Chance Encounter

by Christy Reece

  Kacie said the photograph had been taken before she was assaulted by the skaters. The photo had shown her with a hot dog and soda in her hand, headed to a park bench. So it was possible that while Stewart might be stalking Kacie, it didn’t necessarily mean he was the asshole torturing her. But just how coincidental was it that one of the photographs was of Kacie in the park right before she was knocked down by the skaters? Not bloody likely.

  On the way back to her apartment, he’d texted Justin with the information they’d discovered and the instructions to turn the lives of every one of Kacie’s employees upside down. In a very short while, he expected to know everything, including underwear size and if they recycled their plastic.

  No, Kacie wouldn’t like it, and he had no intention of telling her just how far he’d go to get information.

  She believed in her staff, thought she knew everything she needed to know. And while they all seemed supportive and proud of their employer, seemed was the operative word. It was easy enough to maintain an act if you had a different agenda.

  They got out of the taxi, and Brennan placed his hand on Kacie’s lower back as they went into her apartment building. Giving a nod to Gregory, the security guard at the desk, Brennan ushered Kacie into the elevator and then into her apartment. She’d been quiet on the drive back, and he wondered if the shock of finding Stewart’s photos was about to wear off.

  She stood in the middle of the apartment as if unsure of her next move. He wanted to come up with something reassuring. She deserved none of this trouble, and he wanted to fix it for her. Take care of all these issues so he could see her smile that sweet, innocent smile without a hint of worry in her eyes.

  “It may not be him for all of this.”

  She whirled around. “You really think so?”

  Brennan winced. He rarely said impulsive things, and he’d only said that because he wanted to make her feel better. She was searching for a reasonable explanation and a way to exonerate Stewart. Brennan didn’t have one, and no matter how badly he wanted her to feel safe, he wouldn’t lie. Besides, burying her head in the sand was not Kacie’s way. She would want the truth, straight up.

  “I don’t know, Kacie. Sometimes the people we trust the most are the ones who end up tearing our guts out.”

  Warm compassion on her face, Kacie stepped forward and took his hand. “I’m so sorry you were hurt like that.”

  Rarely without words, Brennan found himself speechless. Here she was dealing with the nightmare of possibly having all of her secrets revealed, her life torn apart again, not to mention the extreme likelihood that one of her employees was stalking her, and she was trying to comfort him.

  Unable to be this close to her and not hold her, Brennan pulled her forward. He watched for any sign of fear or unease and saw only anticipation and desire. Telling himself he was a crazy, insane, stupid fool didn’t stop him from lowering his head and covering her lips with his.

  Holy sweet hell, she tasted better than he remembered. Like a fantasy inside a dream. He wanted to devour her sweet mouth and then move down until he’d tasted every sweet, sexy inch of her.

  Brennan didn’t know if he had ever held something so exquisite in his arms. Kacie was lovely inside and out, and he wanted to cherish her in the way she deserved. He’d read up on how to handle a sexual-assault victim and didn’t want anything to trigger those memories. But she had told him she remembered nothing about the assaults and torture she had endured. If that was the case, could he go further without scaring her?

  Long, slender arms wrapped around his body as she moved in closer. He heard her moan, and when he pulled his mouth from hers and trailed a kiss down her neck, she released a soft, sighing breath. Everything told him she was right there with him. He hoped to hell he was reading the signs right, because he definitely didn’t want to stop.

  Heated and needy and so incredibly aroused, Kacie could barely think straight. Every sexual experience she’d ever had couldn’t have prepared her for this want and desire. She blocked her mind to that other horrific event. It didn’t belong here, and she wouldn’t allow it. Brennan’s mouth, both hot and tender, moved over her neck and then pressed soft kisses to her bare shoulders. He was going slow...too slow. She was burning with need and had a feeling that until she got him inside her body, that heat would continue to build.

  “Brennan?”

  “Hmm?” he said against her neck.

