by Morgan James
He brushed a stray tendril of hair from her cheek. “Morning, beautiful.”
She smiled up at him. “Hey. You stayed.”
“I told you I would.”
She shrugged. “I thought it might have been a dream.”
He grinned and laced his fingers through hers. “Nope. I’m still here.”
Her eyes drifted over him and clouded with confusion. “Are you in your underwear?”
He chuckled. “I stripped down in the middle of the night. Sleeping with you is like being in bed next to a furnace,” he grumbled good-naturedly. She blushed profusely and he reached out to stroke a finger over her cheek. He didn’t want to ruin the good mood by bringing up her tossing and turning, so he kept his tone light, his banter flirtatious. “Trust me, sweetheart, I wasn’t complaining.”
Her blush spread lower and Blake grinned at her obvious discomfort. She seemed more embarrassed by her own reaction to him than the fact that he’d climbed under the sheets without an invitation. Better yet, she didn’t seem at all opposed to waking up next to him. He decided to press his luck. “We’ll just have to turn down the air conditioning next time. You know, after a real date.”
“You... want to go out with me?” She looked slightly bewildered and he almost laughed.
“If you’re willing to give me a shot, hell yeah.”
Quick as a flash, her entire demeanor changed and her teeth sank into her lower lip. “I, um... There’s something...”
He immediately thought of the man who’d shown up at the office building Wednesday and dragged Victoria away before Blake had even had a chance to speak with her. “Are you seeing someone else?”
Her brows furrowed in confusion and her head tipped slightly to the side. “What?”
“The guy who stormed into the healthplex the other night—are you two dating?”
It took a moment for her brain to connect the dots and understanding lit her eyes as she shook her head. “No, that’s not... We’ve never dated. Dr. Martin is a colleague and a friend.”
As territorial as Martin had acted the other day, Blake wondered if the man knew that. Victoria didn’t seem interested in the guy, or Blake figured she would have called him last night. Still, the memory of her climbing out of a strange car yesterday morning, a man at the wheel, burned in his gut and he recognized the emotion as jealousy.
Blake hummed a noncommittal response before he could overthink it and changed the subject. “I have to head home so I can shower and change before work. Will you be okay today?”
She nodded. “I’d prefer we show up separately anyway.”
He understood, but the comment stung a little nonetheless. “Okay..”
She slid from under the covers and stood next to him, arms wrapped around her waist. “Do you want some coffee before you go?”
He was torn; he wanted to stay, but not if she was just toying with him. He examined her for a moment, his eyes sliding down her body of their own volition. Her curves were outlined by the thin camisole and shorts she wore, and he felt his resolve begin to waver. He wanted to run his hands all over her and forget about the other man. Easier said than done. Blake didn’t appreciate poaching, and he found that he wanted Victoria all to himself. Her eyes seemed sincere, large and gray in her face, and she just stared back, waiting on his response. Trying to get a read on her was like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree. Finally, he offered a conciliatory smile. “That’d be great, thanks.”
Pulling a robe from a chair in the corner, she slipped her arms inside and tied the sash tightly around her waist.
They descended the stairs in silence, and it remained uncomfortable as Victoria began to make the coffee. Blake was just about ready to forego his daily shot of caffeine when she finally spoke up.
“I... I just wanted to say thank you. Again.”
Blake fought the urge to smile, remembering how her previous thank you had ended. Besides, the woman could be hiding any number of things. He brushed it off, adopting an aloof expression. “It was no big deal.”
“So...” She fiddled with a cup on the counter, her expression one of intense discomfort. He almost took pity on her and got ready to excuse himself when she spoke again. “Were you serious about wanting to go out with me? Or were you just being nice?”
He regarded her with no small amount of wariness. “What do you mean?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Never mind.”
He reached across the counter and hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his stare, and she swallowed hard. He was afraid to let himself hope as well, but the stupid emotion burst into his heart as her cheeks pinkened with embarrassment. “Tell me what’s going through that head of yours, beautiful.”
“I just... I’m not good at this kind of thing—dating, talking with guys. I get all awkward, and... weird.” She blew out a little breath. “I was kind of hoping you weren’t just saying you wanted to go out. I mean, people say that all the time, but then...” She shrugged and dropped her gaze back to the slab of granite that separated them.
He dropped his hand, and she watched with apprehension as he circled the bar. His hands slid up the outside of her arms, cupping her elbows and pulling her close. He hesitated for a long moment, waiting for her eyes to rise from where they were fixed on his chest to meet his gaze. “I always mean what I say, sweetheart.”
To prove his point, he dropped a soft kiss on her upturned mouth, and her eyes fluttered closed. Blake locked his hands together behind her back and tightened his hold, immensely enjoying the feel of her as she leaned into him. He kissed her once more, breathing in her sweet scent before releasing her. “All right, beautiful. I’ll let you get ready for work. See you in a few?”
She nodded. “Sounds good.”
He laced his fingers through hers and made his way toward the front of the house, pausing by the door. He looped one arm around her and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Be careful and make sure to lock up behind me.”
