Dating My Protector

by Kate Swain

  “No!” I screamed again, and ducked as he ran at me. He stumbled forward, and I almost lost my balance, but then I was grabbing onto another box, hauling myself upright. This time, he grabbed my shoulder. I almost passed out as I twisted in his grasp, realizing in that moment just how much stronger he was than me.

  I realized in that moment with utter certainty, that I could die. Just like Dad had died.

  I kicked him, but he raised the knife and I knew that he would use it to immobilize me if he had to, whether or not I was any use to him dead, I didn’t think he cared.

  I saw the blade slice down and I knew in that moment, with sickening horror, that I was dead. I was surprised that the first thing that came to my mind was Matt, and how terrible it was that I would never get to see him, or Lucas, again.

  “No!” I screamed. I kicked his leg, lifting my knee this time. I twisted in his grasp and the knife came down, slicing into my shoulder. I screamed, but in truth I had no idea if it had cut me or not – I couldn’t feel anything at all for a full minute, and then I felt a stinging, aching agony as he lunged at me again, and something warm running down my arm.

  “No!”

  He ran at me, and this time, as I ducked and tried desperately to run past, I heard the unmistakable sound.

  Police cars.

  My legs suddenly went weak, and I could have cried for the sheer relief of it. I stopped where I was, and saw how he looked up, his head turning involuntarily toward the source of the noise.

  “Police!” I screamed, joy making me incautious. I hadn’t been able to make myself scream, earlier – hadn’t known how to find the words. But now, I was happy. I was filled with an intense joy that was, for the moment at least, blocking out the pain of the wound in my arm.

  My shout turned into an exhalation as the man ran at me, knife held high. He was intending to escape, now, and the only way he could cover himself was if I was no longer alive. I screamed, and as he ran at me I gripped him, trying to block the knife.

  He threw his weight sideways and we rolled. He had the knife in his hand and he was poised to use it. I saw the blade move and I twisted my head away, and heard booted feet, pattering on the concrete.

  “Police! Freeze!” a man’s voice bellowed from the doorway. My would-be killer twisted around, then got to his feet, the knife in his hand. He was weaving from one side to the other, clearly uncertain as to whether he should listen to instructions or risk a mad dash. I heard another set of footsteps.

  “Matt!” I covered my mouth to stifle a cry. I saw my would-be killer’s head twist around to look as Matt darted towards me. I screamed as he made to attack him, but the police officer seized the moment to throw himself on the adversary, tackling him to the ground.

  “Stay still,” he shouted, and this time the man was still. I lost interest in what was happening, in that moment, when Matt knelt down beside me, gathering me into his arms.

  “Tessa,” he breathed into my hair. “Tessa. You’re alive. I can’t believe that you’re still alive. That we made it.”

  “You’re here,” I whispered, my mind too full to take it in. “You found me.”

  “Tessa,” he whispered, kissing my brow, my hair, my neck. I shut my eyes, close to weeping. “You’re alive. You’re here.”

  I was crying now, unable to hold back the flood of tears that had been welling in me ever since the day I left. I couldn’t speak, so all I could do was hold him tight and lean on his chest and cry.

  “Shh,” he murmured, stroking my hair. “Easy, now…” he paused, and I felt his hand touch my shoulder, and then he moved back, a look of horror on his face. “We need to see a doctor.”

  “Matt, I’m fine,” I whispered softly, though in truth, I was feeling light-headed. I could feel a slick wetness in my hand and I knew that I had lost quite a lot of blood. I was worried, though I didn’t want to mention that.

  “No, you’re not.” Matt stood up, and then gently lifted me, so that I was lying in his arms, head resting on his chest. “Mark?” he called, and my eyes turned to a man who looked uncannily like Matt did, only with a harder face and bluer eye-color. “Please can you come with us? Tessa needs help.”

  “Sure,” the man called Mark nodded. I recalled vaguely having seen him once before around Matt, but somehow I had never registered how alike they looked, and Matt hadn’t talked much about his family to me. He explained softly to the policeofficers – there were three of them here, the fourth and fifth having taken my assailant outside – that we were going to the hospital, and then we left. Mark drove and Matt sat in the back, holding me.