  “Take me to bed?”

  Before she got her entire sentence out, he was lifting her into his arms.

  “Hold on,” he said.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held tight and never moved her eyes from his face. Earlier, she had admired his extreme control, but judging by the grinding of his teeth and the working of his jaw, that control was being sorely tested. She loved that she could do that to him.

  He carried her up the stairway and then down the hallway to his bedroom. Never once did he act as if he strained to carry her weight. His strength and endurance boded well for a glorious night ahead.

  He stopped just inside the door, and she saw his expression change.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t have any protection. I’m clean...I know that, but if you’d rather—”

  She pressed a finger to his mouth, feeling quite pleased and mature that she had taken care of that herself. “Condoms are in the drawer of the nightstand.”

  The fire in his eyes went to a blaze. Striding to the bed, he laid her across the spread and then followed her down. Covering her mouth with his again, the kiss began sweet and light. Brennan played gently with her lips, then licked the seam of her mouth with a slow, sensual glide. Kacie gasped at the surge of arousal from that erotic caress. As if that was his cue, his tongue delved deep into her mouth, twisting and tangling with hers. They devoured each other’s mouths for endless, delicious minutes. Just when she thought she would go wild with need, Brennan pulled back, and Kacie was relieved to see that his breath was coming much faster, too.

  His eyes roamed over her face and then followed her body all the way down to her feet. “You are without a doubt the most beautiful, most sensuous woman I’ve ever seen.”

  Kacie raised her hand and caressed his strong jaw, loving how his five o’clock shadow tingled against her palm. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”

  His eyes were like glittering dark emeralds. “Kacie...” He dropped his mouth against the hollow of her neck. “You’re unbelievable.”

  Wanting and needing to feel his skin next to hers, she began to unbutton his shirt. He’d worn a white shirt beneath his suit jacket, but she was relieved there was no tie she had to deal with. Buttons were hard enough for her nervous fingers.

  With a sexy, knowing smile, Brennan covered her fingers with his and helped her. When at last his shirt was undone all the way to where it disappeared inside his pants, Kacie spread his shirt wide and sighed with delicious relief at the hot velvet silk of his chest. A sprinkling of dark coarse hair went down the middle of his chest and, like his shirt, disappeared behind his pants. She’d once heard that called a happy trail, and she could certainly see the reasoning. It would make her exceedingly happy if she could follow that trail wherever it led.

  Brennan sat up and tugged his shirt from his pants. She heard shoes dropping. Before she could think about kicking hers off, his hands were there, taking them off for her. She hadn’t worn any kind of tights on her legs, and she heard an appreciative hum when his fingers discovered that. Hard, callused hands, both rough and tender, caressed her legs, from ankles to her knees and then behind one knee, up one thigh.

  Kacie wiggled a little, surprised to discover this particular area seemed to have a direct connection to her sex, which had been on a slow throb that was now increasing in tempo.

  “Like that?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Your eyes went wide with surprise. I like that you don’t hide your desire from me.” He stopped caressing and said
, “Let’s get you out of that dress.”

  Kacie went to sit up, and Brennan pressed against her shoulders to keep her still. “Just turn slightly so I can get to your back.”

  She did what he asked and heard the slight rasp of her zipper, along with a cool wash of air over naked skin. He then pulled the dress off her shoulders and slid it down her body, leaving her in only her bra and a thong. “Oh holy, holy hell.” he whispered.

  She smiled at the reverence in his voice that was also a little shaky. She truly felt beautiful in his arms, even cherished. No man had ever made her feel so wanted.

  “Kacie, look at me for a second.”

  She looked up at his face and knew a moment of trepidation. Was he about to stop?

  “What’s wrong?”

  “If at any time I do something that scares you, you’ll let me know. Right? I’m trusting you with that.”

  “Absolutely. But everything feels wonderful.”

  “I’m glad. But if I go too fast or say or do something that you don’t like, I want you to say so.”

