Jet raised his hands in surrender. “Who? Me?”
Grace laughed again, but her gaze strayed back to me. She smiled in my direction.
My heart beat harder.
“All right, let’s all take a seat and figure out what we’re going to do.” Di pulled out the chair by the small desk. Flint and Edgar took the other queen bed, Flint’s dark eyes twinkling when he caught Lena’s attention. Outside, the wind continued to howl.
“So your main concern is that your dad will kill your mom if she tries to leave?” Di asked bluntly, getting right to the point.
Grace sobered, her smile vanishing. “Um . . .” She took a deep breath. “Yeah. I know he’ll kill her.”
Flint leaned back on his elbows. “So we basically need to get her out of there alive and keep your dad from coming after her.”
Grace nodded. “I know if my mom could leave safely, she would, but she’s too terrified of my father.”
“So that’s easy,” Jasper chipped in. The dark-haired, blue-eyed twin sat up straighter on the bed by Lena. “We manipulate his thoughts so he doesn’t get aggressive, your mom leaves, and boom, problem solved.”
Di arched a midnight brow. “But how do we keep him from trying to find her after we leave?”
Edgar swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I can help with that.”
The entire room fell silent. Grace’s hand came to her throat, her eyes moistening again. “You would really do that, Edgar? For me?”
Edgar dipped his head. “Of course I would, Grace. You’re family.”
I squeezed Edgar’s shoulder from where I stood near the wall, as another tear slipped onto Grace’s cheek. Lena grabbed her hand, and Grace’s head dipped, her chin quivering. “I don’t know how to thank you all. I . . .” Grace sniffed. “For so long, I’ve been on my own. I’ve never really had a family to support me, not really.”
Lena rubbed her hand, and I came to her side, sitting beside her. I placed an arm around Grace’s shoulders. “We’ll be your family. For as long as you’ll have us.”
She lifted her shining eyes, filled with unshed tears. “I’ll take you forever.”
My stomach tightened, my heart beating erratically. While I knew she was probably referring to my entire family and not just me, I couldn’t stop my hopeful feeling. With her large luminous eyes, bruised cheek, and swollen lip, she looked so vulnerable. I vowed then and there to protect her for the rest of my life. As long as she wanted me, I wasn’t going anywhere.
~ ~ ~
“All right then.” Di stood from her chair after we’d worked out the details of how we’d approach the house and get Grace’s mom out. “We should probably all turn in since we’re heading over there first thing in the morning.” She nodded toward Grace, whose eyes kept drifting closed as she leaned into my shoulder. Even though it was only nine o’clock, it was obvious Grace was exhausted.
Di didn’t need to say anything else. Everyone stood and slipped into their coats.
I nudged Grace gently, wanting so badly to stay with her, but wanting more to do what was best for her. “Did you want me to stay with you tonight, or would you prefer Lena? I can room with Flint if you want.”
Grace lifted her head, her eyes hooded.
God, she’s so beautiful.
“I . . .” She licked her lips. Thankfully, another round of ice had reduced her swollen lip even more. “I’d rather stay with you.”
My chest swelled, my heart thumping.
“And that’s our cue to leave.” Jasper made a motion toward the door. “Come on, guys and gals, give these two some room.”
Grace’s cheeks flushed. She gave Lena a hug goodbye, then the door latched with a click behind everyone. Finally, we were alone in the room.
Nervously, I swallowed, feeling like a teenager. Rubbing the back of my neck, I hoped she wouldn’t detect how jittery I felt. I’d been with women before, something my family didn’t know about, but I’d never been with a woman who I loved. And the effect that was having on me nearly did my head in, but I wasn’t so stupid to believe tonight would come to anything. Grace had been attacked today. Sex was probably the furthest thing from her mind.
I waved at the bed by the window. “I can take that one if you want.”
Grace stepped closer to me. She lifted her luminous eyes and placed her hands on my abdomen. My heart pounded at the soft feel of her. “I’d rather sleep next to you.”
