“Stop!” she screamed. “Get away from me! Oh, God, please stop!”
A dark head shot up, and even in the dim light of the bedroom she recognized Brandon’s beloved face.
“Easy, baby. It’s all right. No one’s going to hurt you. Everything’s okay.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized what she had done. That Ray Cummings had intruded back into her life. That she was a victim. That she could no longer trust herself to behave like a normal woman. Not even with Bran.
She started crying and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him, like a fortress against the evil in the world.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s okay.”
A sob escaped. “I’m so sorry, Bran...so sorry.”
He kissed her forehead and drew her even closer. “It isn’t your fault. You hear me? It’s his. Cummings. I promise you he isn’t going to hurt you. I’ll kill the bastard first.”
She whimpered. It was exactly that kind of thinking that destroyed whatever chance they had of being together. And yet, as she thought of Cummings and the terrible things he had done to the women he’d locked in his basement, the awful things he had meant to do to her, there seemed a rightness to it. A notion that justice would finally be served.
She couldn’t think about it now. Not now. Instead, she slid her arms around Bran’s neck and clung to him. “I ruined everything,” she said tearfully. “It was always so good between us and now I ruined it.”
Bran eased her a little away. “You didn’t ruin anything.” He gave her the sweetest smile. “Worst-case scenario, you get to tie me up again.”
An unexpected laugh escaped. She couldn’t believe it. Her eyes burned. How could such a hard man be so sweet?I love you, she thought.I love you so much.
The thought formed crystal clear in her mind, and there was no more denying it. She was desperately in love with Bran Garrett, and losing him would be the hardest thing she had ever done.
Bran shifted her a little but didn’t let go. “Why don’t we watch a movie? Something boring so we can both get some sleep.”
She nodded, her heart squeezing at the way he always looked out for her. “That sounds good.”
“Tomorrow’s another day,” he said. “Things always look brighter in the morning.” Then he softly kissed her. Crossing the room unashamedly naked, he grabbed the remote off the dresser.
As she watched the supple movements of his powerful body, Jessie was already thinking of tying him up again.