  Wanting him to stop worrying, because she really was completely fine, Kacie reached for this belt. She heard his gasp and knew she’d surprised him with her boldness. She liked surprising him, throwing him off guard, and she was delighted that she was comfortable enough with him to be bold. She unbuckled the belt, unbuttoned the front button, and then slowly unzipped his pants. Her fingers brushed against the hot, hard length straining for freedom, and she couldn’t resist tracing the thick bulge lightly with her finger.

  “Oh...”

  “You like that?” she asked softly.

  “Give me twenty—thirty minutes, and I’ll answer you.”

  Laughing with satisfaction, she cupped him in her hand and marveled at the heat, the hardness. And then she swallowed hard, slightly nervous at his size.

  Brennan surged to his feet and stripped off his pants and underwear in one sweeping move. Kacie’s eyes went wide, and she gulped again. Okay, that was a little bit bigger than she had anticipated.

  Brennan laughed. “You keep looking at me like that, I’ll get a big head.”

  “Um, well, you already have a big...” She couldn’t finish the sentence, suddenly ridiculously shy.

  Joining her on the bed, Brennan leaned over her and said, “I’ll make sure to go slow. And I’ll make sure you’re so ready for me, I’ll slide right into you without causing any pain.”

  The husky, raspy promise caused an amazing response to her sex. Could a person climax from words alone? She had a feeling that if anyone could make that happen, this man could.

  And, of course, Brennan would make sure she was ready to take him. He had shown time and again how extraordinarily gentle he could be, and he always took care of her when she was frightened. She couldn’t exactly say she felt fright, but she did feel a bit of alarm that he might not exactly fit inside her. She knew she could stop him at any time…trusted him not to hurt her.

  Brennan saw the relief on her face and felt his own relief. If he did anything to scare her, to break the bond of trust that they’d established, he’d never forgive himself. He unsnapped the front closure of her bra and then pulled the material apart. Never had he seen anyone lovelier—she was a variety of different shades of pink and cream. Like a beautiful, delicate confection, and he wanted to devour every sweet, silky inch of her.

  She was perfectly proportioned, with an elegant neck that sloped down to soft, gleaming shoulders. Her breasts were actually a little larger than he had guessed and were, like the rest of her body, beautifully shaped. He cupped them and marveled at how well they fit in his hands. Her nipples were a light rose color, and when his thumbs raked over them, they stood to attention and went even rosier.

  Dying for a taste but determined to first get them both bare, he reluctantly left her breasts and moved his hands down her flat, smooth stomach. His fingers slid under the band of her thong, and he watched her carefully as he pulled until it was around her ankles. When she wiggled to get it completely off, Brennan’s fear disintegrated. She wanted this just as much as he did, was just as eager.

  Unable to wait another moment, he pulled her against him just so he could feel her naked body against his. It was better than any fantasy he’d ever entertained. “You feel so damn good,” he growled.

  “You do, too.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  Releasing her slightly, he looked down at her. “Still okay?”

  “More than okay. I feel like I’ve been asleep for years and am just waking up.”

  “Then let me kiss the sleeping beauty to wake her up even more.”

  He made this kiss more carnal, hotter, deeper. To arouse, to prepare. His tongue matched the movements that his cock would soon be making inside her.

  With a moan of approval, Kacie returned the kiss with just as much carnality and heat. Even though he wanted to be inside her, Brennan didn’t want to rush it either. He wanted her so needy, so wild with desire, that coming together would be the only thing she could think of to satisfy that need.

  Starting back at her neck again, his mouth traveled a familiar route, but when he got to her breasts, he had to stop, to taste…to adore. As he sucked a nipple deep into his mouth, one of his hands held her head and the other smoothed down her torso and stopped just short of her sex. He released her nipple with a pop and then raised his head to look at her. With deliberate intent, his eyes watching for any sign of fear or negative feelings, he delved his fingers between the folds of her sex. What he found shook him to his core. She was wet and hot, so incredibly aroused he knew a moment of insanity. Frozen, his mouth clenched, he fought for control. The need to slide into that hot, tight channel was almost more than he could handle.

