He reached for his knife, then realized he forgot it in his room. Oh well, he didn’t need a knife to protect Fiona. He’d used his own body.
The room was dark, except for the small light admitted from the open window. He could make out Fiona struggling on the bed. Shit, he thought she would be safe up here, but he’d been wrong. He’d almost failed.Vinceflipped on the light so he could see his enemy and not hurt Fiona, but he drew up short. There was no enemy for him to fight.
“Help me,” Fiona continued to scream, oblivious to him in the room and the light shining down on her. At first, he thought she had done it for attention and to lure him into her room, but it only took a glance to see she was caught up in a dream.
Vincesagged against the wall, trying to quell his racing heart. She had scared ten years off his life.Vinceturned off the light and crossed the room to her side. “Fiona, wake up. It’s just a dream. Come on, baby girl, wake up.” He stroked her hair as he whispered in her ear over and over again, waiting for reality to come back to her. Her body was soaked and shaking.
Fiona thrashed against him at first, then settled. He felt when she came out of her dream and gasped.
“Shh, it’sVince. You’re okay, it was just a dream.”
Fiona looked around, breathing heavily before collapsing. “It was a dream,” she repeated.
“Yeah, just a dream. You want to talk about it?”He continued petting her hair. Just in case she was still scared and not because her hair was silky soft.
He had a feeling he knew what she had been dreaming about.
Fiona shied away, shaking her head.
“You have to talk to someone about it, Fi.”Vincestroked her hair back from her face. He wished it were lighter in the room so he could see her better.
No, hedidn’t. He already knew she was practically naked. He could see from the light outside she was only in a shirt and panties. He couldn’t handle seeing more of her.
“I was back in the Congo. The men were dragging me through the woods until one was standing watch while the other tried pulling my clothes off.” She finished with a wail.
Vincecouldn’t bear listening. He had arrived after Savannah had saved Fiona from that terrible fate and he would always be eternally grateful to her for that. If Savannahhadn’talready killed them, he would have.
Vinceclimbed into the bed next to her, trying to offer her comfort. Fiona curled into him, pressing her face against his chest.Vincewrapped his arms around her, sheltering her from the outside world.
“You escaped them, Fi. They can’t hurt you anymore. You are so brave.” And she was. True, she had been scared, but shedidn’tbreak down and always complain.
“I can still feel his hands on me. His breath on my face,” Fiona whispered before sitting up and staring at him. “I don’t want to remember that anymore, Vince.”
Vince froze. She wasn’t saying what he thought she was saying, was she? “I think you should try and get some more sleep. You’ve had a long day.” He tried easing out from under her, but she snatched his arm.
“I want you, Vince.”
Vince closed his eyes, wishing he could close his ears. The woman was trying to kill him. He clenched his fists at his sides to prevent himself from touching her. If he touched her, he would fuck her and he had already promised himself that he wouldn’t.“No, you don’t. You already told me youdidn’t.”
“I lied. I’ve been lying about wanting you for four years.” Her hands roamed over his bare chest. Damn, he forgot he was still in just his boxers.Vincesnatched them and held them still against his chest.“I want to remember your touch instead.”
Fucking hell.
Vincetried to pull back, to put distance between them, but Fiona leaned over and it was too late to pull back when she kissed him.Vincegroaned, tightening his grip on her wrists. By sheer force of will, he pulled back when all he wanted to do was flip her on her back and bury himself into her. “You’re vulnerable right now. Just had a flashback. We should talk about that.” Anything to get her off of him and a safe distance from his cock.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She pouted. “I don’t want to remember.”
“I won’t take advantage of you.” He tried disentangling himself from her again but she was like an octopus with a multitude of arms. Hecouldn’tescape, not that he really wanted to.
“You’renot.” She sat up, straddling his waist. “I’m taking advantage of you.”
Holy hell.Vinceclosed his eyes, tightening his hands into fists so hedidn’treach for her. If he touched her, he was a goner. He had been trying to avoid her all day for this very reason. There was nothing between them but her underwear and his.
“Talking about it will help.” He made a mental note to call Dr. Grace in the morning. She always seemed to be able to squeeze people in. He had yet to meet her, but everyone that had met her spoke highly of her.
“So I can add one more person to my life telling me what I need to do,” Fiona said bitterly, sliding back off of him to her side.
Vincesighed in relief that shewasn’tstraddling him anymore but was taken back by the hostility in her voice. Thatwasn’tlike Fiona, especially when talking about her family. “Dr. Grace doesn’t tell anyone what to do. She makes suggestions to help.” Hedidn’tknow why he was defending the doctor. Itwasn’tlike he knew her personally, but if she could help his friends, she could help Fiona. It was at least worth a try seeing her.