Um . . . or not.
My mouth went dry. Her shoulders rose and fell with every breath, a questioning look in her eyes, as her breasts strained against her shirt. My stomach tightened, and I cleared my throat, trying to stop how aroused I was getting. I knew she probably wanted me to hold her and nothing more than that, but damn, that would be hard. I’d been fantasizing about her for months.
“Yeah, okay,” I managed.
We both changed and got ready for bed. Grace’s slim legs kept demanding my attention as we brushed our teeth, but she winced a few times when she jarred her cheek, and that was enough to stop my meandering thoughts.
But when she left the bathroom to pad back to the bed, a view of her shapely legs and backside shone in the mirror. In short shorts, and a long-sleeved top, she looked sexy as hell. Her legs looked like they went on forever, and with her long blond hair drifting down her back, and her pert breasts visible through her top when she turned to slip under the covers. . .
Another burst of arousal shot through me.
I forced a ragged breath. Deep breaths, Raves. Deep breaths. Now is not the time to make a move.
She switched off the light and waited for me. When I slid in next to her, she scooted over, giving me room.
I took that as a hint that she only wanted to sleep. Still, her scent lingered near my pillow and the warmth from her body beckoned me. I fisted my hands, making myself stay still.
Rustling came from her side, then her soft voice. “Raven?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to come closer?”
Hell yeah. I cleared my throat. “Is that what you want? I don’t want to pressure you.”
A moment passed, and my stomach tightened again.
“Yes. That’s what I want.”
I moved closer to her, the mattress dipping under my weight, then pressed my body flush against hers. I tried to stop my erection, but the feel of her pressed against me, and her floral scent that made my head spin . . .
“Shit,” I whispered.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I shifted an inch back, hoping she didn’t feel just how okay everything felt. I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Totally fine.”
She rolled over to face me. In the dim light, penetrating the curtains from the parking lot, her eyes looked dark. “Is it okay that we’re sharing a bed?”
“Is it okay?” I scoffed. “Um, yeah, it’s more than okay.”
She dipped her head, suddenly looking shy. “Did you mean it when you said you’ve been wanting to ask me out for six months?”
“I meant it.”
Her lips parted, and her sweet breath puffed toward me.
My erection tightened more. “I just don’t want to pressure you. I’m trying so hard right now to not be turned on.”
She pulled her lower lip into her mouth, and that damned little tongue poked out to lick her lips, tormenting me again.
“I’ve never felt pressured by you,” she whispered. “I feel so safe with you, Raven.”
I swallowed tightly, that declaration meaning more to me than a hundred blow jobs. “Good. I want you to feel safe with me. I would never hurt you.”
“I know.” She glanced up, her gaze dipping to my lips.
My heart pounded harder.
“Which is why I want to do this.” She pressed her body against mine again, her lips finding my mouth.
For a brief second, I pulled back. “Your injuries—”
“I don’t care.” She threaded her fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck, k
issing me more.
I tried to be gentle, but her tongue found its way into my mouth, and her scent flooded my senses.
I pulled her tighter to me. She moaned, and my hands roamed up and down her back, relishing every soft curve and smooth muscle. Her arms entwined around me, her fingers lightly caressing my back, sending tingles down my spine.
“Raven,” she whispered. Another moan came from her.
I threaded my fingers through her hair, the texture soft and thick. She tasted so freakin’ good, better than I’d dreamed of.
She shifted, the mattress dipping, and my erection sprang forward, pushing against her. When I realized that happened, I went rigid.
“Shit.” I pulled back, my hands shaking I wanted her so badly. “I’m sorry. I meant for this to be gentle and slow. I didn’t want to rush you. I wanted to—”
“Raven. It’s okay. You’re not rushing me, and we’re not doing anything I don’t want to do.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
I pulled her closer to me again, loving the feel of her soft breasts pushed against my chest. I pressed my lips against her neck, inhaling her scent. “I’ve been wanting to do this for forever.”