  When his eyes went to her face again, that control was won. The trust in her expression steeled his resolve.

  She kept her eyes on him, letting him see she wasn’t scared, that she was in the moment with him. She wanted this just as much as he did. Using his fingers, one, then two, he sank deeper to rouse her even more. Her eyes flickered closed as she became wetter, and then she began to undulate against his fingers. As much as he wanted to be inside her, he wanted Kacie’s pleasure first. Seeing her come apart would be an incredible sight.

  She rode his fingers, her hips rising, twisting. She was close, right on the cusp. Just when he knew she was at the edge, a half second from letting go, her eyes went wide with shock, horror. All motion stopped, and she rolled onto her stomach with a small, keening cry.

  What. The. Hell?

  Kacie sobbed into her hands, hiding her face from Brennan. Oh God, she couldn’t believe she’d let that happen. Couldn’t believe she had panicked like that. What must he think of her?

  “Kacie…talk to me.” A hand tentatively touched her shoulder. “Let me help you. What did I do that scared you?”

  No, no, no. She couldn’t stay here and listen to this. He thought he was the one at fault, and it was all her. She was the dysfunctional, screwed-up weirdo. She was mortified…humiliated.

  Unable to look at him, she quickly slid across the bed to the other side.

  “Where are you going? What—”

  Feeling lower than a slug, she whispered hoarsely, “I’m so sorry,” and ran from the room.

  She made it to her bedroom in seconds and locked the door, because if she didn’t, he’d barge in and want to talk. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to face him again, much less talk to him. How could she have let herself get carried away like that? She hadn’t known how it would affect her, but she should have suspected.

  How was she ever going to explain this to him?

  The knock on the door was inevitable.

  “Kacie, talk to me. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She grimaced at how very unfine her hoarse, quivering voice sounded. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “I’m fine, Brennan, really. And you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s me.”

&nbs
p; “But I—”

  “Can we talk in the morning? It’s been a really long day.”

  “Yeah…sure. I…” He huffed out a breath. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” Another harsh breath. “I’m just sorry.”

  Kacie heard his footsteps as he walked away and finally gave in to the tears that were bursting to be set free. Beneath the harsh sobs of a heartbroken woman, she heard the hideous words she told herself she’d never hear again: You’ll never belong to anyone but me, my precious jewel. I’m never going to let you go.

  And he had been right.

  Brennan jerked on a pair of jeans and paced around his bedroom. Calling himself every vile name that’d ever been created would never alleviate the guilt of what he’d just let happen. After knowing what she’d gone through, how could he have let himself believe she was ready to be intimate with a man?

  He knew about PTSD. Knew even odd, obscure things could trigger a horrific memory. After what she’d been through, it only made sense that sexual intimacy, especially the first time since her ordeal, would bring memories to the forefront.

  It didn’t matter that she had assured him she was okay. It’d been his responsibility to take care of her, and he had failed miserably.

  And that hadn’t been all he’d discovered. He now knew the reason she didn’t wear bikinis. There might be truth to her claims that wearing more modest suits went better with the persona she’d created for herself, but that wasn’t the biggest reason. He’d seen that reason as she’d raced out his bedroom door. A tattoo at the base of her spine. The writing had been small, but when she’d gotten to the door, the light had been on her back, and he’d read the words. Precious Jewel.

  Why the hell had she never had it removed? He knew that tattoo removals could be painful, but hell, could it be more painful than the constant reminder of what she’d endured?

  She lived with that every day. Saw it whenever she looked in the mirror.

  Shaking his head at how very messed up everything was, he grabbed his cellphone and made a call he didn’t want to make. It was the right thing to do.