“I will. And, Blake? Thank you.”
His hand tightened a fraction around her waist, unwilling to let her go just yet, and she leaned into him. She fit him perfectly, felt so good within the circle of his arms, and he desperately wanted another excuse to pull her onto his lap and make out like teenagers. He let out a sigh. They needed to get moving before they were late. Reluctantly, he shifted her away from him. “I’ll catch you after your last appointment, make sure everything’s okay.”
“Would you like to come over for dinner again?”
The question was tentative, as if she was afraid he’d turn her down. Luckily for her, she’d have to try a whole hell of a lot harder to get rid of him. He wasn’t giving her up now, not when he was just starting to figure her out. “Of course. I’ll see you back here at seven.”
She blessed him with a sweet smile that made his heart ache. He dropped one more kiss on her lips before shooting a wink her way and stepping out into the bright morning light. He glanced over his shoulder to where she stood leaning against the doorway, watching him. She made for a beautiful sight. It was shaping up to be a pretty good day, after all.
THE SUN HAD JUST BEGUN its descent, disappearing over the back of the house as Blake pulled into the driveway and parked next to Victoria’s car. He unfolded from the driver seat as she gathered her things from the backseat. He glanced at her over the roof of her car as she closed the door. “Why don’t you park in the garage?”
She rolled her eyes. “Johnathan asked me the same thing. I don’t mind parking outside.”
His lips flattened into a straight line as he approached her. At least he agreed with the man on that score. “I think it might be better if you parked inside. That will at least keep someone from knowing if you’re home or not.”
Her head tilted up to meet his gaze, so close that her breasts barely grazed his midsection. “You’ll keep me safe, won’t you?”
His hands automatically went to her hips and pulled her flush against him. “Always, bea
utiful. You can count on it.”
A slow grin spread over her face and Blake bent his head, capturing her lips with his. It went on for several long moments until her hands slid up to his chest and gently pushed him away. Pink tinged her cheeks as she dropped her gaze to the ground before looking up at him again. “We’d better get inside; we’re giving my neighbors a show.”
Blake glanced to the left where an elderly man stood across the street watering his flowers. He lifted one hand in greeting and the older man returned the wave with a smirk. “Come on, let’s head in.”
Placing a hand on her lower back, he guided Victoria up the stairs to the front door. Following her inside, he closed and locked the door before heading toward the kitchen. They tossed together a quick meal and afterward, Victoria up cuddled next to him on the couch as they watched TV. Her body felt tense and she bit her lip, a faraway look in her eyes. Finally, Blake muted the television and turned her in his arms.
“Okay, Doc. What’s on your mind?”
Her head swiveled toward him, a guilty look on her face. “Oh, I... It’s nothing, never mind.”
He studied her for a moment. “It looks like something’s bothering you.”
“I was just wondering...” Her gaze dropped to her hands where she picked at an imaginary piece of lint on her pants. “Where do you think things are headed?”
The question caught him off guard. “With us?”
Her head jerked up. “I mean, I know it’s too early to label anything, but I thought... I don’t know what I thought.” She let out a sigh and scrubbed her palms over her face. “I’m making a mess of this already.”
“No, you’re not.” She looked so damn vulnerable that he wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her the only way he knew how. But she needed the reassurance of words. He reached out and turned her chin toward him, waiting for her eyes to meet his. “If you’re asking whether I’m interested in you—in a serious relationship with you—the answer is yes.”
Instead of looking relieved, Victoria seemed to pale even more. “I just... there’s something you should know.”
He stiffened as their previous conversation came to mind. She’d assured him she didn’t have a boyfriend, but her demeanor screamed that it was something he wasn’t going to like.
Her hands drifted down to her lap again where she wrung them together nervously. “I don’t even know how to start. Oh, God, this is so awkward.”
She sucked in a harsh breath before letting it out, and she studied her hands as she spoke. “Remember how I told you I had a bad experience in high school?” He didn’t bother to answer the rhetorical question, and she continued. “Well, it was really hard for me to open up to people after that—especially guys. I went on dates, but I never really trusted anyone enough to be... intimate.”
Blake blinked as her words registered in his brain. She’d never...? Several emotions swamped him—pride that she’d made such an important decision, elation that he might be her first, but also fear. Mostly fear. What if she trusted him to be her first and she hated it? Would she despise him because of it? Shit, he was getting ahead of himself.
Words escaped him for a moment, and she turned to him with a pained expression, misinterpreting his silence. “If you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll understand.”
“No!” He almost yelled the word as she moved to stand, and he caught her hand in his, her eyes widening at his reaction. “I’m sorry. No—that was the absolute last thing on my mind.” He tugged on her hand. “Sit. Please.”
She lowered herself back to the couch and sat gingerly on the edge, watching him warily. He composed himself before speaking, trying to order his thoughts. “I’m surprised, is all.” She blushed a deep scarlet and he squeezed her fingers where they rested in his. “I never would have expected that, but I’m really proud of you. It’s an important decision, and I’m glad you told me. I promise I won’t push you to do something you don’t want.”
