothing more than a twin bed and sheets, but there were extra pillows on the bed, the comforter soft and inviting. There were pictures on the walls and a stunning smaller stone fireplace. There was even a bookshelf with books lining the shelves.
As if this was a perfectly normal man with a normal life.
Instead of being some kind of hired killer or worse. Valenti? As in a crime family? Maybe? I wasn’t certain and knew the subject was off limits.
“Do you need anything? There’s an extra blanket over the back of the chair in the corner.”
“You didn’t happen to remember to bring a few of my clothes with you. Did you?”
He snorted as if the thought had never occurred to him. “Sorry. I didn’t.”
I nodded several times, contemplating the time we’d be spending together. “A tee shirt to sleep in?”
The way Beckett tipped his head up was as if he was debating the small request. Maybe I didn’t deserve a change of clothes. My mind wasn’t processing anything adequately.
“Let me see what I can find.” He vanished and I lay back on the bed, smiling when Jax jumped on to keep me company. Within seconds, he’d rested his head on my chest, his heavy sigh meaning he was perfectly content.
I was anything but, yet getting upset wasn’t going to do my physical condition any good. Hearing footsteps a few seconds later, I rose onto my elbows. Jax didn’t flinch, didn’t bother moving a muscle including in his cute tail.
“I have something you can wear. Might be a little big, but you’re welcome to it. There’s a bathroom right there. Should be plenty of clean towels. No fancy soaps, but you’ll find what you need.”
He tossed the shirt onto the bed beside me and I noticed a hint of uncertainty in the man. He was so used to being in full control of himself that having a captive audience wasn’t easy for him to handle.
Audience.
I was just his captive at least for now.
Nodding, I rubbed Jax behind the ears before I sat all the way up. By then, Beckett had already turned toward the door. “Thank you.”
He stopped short. “For what?”
“For saving my life. For taking care of me. For the shirt.” The words leaving my mouth were stilted.
He certainly didn’t act like he knew what to say. Maybe being all alone for so long had stripped away his ability to deal with other humans.
At least with regard to conversation. The more personal aspects really were like riding a bike.
He’d mastered every one of them.
Touch.
Taste.
Kiss.
Passion.
I was definitely partially out of it and would be for another full day. What then? How would I feel when the reality of the situation came crashing down on me?
A warm blush immediately snapped across my skin.
“Get some sleep,” he told me. “Come on, Jax. Let the lady have some space.”
Jax whined, but finally and quite reluctantly agreed to jump off, looking over his shoulder before following Beckett from the room. My dangerous host turned and grabbed the handle of the door, closing it slowly behind him.
But I could easily read his mind, which was a direct reflection of mine.
What had occurred between us, two strangers who’d never meet again had shifted into something else entirely. The term wasn’t readily accessible and it certainly wasn’t a relationship of any kind.
One thing was perfectly clear and I was totally fine with it. Sharing even the most limited concept of intimacy could never happen again.