His Alone (For Her #2)

“That’s one of the good things about remembering everything,” I tell him, placing another kiss on his neck. “The bad part is sometimes you want to forget something you’ve seen, but time can’t lessen the pain because you keep seeing it. The memory never fades.”


“Oh, kitten.” He squeezes me hard, like he’s trying to take some of those bad things away. I wonder if he knows what he’s doing. If he hadn’t come in here tonight, I’d probably be in my bed replaying memory after memory of things I didn’t want to recall, but right now all I can think about is his arms wrapped around me. The smell of him invading me. And the little taste I have of him on my lips.

Then, without warning, he’s standing with me still in his arms and carrying me down the hallway into my room. He places me on my feet next to my bed, and then he untucks his dress shirt and unbuttons it. I can’t help but watch each button pop, revealing more of his skin. His broad, hard chest comes into view, and I can only stare, stunned at the perfection. As I’m frozen in place, he goes for my dress, unzipping the side and easily slipping it off over my head. Never taking his eyes from my face, he drops it to the floor and opens his own shirt, then puts it on me. He covers my naked body and does up all the buttons, while the whole time I watch as he cares for me.

“Always the gentleman.”

“If you only knew,” he says, masking the words with a deep breath, and I almost don’t catch them.

After he’s finished buttoning me up, he pulls back the covers and picks me up again, placing me in the center of the bed.

“You’ll never fit on the sofa.” I reach out to him, wanting him to lie down with me. “Or were you…” I can’t even finish my sentence, I’m so afraid that he’s leaving. He saw me home, made sure I was okay, and tucked me into bed. My hand drops, because I don’t want this to end. I know when morning comes things will be different. I want to hold on to this for a moment longer before everything comes flooding in. Soon the memories will start pressing down on me, demanding to be heard.

“I’m not leaving.” His voice is soft, and it settles the rising panic.

A sense of calm washes over me, and I reach my hand out to him again. “Then lie down with me.”

He groans and kicks off his shoes. I flip the cover back, inviting him into the bed, making no move to go to the other side. My bed isn’t gigantic, and with me lying in the center he’ll have to touch me to fit his big frame.

He turns off the lamp and surprises me when the bed dips on his side. I think he’s going to lie there, but instead he molds his body against mine, throwing his big leg over me pinning me beneath him, wrapping around me completely. I settle into him and wonder if he can keep the nightmares at bay. When I’m with him he keeps the memories from coming, and tonight, that’s all I want. Peace, sleep and comfort.





Chapter Five


Paige



* * *





I WAKE RIGHT before the sun rises, and the darkness of my room begins to lift. It’s not the sun shining in; it’s more of a light gray. It’s dawn and I’ve slept a dreamless night in the arms of a man I shouldn’t want.

Stretching, I notice that he’s not in bed, but his warmth is all around me. I sit up, thinking that he must have left, but see him sitting in a chair beside the bed, looking at me. His stare makes me feel shy, and I grab the blankets that have fallen in my lap. I don’t use them to cover me; I twist them in my hands, giving them something to do.

“Good morning, kitten.”

His voice is like caramel, and it slides across the room and coats my skin. I feel the stir of something low in my belly, and I want him to come lie down with me. I want him to stand up and climb on top of my body and wordlessly take me. Right here. Right now.

As the fantasy plays out in my mind, I twist the blanket between my fingers. Captain notices and looks down at my hands and then back to my eyes. It’s like he can read my mind when his dark green eyes give me a sad smile. His scent of rosewood is all around me, and though I’ve convinced myself he’s too good for me, I find that I’m desperate for him.

Maybe it’s because I was vulnerable with him last night. Maybe it’s because I’m really turned on by his naked chest and I want to get laid. Or maybe it’s that I trust him. It’s been a long time since I let my guard down, and the last time that happened was with Mallory. Giving my trust to someone is as intimate as giving someone my body, and yet here he is. In my room and in my space, and I want to throw all my apprehensions to the side and fall for him.

It would be so easy to love a man like Ryan Justice. He’s good to the core, sweet, kind, and would never hurt me. Going to him and allowing him into my heart would feel like coming home. I know all these things like I know the sun is moments from coming up, and yet I remain motionless on the bed. All my past fears and insecurities bubble up as the first light breaks through the curtain and shatters our precious connection. The brilliance of the day caresses the space between us, and as if Captain knew it would happen, he nods and stands.

“I’m going to go home.”

I feel so many emotions at one time. I’m sad he’s leaving and relieved at the same time. I don’t know that I’m powerful enough to ask him to go, and yet I’m not strong enough to let him stay. My heart was broken a long time ago, and I don’t have room to love someone so perfect. Someone who could break me beyond the point of return and leave me with the wreckage. I know my past is dark, and I know what my plans are. Last night was a setback, and I need to push it away. I need to push Captain away.

I feel him move to the side of the bed, and his rough hand reaches up and cups my cheek. I’m forced to look up into his beautiful green eyes and see the little flecks of blue as the light touches them.