She tightened the belt on the robe and walked back into the bedroom.Sky looked at the clock on the nightstand.It was only four, and Daniel had reminded her to be down in the dining room at six, so she had plenty of time to take a nap and still be ready for dinner.She made sure her alarm was set before she stretched out on top of the bedspread and pulled the folded blanket at the bottom of the bed over her.She was out between one minute and the next.
Chapter Five
Jared knocked on herdoor an hour and a half later.He opened it, a little worried when he didn’t hear anything from the other side.
He drew in a deep breath at the sight before him.She was the first thing he saw.So tiny, curled up in the bed.The bed was only a queen, but it looked huge with her small body in the middle.He leaned against the bedpost and stared.
Jesus, what was he going to do?He wanted her from the first moment he set eyes on her.He’d only seen her for a few minutes and touched her hand for ten seconds, and it had deeply affected him.She drew him, unlike any other woman he’d ever met in his life.
Jared sat down beside her and lifted the damp hair that had fallen over her face and tucked it behind her ear.
After he’d met her, he’d taken a ride out to the lake on his property to think.Jared had needed some alone time where there were no distractions.He’d come to a conclusion quickly.He wanted her, and that was okay, he just wouldn’t let it—her—matter.He was determined to stay aloof.He wasn’t going to let a woman affect him as his neighbor, Todd, had.The man had lost so much because of his wife.
Jared also decided her looks would make the sex a whole lot more enjoyable.He knew it made him a bastard, but if she had been unattractive, he’d planned to have sex a lot in the dark or close his eyes.
Jared admitted to himself, and would only ever admit to himself, how she terrified him in so many ways.Jared was afraid he would unintentionally hurt her physically.He was a large man all over.For the first time in his life, he wondered if he would fit inside a woman’s body.Then the thoughts of being inside her had sweat pop out along his forehead.He also had to guard against the emotions that threatened to surface.
He decided that if he was careful with her and patiently prepared her, he’d be able to fit.He was desperate to have her but told himself it was because he wanted her pregnant as soon as possible and not because his hunger for her was out of control.But even just getting her pregnant, he admitted to himself, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her.
The day before, he thought he and his new wife would take some time to get to know each other before they became intimate, but now, the sooner they started a family, the better.He needed to tie her to him in every way because he wasn’t letting her go, not because he cared for her, but because he saw her as his only chance for a family.Deep down, he knew he lied, but he ignored it.
After a while, Jared felt more in control.At that moment, as he stared down at her, he knew he’d need more resolve to keep his emotions from getting out of control.
“Sky, wake up.”Jared rubbed her back.He shook her a bit when she stayed asleep.“Wake up, Baby.”
****
Sky rolled onto herback as a voice pulled her from a dream.She was dreaming she was happy and not afraid of the next day for the first time she could ever remember, and she didn’t want to be pulled away from that.
A hand landed on her stomach, which made her eyes fly open.Sky looked up into the most masculine face she’d ever seen, and the same one she’d been dreaming about.She didn’t know why or how it happened so quickly, but this man made her feel safe.Maybe it was because Daniel swore he’d never hurt her.Sky considered the fact that she might feel this way with anyone who kept her from being with her father.
Jared was larger than any other man she’d been around.Both in height and muscle.Most people wouldn’t consider him handsome because his looks were very rugged and rough.But he had that confidence, strength, and vitality most men envied.His skin was dark from all the hours spent outside.His nose had a bump on the bridge, indicating a previous break, and a white scar that stood out against his dark skin that ran from his hairline to the top of his ear.His dark eyes were piercing and seemed to see inside her.
She pushed herself up against the headboard.She pulled up the blanket and clutched it against her chest.She noticed he’d showered and changed clothes.His clean, masculine scent wrapped around her and heated her blood.
His eyes darkened as his gaze slid down her body, paused where the robe had slipped off one shoulder, showing the delicate curves and creamy skin.His eyes glided lower to view a considerable amount of her legs.
