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“Never?” he asks quietly while his eyes scan mine. Eyes that seem to see everything, even the things I don’t want him to see.
“Never.” I give him a shrug then lie. “And I was almost asleep when you rang my door bell.”
His lips twitch. “You’re so full of shit.”
“What?”
“You’re full of shit, babe. Saw you last night right before you conked out. Remember exactly how your eyes and face looked then. You were not falling asleep when I rang the bell. You might have been tryin’ to, but you weren’t even close to getting there.”
He remembers how my eyes and face looked before I fell asleep?
No, no. I shake my head. I will not let his words make me feel giddy.
“Has anyone ever told you that you are really fricking annoying?”
“A time or two.”
“I bet.” I rest my hands on my hips and glare at him.
“So do you wanna hang on the couch with me and watch some TV, or you wanna go to bed and try to get some sleep?”
“So you’re saying you’re not leaving.” I pause then add, “Again, even though I’m telling you that you don’t have to be here and I’m fine.”
“I’m not leaving,” he confirms.
“Is this a new service officers are providing for the citizens of this county?”
“No.” His eyes lock on mine and fill with something I don’t understand. “This is a service I’m providing exclusively to you.”
“Why?”
“Like I said before.” His voice drops before he continues, “I’m not sure you’re ready for that much honesty.”
Looking into his eyes, I know he’s right. No way in hell am I ready for his kind of honesty. “I’m going to bed.”
“Figured.” He grins and my nipples tingle. Seriously, he has great eyes, great hair, and a great body, but his mouth and his grin are over-the-top sexy. I’m sure Brie is right about every woman he comes in contact with crushing on him.
Unwilling to think about why that makes my stomach churn with unease, I turn on my bare feet, lean over the back of the couch, and grab the remote. I turn on the television then toss the remote in his direction. I don’t hear it hit the floor, so I know he catches it.
I don’t look at him again or say anything more before leaving him in my living room and heading for my bedroom. One, because I’m pretty sure whatever I’d say would come out a complete mess, making me look like a tool. Two, because I don’t want to acknowledge how thankful I am that he’s here… again. And even though I will never admit it, I feel more at ease with him in my house. And three, if I did acknowledge why he’s here, I would want to find some not-so-very ladylike ways to thank him for what he’s doing. Those things would include kissing him, probably groping him, and maybe—if I was lucky—each of us orgasming.
I shut the door to my room and get into bed. I don’t even have a chance to really think about Cobi being in my house, because I fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits my pillow.
No.
Oh God, no.
Fear fills the pit of my stomach then rushes through me when I see the gun in his hands. He doesn’t say a word, but the dark look in his cold eyes says it all—he’s going to kill me.
My limbs tremble and a shiver slides down my spine.
I want to move. I want to run. But I’m frozen in place.
My eyes close.
This is the end.
Bang!
I scream, waiting to feel the pain I know is coming.
“Baby.” Arms wrap around me and I fight against their hold, needing to run, needing to get away now that I’m not frozen in place. “Calm down. You’re safe. Promise you’re safe.”
“Co… bi?” His name comes out ragged as my lungs fight to fill with oxygen.
“Breathe, you’re safe. Home,” he tells me. I try. I try so hard, but I can’t seem to get enough air into my lungs. I can’t seem to catch my breath. My chest hurts, and my lungs feel like they might explode. “Come on.” I’m pulled to sit on the side of the bed then I feel his hand on my back, pressing down and forcing my head between my legs. “Breathe, baby, just breathe. You’re home.”
Home… I’m home. I’m not in the middle of the woods, running for my life, not lying helpless on the ground and staring at the gun I know will kill me. One short sharp breath after another comes until eventually my lungs fill with the oxygen I need to breathe easily.
Tears fill my eyes as Cobi’s hand rubs soothing circles on my back, his softly spoken words of encouragement telling me to breathe, telling me that I’m okay, and pull me back to reality. I lift my head, and his hand slides around my neck and his thumb presses into my jaw.