She shivered. “Me too.”
I growled and nipped her skin, loving how that elicited another shiver from her. “But I mean it that I don’t want to rush you. I want to take this slow and get to know all of you before we—” I let my sentence hang.
Her head dipped, and if I didn’t know better, a flush stained her cheeks. “That’s fine, cause I’ve never, um . . . I mean, plenty of guys tried to sleep with me, but I’ve never actually . . . done it.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “You’re a virgin?”
She cringed. “Don’t bring it up. Please. I just couldn’t, not with other guys, after . . .” Her tone dropped, her voice quieter. “Those two years when I danced, they really messed me up for a while. I didn’t trust anyone, and I didn’t want to throw myself at a guy just ’cause he gave me attention, so I just—” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I kinda shut myself off from men. I think it was a survival instinct, like it was the only way I knew how to protect myself.”
I tilted her chin up and brushed a finger across her uninjured cheek, my movement tender. “You’re quite possibly the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You don’t need to feel embarrassed, Grace. You never need to feel embarrassed with me. I love it that I’ll be your first.” And hopefully, your last.
Her chin quivered. “Why are you so good to me?”
“Because you deserve nothing less.” I pulled her into the crook of my arm, loving the feel of her against me. “I want to make you mine, and I intend to after this all blows over, if you’ll let me.”
“I’d love that, Raven. You’re the first man I’ve ever wanted.”
“Good. ’Cause I’m not letting you go.”
CHAPTER SIX
I fell asleep to the feel of Grace’s hair tickling my chin, and the sound of her soft breath puffing against my neck. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. That a girl as amazing as her wanted me.
Dreams filled my sleep that night of a beautiful woman wrapped in an ugly world. I wanted to save her and cherish her. Her lips were like raspberries, tender and sweet. I wanted to kiss them and suck on them, never letting her go.
A shrill sound penetrated my dream, those juicy lips fading. A phone was ringing, then a frantic voice, then someone shaking me.
“Raven! Raven wake up!”
But those sweet lips in my dream called to me and begged me to stay asleep.
“Raven!”
The yell jolted me upright. Grace’s soft hands wrapped around my shoulders, her jumbled words penetrating the darkness.
“My mom! My mom just called! She’s leaving! Hurry! We need to pick her up!”
Before I could process any of what she was saying, she was bounding out of bed, throwing her clothes on and searching for her jacket. “Hurry, Raven! We need to go!”
I flipped the light on by the bed, rubbing my eyes, my brain still thick from sleep. “Go? Now?”
“Yes! Now! She’s running away on foot. We need to find her!”
Her panicked words penetrated the fog in my mind. Pushing myself upright, I slid out of bed and grabbed my clothes from yesterday. Grace was already at the door opening it when I stumbled out after her.
A bitterly cold night assaulted us. A pitch black sky covered a vast ceiling of nothingness above as snow flew in the parking lot lights. I hefted the collar of my coat up and made sure Grace got into the passenger side of my car before dashing around to the driver’s seat.
Her chattering teeth greeted me when I slid inside.
“Hurry, Raven. Please hurry.” She sounded close to tears.
I started my car, turned the heater on full blast, and backed out. “It’s okay. We’ll find her.”
Grace covered her face with her hands. “What if she freezes to death? She said she was only grabbing a jacket because she had to hurry. She was too afraid my dad would wake up and find her if she took clothes from the dresser, so she’s still in her pajamas and walking alone at night. Someone could hit her on the road. It’s slippery and dark, and then—”
“We’ll find her.” I placed my hand over hers and squeezed. “Can you call her again? See where she is right now?”
“No. She had to leave her cell phone behind. My dad tracks her movements, so if she took it, he’d know where she was.” She clung to me, her thin fingers digging into mine.
I let her hold my hand while we drove out of town, heading west toward the mountains, the car’s headlights cutting through the snow like a tunnel.
