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When I pulled back from his arms and raised my chin to look up into his concerned eyes, I almost melted. He had come for me the second I needed him to just like he told me he would. He wasn’t harming me. And his touch felt safe. I wanted to cry all over again that everything inside me said that I could trust him to protect me. That was more than I had ever thought I would do again when it came to a man or anyone else in my life for that matter.
Though my heart was an entirely different story.
My heart belonged to my baby now and I couldn’t risk anyone evoking such feelings from me that could hurt us both. Yet, to be honest, my heart was never part of the deal with Thad. My father yes, but Thad had never held my heart. I was just young and scared, wanting someone to help me.
What he’d done was the complete opposite.
So, I guess when it came to matters of the heart I wasn’t an expert. The only people who had ever truly been part of that were my parents. But now there were all the ladies and the guys. Then, there was Kace. Of course he was one of the guys, but somehow healwaysfelt different.
Was my heart telling me something new?
“Let’s get you inside,” Kace said, dragging me from all the things rushing through my head.
I let him guide me through the door and close it, locking it behind us. But when he turned to face me and asked a question, the trembling and fear that had started to seep from me minutes before while in his arms, came back.
“Who did you think was here, sweetheart?”
Did I dare tell him?
* * *
I was exhausted.
On legs that felt as though they would have given out at any moment, I shuffled to the couch and sat down. Kace followed, keeping his distance again, and took a seat in the chair. We sat in silence for a few minutes before I blew out a breath trying to get the words to come. I’d never had anyone to talk to or confide in.
It was terrifying.
If I talked about all the things in my past, what would happen? Would Kace leave and decide he couldn’t get involved? Was there a chance if I told him that one day Thad would come after him too? Question after question rolled through my mind and panic started to rear its ugly head for another time.
One too many in my book.
“Deep breaths, honey,” Kace said softly as he scooted closer to me and sat on the couch, but not crowding me.
In and out, I did as he said, working to calm my runaway thoughts and spiking emotions. If there was a word for more than exhausted I needed to know it because that was how I’d felt after a couple more minutes had passed.
“I’m so tired,” I whispered.
“You need to get some sleep, but can you tell me what spooked you so I know what happened?”
It seemed like a reasonable question after dragging him out of bed. But what did I say? I shut myself in my closet after hearing a few little noises? I was sure that would sound silly. And once again the mind reader came out in full force.
“Teal, it’s okay to be scared. It is better to be safe than sorry and I told you I would be here for you anytime you needed me. Tell me what you heard so I can take a look and make you feel better.”
That sounded logical so I told him about hearing the sounds outside the window and had thought someone was out there who wanted to get in. After assuring me I was safe on the couch, Kace went to my room to take a look and then searched the rest of the house.
Not able to sit any longer, I laid down on the couch, my head on one of its soft, decorative pillows I was sure Summer must have picked out because it couldn’t have been Gyth. Smiling a little at the thought, I listened to Kace move around my place. His presence alone brought a little comfort and I felt myself drifting off to sleep, but then his voice had me fluttering my eyes open as I worked to sit back up.
“Teal, go ahead and lay down. There is no threat and everything is okay. You need to get some rest.”
He was going to leave. How would I sleep once that happened? The sounds, the visions, the monsters would creep into my soul and keep me from doing just that.
Theyalwaysdid.
That was when I found myself pleading with him, my tone almost begging him not to leave. If he would just stay for a little bit I might get a little sleep. When had I ever felt comfortable letting myself be so vulnerable as falling asleep with a man in the room with me?
The answer wasnever.
So, not for the first time had I found myself asking what it was about Kace that was so different?