  “I need to get a ticket,” Mark said, as he left us in the parking lot of the hospital for a moment. I looked at Matt. He was crying unashamedly, tears running silently down his cheeks.

  “Tessa,” he said. “Never go away again? Please? I almost lost you.”

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I know. I didn’t want to worry you.”

  “Tessa,” he said, looking into my eyes. “Please, never do that again. I would have been worried, yes. But nothing in the world – nothing – is more precious than you.” He shut his eyes, his voice cracking. “I love you.”

  I felt my heart melt and reached for him, holding him tight to my chest. My shoulder burned and throbbed, but for the moment I ignored it.

  “I love you, Matt,” I whispered into his ear, and this time I was so pleased to finally, openly say it. I wished I had said it sooner. I had come scarily close to dying without telling him. I vowed I would never hide my love from anyone, ever again. “I love you, too.”

  Mark came back, pale-faced and quiet, and we got out of the car and went into the emergency room. I waited until the doctor came out and put stitches in my shoulder, bandaged it and gave me painkillers, which made me tired.

  “Matt,” I murmured, as he lifted me up to carry me to the car. “Can we stay at your place tonight, please?” I would have to call Laney, for which purpose I was glad the police had recovered my phone. We would fetch it from the station on the way back to the house, Matt had promised.

  He looked into my eyes and I felt myself smile as he kissed me. “Where else would you stay?” he asked fondly. He smiled and I felt my heart melt and, as he carried me out of the car and up the steps to his familiar apartment, I realized I had come home.

  Epilogue

  Tessa - One Year Later

  I rolled over in bed, hearing the sounds of Matt in the shower next door. I stretched and got up, a soft grin spreading across my features. I loved to hear him singing in there. I kissed him, wet and naked, as he came out of the shower.

  “Hello,” he said, and I felt my body flare up with longing when his hand touched my back.

  “Hello,” I said softly.

  He ran his hands through his hair, spattering drops of moisture on the tiles, and reached for his towel, scrubbing off the droplets of wet. I stared at his body, letting my eyes feast on his fine body.

  When he was dry, he headed into the bedroom, and I felt a flood of warmth through my body as he looked over his shoulder, his eyes filling me with sweet warmth.

  I showered and dressed quickly, and then tiptoed into the nursery. I didn’t want to wake Nuala – she had been sleeping all morning, and it was good to see her getting some rest. I looked down at her soft face, her little eyes shut, dark hair touched with daylight.

  Then, before I could wake her, I tiptoed out and down to the kitchen. I looked around. We had moved into a new apartment, one we’d found while I was still expecting our daughter. It had more space – a room for Lucas, and a room for Nuala. We’d also got a bath, which was nice, and two stories.

  I headed down to the kitchen, hearing the voices of Matt and Lucas, talking quietly to each other over breakfast. It was weekend, and we would spend it at leisure – reading and doing household stuff, then heading to the park for a picnic, and for Lucas to play football with friends. I loved the steady ease of our routines. Living peacefully made me happy.

&nb
sp; It was strange to think that there was a time I never thought I’d have a restful, ordinary life.

  “How are you, this morning?” I asked Lucas, who looked up happily as he heard me enter.

  “Fine! Where’s Nuala?” he asked, before asking anything else. I grinned. His joy in his small sister warmed both our hearts. He was already proving a responsible and carig elder brother – no less than I would have expected of such a sweet, mature child.

  “She’s resting,” I said, and held my finger to my lips in gentle reminder.

  “Okay. I’ll wait until she’s awake,” he nodded, and sat back down at the table, finishing his cereal. I was clearing the breakfast away when I heard a knock at the door.

  “That must be…”

  “Hello?” Matt said, already answering the door. I shot through from the kitchen, quickly tucking my red hair behind one ear. I was wearing a new white shirt and slacks, and I was glad I had some warning – I had taken the time to put on makeup. I was glad of it when I saw that I was right about who my visitor was.

