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Her head fell back along his arm as his lips moved from hers, traveled to her neck, caressing the tender line of flesh. Every cell in her body was tuned to him, reaching out to him, desperate for his touch.
“Jack,” she whispered as she lifted closer to him, needing so much more of him.
“Remember this, Poppy,” he whispered, his voice hoarse as his head lifted, the blue in his eyes darkening the gray until they were the color of storm clouds. “The pleasure, the hunger. This is how it should be, baby. When the nightmares come, remember, this is how it should be.”
He pressed her head to his chest, and Poppy could feel the calm, steady acceptance emanating from him. The purpose.
Jack was there with her; she’d never convince him to leave if she called the police. And no doubt, his DNA was there in the shack now anyway.
Then, a horrible realization locked inside her and the implication of what she had done tightened around her heart like a vise. If she called the police, they’d never accept the fact that she’d killed Trencher.
Jack had given her the small dagger she’d used to kill her rapist. It had been a gift the year before. It could be traced back to him. And he would take the charge to protect her. She knew he would.
“Jack, what are we going to do?” she whispered, easing up and pushing her fingers through her hair as she stared around the single room.
“It will be okay, Poppy…”
It was there in his voice. A deadened sound that assured her he was preparing himself for whatever the results of her actions brought down on him.
Poppy stared at him as a furious denial resounded in her head.
“You think I’ll allow you to take the blame for this?” she asked him, moving from his lap to kneel in front of him. “You didn’t do this.”
He shrugged as though it didn’t matter. “Who would believe you killed a man?” he asked her gently. “Even I would never accept that, honey.”
She inhaled, fighting to find another answer.
“You’re a SEAL,” she said then. “Aren’t there ways to hide the body? To make certain he’s not found? Or if he is found, to ensure he can’t be traced back to us? There has to be a way, Jack.”
The man had tried to rape her, and when she’d warned him she’d never let him get away with it, he told her dead little girls didn’t carry tales. He would have killed her. He’d intended to kill her.
Jack was silent for long minutes, and she could feel him either considering those options or considering her ability to be strong enough to keep the secret.
“He would have killed me, Jack. He had no intention of letting me leave this shack,” she informed him. “I don’t feel bad about killing him. And I won’t have you take the blame for it. I know that’s what you’re planning to do.”
She saw the quirk of his lips, the acknowledgment that she was right.
“I won’t let you.” She reached out for him, her hands gripping his arm as he sat on the floor, strong, imposing despite his position. “I won’t allow a stupid decision to walk home destroy both our lives. Do you hear me?”
Jack stared at her, knowing in that moment that every part of who and what he was belonged to this woman. She was stronger than he had ever imagined. She was only eighteen—so young, so fragile—but what he saw in her eyes went far beyond her age.
“I can protect you, Poppy…”
“You think taking the blame will protect me?” she argued desperately. “It won’t, because I’ll never stay silent about what happened. I’ll tell the world you’re lying.”
Jack doubted anyone would believe her. But he had no doubt there was enough DNA on the floor to prove she was there, to prove something had happened.
He grimaced at the thought. He couldn’t let her accept the blame when she had nothing to feel guilty for. This was on him. He was supposed to protect her, and he’d failed.
“And no one will believe you,” he sighed, rising to his feet and extending his hand to her. “Come on, baby…”
The door to the shack burst open, and Jack rounded on the man forcing his way inside. He pushed Poppy behind him, intent on defending the only person in his life who had defended him.
Armed, dangerous, green eyes filled with fury, the intruder took in the scene before lifting his weapon and aiming at Jack.
“No! Oh God, no…” Before he could do more than reach for her, Poppy was around him, moving to stand between Jack and the furious visage of her older brother. “Please, no, Mac… It’s my fault. It’s all my fault…”
CHAPTER TWO