Relief crossed her features, quickly followed by something he couldn’t quite discern. Before he could ask, she turned to him. “Will you stay again?”
His gut twisted, but he forced himself to nod. Regardless of what happened between them, he’d still make sure she was safe. “Of course.”
She examined her toes before turning back to him. “I was thinking you might stay... with me.”
With her, in her bed. Hope flared again—that silly, stupid, yet oh-so-welcome emotion—and Blake pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’d love to.”
Chapter Fifteen
She was going to be the death of him. Blake’s heart gave a hard thump, and his blood turned to fire as his gaze swept over her. She had already changed into another skimpy white tank top, and she sat there in the middle of the bed staring at him, looking like the most delicious fantasy he’d ever conceived.
Catching his gaze, she flipped the covers back in invitation. His eyebrows rose in question and she smiled nervously. Maybe he wasn’t as far into the Friend Zone as he’d thought. Not about to let her renege on the offer, he quickly pulled his shirt over his head and shucked his pants before sliding under the cool gray sheets beside her. Victoria’s eyes widened momentarily before she averted her gaze and turned toward the nightstand. She flicked off the lamp, bathing the room in darkness.
Blake stretched out on his side of the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling every dip of the mattress as she shifted. Why had she asked him to stay with her again? Was it just for protection? Or was it more than that? His heart had nearly beat out of his chest this morning when she’d told him she was interested in him. She’d looked so vulnerable admitting her attraction to him, and he ached to pull her into his arms. But she’d been giving off mixed signals all night. She’d withdrawn after telling him she was a virgin, and he couldn’t quite figure her out. Maybe he’d just give her some time, slowly earn her trust and insinuate himself in her life. He wouldn’t take advantage of her, but he wasn’t willing to give her up yet, either. He’d just have to wait for her to come to him.
Which happened sooner than he expected. His brows lifted as Victoria shifted closer until her hip touched his. He took that as a sign and rolled to his side, pulling her back firmly against his front. Draping an arm over her hip, he slid his hand beneath the hem of her tank top and settled it on her stomach. She snuggled closer, fitting her body to his, and he tucked her head beneath his chin. The smell of her shampoo wafted up to his nostrils, and he inhaled deeply. He tightened his hold on her and their bodies moved together, chests rising and falling with each breath in an easy, comforting rhythm. He was almost asleep when she spoke again.
“There’s a reason I’ve never had sex.” Emboldened by the dark as she lay facing away from him, cuddled snugly in his arms, she continued. “I did something really stupid. Looking back, I can’t believe how naïve I was.” Blake felt her head shake in self-deprecation against his chin. “It was years ago—almost a decade ago now. God, I can’t believe it’s been that long.”
She was silent for a moment, lost in the memory. “My friend Leah and I stopped at Blockbuster to pick up a movie one night the summer before senior year. When we left, there was a guy standing on the sidewalk. He said he needed a ride.”
A sense of foreboding slithered down Blake’s spine and dread settled heavily in his gut. His silence encouraged her to continue. “Leah didn’t want to give him a ride, but I insisted. Our families were both very religious, and we’d been raised to be good Christians. If someone needed something, you did whatever you could do to help. Leah kept telling me no, but I ignored her. I didn’t want to listen...”
She drew in a shaky breath and shifted restlessly, a testimony to how much the past still affected her. Blake dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, I do, I just...” Her voice wavered and she sucked in another breath. “I’ve only told a couple people what really happened. It’s part of the reason I wanted t
o be a psychologist, you know. After what happened... I wanted to use my personal experience to help other people.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Look how that worked out. I obviously couldn’t help Rachel.”
Blake refused to hold his tongue. “Sweetheart, whatever happened to you and whatever Rachel was going through were two entirely different situations. Rachel was suffering from something of her own, right?” He felt Victoria’s slight nod and he continued. “You may have made a mistake, but it wasn’t your fault that something bad happened.”
“I just...”
“Tell me what happened.”
She let out a harsh exhalation at his command and he brushed a kiss over her temple to soften his words. She pressed herself closer to him before continuing. “Well, he said his friends had played a joke on him and left him behind, so I offered him a ride.”
She touched her fingers to her lips. “He had a facial deformity—a cleft lip. I felt bad for him, you know?”
Yeah, he could understand that completely. The guy had probably used it to his advantage to prey on Victoria and her friend. Anger welled within him and he tamped it down.
“He said his name was Marc, but...” She took a deep breath. “I’m sure he lied about that, too. Leah complained the whole time about what a terrible idea it was. He said he lived just outside town, and it felt like we’d driven forever until we finally turned down this long, dark road. I had a bad feeling, so I stopped the car and told him I couldn’t take him any farther.
“I should have known; I should have seen it coming.” Another deep breath. “He pulled a knife from out of nowhere and held it to my throat then made Leah tie me to the steering wheel. I knew we wouldn’t make it out of there, and I screamed at Leah to run, to save herself. He left me in the car and took off after her into the woods. I sat there for probably close to an hour, praying to God that she’d managed to get away. When he finally came back, he cut me loose and forced me into the woods, too.”