  “Tessa!” Laney said, drawing me into an embrace that smelled of expensive scent. She held me at arm’s length and kissed my cheek. “You look great!”

  “Thank you,” I said, grinning into her brown eyes. “You look beautiful, of course. That is never untrue.”

  Laney blushed. “Well, from you, that’s a compliment.”

  She looked across at the wall opposite the door, where some of my photographs hung. Two of them had won awards, and I hoped she wouldn’t notice, because I was shy. She didn’t say anything, but raised a brow and nodded, as if impressed.

  I blushed and Matt came forward to shake her hand. “It’s good to see you,” he said. He had met Laney a few times – she had insisted on visiting me regularly, especially when I was about to have Nuala. She raised a brow. “Where’s my god-daughter?”

  I flushed and laughed. “She’s upstairs,” I said. “She’s sleeping.”

  “Oh!” Laney clasped her hands rapturously. “Can I go up? I’ll be quiet,” she added, seeing Lucas standing in the hallway, a silent guardian. She stopped and took off her shoes – high-heeled navy pumps to match her jeans – and then tiptoed up.

  I followed her, and felt tears spring to my eyes as her face transformed in wonderment. She stood where she was at the door, just watching my tiny baby as she lay sleeping. I felt my own heart twist and I acknowledged again how utterly blessed I felt.

  “Want coffee?” Matt whispered, tiptoeing up the hallway to join us. I could see the soft look in his eyes as he glanced at us, and my heart tightened as I saw him look into the nursery, his face melting with gentleness. He was an amazing father, and I couldn’t have been more loved, or felt more for any other human.

  “I would love coffee,” Laney agreed, and tiptoed down the stairs again to join us in the kitchen. Lucas stayed with us for a while, telling us all about his hockey practice – he was going to be in junior first team, he told us. Laney looked impressed and, when he had left to go and practice his aim, she grinned at me. “You have an amazing family.”

  I felt my heart fill with love and appreciation. “I do.”

  Later, when Laney had left and we had finished dinner, with Lucas already in bed and sleeping, I turned to Matt where we sat in the candle-lit kitchen. My heart was full of love.

  “I’m happy, Matt,” I whispered, squeezing his hand. “I’m so happy.”

  Matt nodded, and I was surprised to see a glint in his eye. “I am, too,” he whispered. “I can’t believe you’re really here with me.”

  “Oh, Matt,” I said, ruffling his hair. I didn’t want him to think about how close we’d come to my death. I didn’t want that mentioned. My arm was healed and my mind was healing over the shock and fear of that time, but slowly. I didn’t want to think of it until I was ready.

  He nodded, understanding that as he understood everything. He had the sweetest heart of anyone I had ever met – so ready to hear; ready to accept and understand someone’s pain before they even did themselves.

  “I love you,” he whispered, drawing me against him and holding me close.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered, and my lips found his.

  He carried me to our bedroom, laying me down on the mattress with exquisite tenderness. I sighed and reached for him, my hands tangling in his shirt with my eagerness to undress him. He smiled and started to unbutton my blouse, working it down to my waist, and then sliding it off me gently.

  His lips were hot on my skin and I gasped as he gently undressed me, his lips touching each part of me as his hands uncovered me. I sighed and shut my eyes as his mouth found my breasts, his lips warm and gentle.

  He moved down my body and I lay still, trying to slow the rising tides of excitement that were sweeping through my body, seas of joy that he knew so well to guide me on. I cried out in my climax and then, taking off his jeans hastily, his want for me so plain on his face, pushed into me.

  I gasped and he gasped too, the wonder of our joining never wearing off. In fact, I thought, as he thrust in me, faster and faster, I found something more beautiful in it every day. We knew each other so well, now, our joining as necessary and wonderful as breathing.

  He cried out and lay on me and I held him close, surprised to feel tears dampen my face. I was crying, the beauty of our experience too great for me to hold back. He rolled over and I saw a similar glint in his eye, though he sniffed formidably, trying to hold it back.