The late hour, slippery roads, and pitch black surroundings made for a tumultuous drive as I did my best to keep Grace calm while keeping the car in our lane. Nobody else ventured on the roads, luckily, but patches of black ice meant I couldn’t drive too fast for fear I’d lose control.
It occurred to me twenty minutes into the drive that I should call my family and tell them what had happened. I called Di first, then Flint. Neither answered. Next, I tried Lena, Edgar, and the twins. Nothing.
Their ringers are probably off. Most of us slept with our phones on silent. Shit. But I kept my concerns to myself. The last thing Grace needed was something else to worry about.
“What if we don’t find her in time? What if he finds her first?” Grace asked the questions over and over, not hearing my responses and reassurances.
My heart pounded, my teeth grinding. The fire rose in me again as my rage burned.
With each mile that passed, the snow grew heavier. Even though Grace clung to my hand like a lifeline, I had to pull back and put both hands on the steering wheel as the narrow highway curved. I anxiously eyed the car’s battery again and again. We were running dangerously low on battery juice.
Flying snow filled the windshield, but we both kept our eyes peeled the closer we got to Grace’s childhood home. About two miles away from it, Grace jumped in her seat, pointing through the windshield. “There she is!”
A figure walked slowly and stiffly on the side of the road, thin pajama pants billowing around her legs. A hood covered her face, but from her thin frame and folded posture, I knew it was Grace’s mother.
I pulled over, and we jumped out. The bitter wind cut into my face like a thousand needles. Using the car’s headlights to illuminate the side of the road, we raced on unsteady legs toward her, both of our arms out for balance as we tried not to fall.
“Mom?” Grace grabbed her in a hug when she reached her. “Mom? Are you okay?”
Grace’s mother groaned, and she stood stiffly, her arms staying at her sides. Her teeth chattered as the wind howled. Blue lips caught my attention when she lifted her chin. The woman was freezing to death.
“G . . . Gr . . . Graaaace?” she managed through her chattering teeth.
My breath sucked in when the headlights revealed her features. Dried blood and fresh
bruises covered her face. One eye was swollen completely shut.
“Yeah, it’s me, Mom. It’s really me.” Grace put her arm around her mother, but her mother struggled to stay upright. She’d already been out in the cold for at least an hour, and her body refused to bend, not to mention, she’d taken a horrific beating. It was amazing she’d been able to walk at all.
“He’ll kill me, Grace, if he gets to me.”
Grace squeezed her shoulders gently. “I know, Mom. We won’t let that happen, but come on, we need to get out of here.”
Her mom took a step, hobbling, and nearly fell.
“Let me carry her.” I moved to her mom’s other side.
When I scooped her into my arms, she cried out, making me wonder if she had more injuries than just a battered face. I walked carefully down the side of the road to the car, my shoes slipping at times on the icy road.
Grace murmured soothing words and calm reassurances to her mother over and over, tears making her voice thick. “You can come live with me in Colorado, Mom. You can stay at my apartment, and we’ll be able to spend time together again. We don’t need to be afraid anymore. He can’t hurt us now, and we—”
The sound of a revving engine cut through the night. A huge truck rounded the bend in the road farther up the mountain, no more than a half-mile away. It fishtailed around the corner like an out of control racecar.
“Oh no! Heeee’s . . .” Her mother’s teeth chattered. “Heeeee’s here!”
The truck straightened out and gunned toward us, racing down the mountain at a frightening pace, oblivious to the treacherous roads and the fact that if he didn’t stop, he’d run into and kill all of us.
“Run, Raven!” Grace grabbed my arm, propelling me faster down the mountain.
We ran side by side, the angry growl from her father’s truck growing louder by the second. Headlights cut through the air behind us. My heart leaped into my throat, and I knew we’d made a mistake.
We should have woken my family before we left.
We should have brought them with us.
We shouldn’t have done this alone.
The Complete Lost Children Series Page 105