  I smiled and he rolled off me and I felt a little disappointed when he headed off in the direction of the closet. I had hoped he would lie with me for a while, as I loved the feeling of his weight on my body, warm and close.

  He came back and knelt on the bed beside me. I gasped and put my hand over my mouth as he held out the tiny box that he had retrieved earlier.

  “Tessa,” he said, and his voice was cracking. “I have wanted to ask you for so long, and never quite found the moment, because the moment is always right. I waited too long to tell you I loved you, though every day I knew you, it became more obvious to me. Dearest, lovely woman… My sweetest… Will you marry me?”

  I covered my mouth to stop myself from crying. I couldn’t find my voice for a moment, so many emotions flooding through me. I nodded.

  “Matt,” I said, managing at last to speak. “I know what you mean. I waited so long to tell you I love you, but in truth my heart was saying it louder every day. And I will always listen to my heart from now on. I want to tell you I love you each day now, and I will do it, until death parts us.”

  “I love you,” he whispered into my hair as I reached for him and his arms wrapped me tightly.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered back, tears running down my cheeks, heart overflowing with happiness and joy. “I love you, too.”

  Dating My Brother’s Best Friend (Excerpt)

  Brand Brothers, Book Two

  1

  Maddy

  I shut my eyes for a moment, listening to the rattle and clanging of my belongings stashed in the back of the pickup and on the seat beside me. I tried not to imagine what was breaking in there or—to guess from the sound of glass rattling—what had broken already.

  “My driving isn't that bad,” I said mildly.

  I grinned, scraping blonde hair out of my eyes as I checked the mirror. The cars behind me all seemed to be going much slower, and I had to laugh. My driving had always been a bit dangerous. My brother Adam used to joke that I had gotten all the dangerous genes and he was the sensible one. I wanted to smile: I wouldn’t have called riding a motorcycle and belonging to a famous motorcycle club exactly sensible.

  I found myself thinking of home. My brother was still living in Kansas. That meant it was home, for me. Adam—my big brother, now twenty-eight—was my only real family. I was coming back to stay with him after what felt like an eternity. I looked out of the window, amazed by how little had changed and yet how foreign it felt now. I still questioned why I was returning, even as I drove alo
ng the dusty road back to Kansas.

  I hadn’t been in Kansas for years. For four years, to be exact. I’d been studying in New York. I left at age eighteen. Now, at twenty-two, I was not ready for the feelings that came over me as I drove closer and closer to my home.

  “Well, I’m back.”

  I hadn’t expected it, but it felt good to be home. The journey had taken three days and I should have been tired, but I wasn’t. I was excited.

  “Hello?” I said, pulling over and hastily answering my phone. I thought it might be Adam, calling about plans or something. He expected me to arrive at about four p.m., and it seemed like I was on track. I frowned as I looked at the number.

  “Hello?” I said again to the silence, feeling confused. I don’t usually answer numbers that don’t appear on my contacts. But given how many utility companies and banks and movers and other things I’d contacted recently for the move, I thought it might be important. I took a chance, and waited for the reply.

  “Maddy!” A familiar voice shrieked. “How’re you doing?”

  “Hi, Rebecca,” I greeted her, smiling to myself. Rebecca Thomson, or Becca as we all called her, was my best friend for as long as I could remember. We’d met at in elementary school and stayed friends all through college even though we’d taken slightly different paths. She studied business and marketing, while I’d done business as a minor along with my dance and art major. I wondered if Becca had news.

  “I went to an interesting house today,” Becca said excitedly. “Hey… got time to talk?” she added.

  Not that being a bit inconsiderate is a bad trait in her profession—or at least being direct.

  Becca was a realtor, and great at her job.

  “You did?” I asked. “Was it…”

  “It’s got two rooms—a bedroom with a nice bright bathroom, and then this huge open space that could be divided and used as a studio and welcome area…” she interrupted, sounding as excited about the place as a chef would about her latest recipe.