He kept his grip on me and fell to his side, holding me tight.
His heavy breath fanned my neck as his hand reflexively tightened on me. His cock was still in me as he tucked me against his chest and rasped against my temple, “You’re mine now. I will never let you go.”
My body didn’t listen. It should have recoiled. Instead, my muscles went slack. My breathing steadied to match his. Myhand, which had been braced to push him away, dropped to his forearm.
I loathed every second of that surrender. The small, involuntary one that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with the sick truth that in his arms, for the first time in months, I felt safe.
Oh. My. God.
I’d just traded one prison for another.
CHAPTER 25
HAILEY
My head throbbed. As I reached for my bedside table to grab some aspirin, my fingers brushed soft, warm ridges of wood. Not the chipped laminate I was used to.
I opened my eyes, expecting gentle morning light filtering through my gauzy curtains, and the lingering scent of the lavender fabric softener I preferred. Instead, I was met with darkness and the trace of a man’s cologne.
My hand ran down my side and over the top of my thigh. Relieved at the rough brush of denim under my palm, I moved my hand higher, grateful when the buttons of my blouse pressed into the center of my palm. At least I was fully dressed. Small comfort.
Slowly, the fog lifted as memories of my conversation with Greyson in the conservatory returned to me.
We were arguing over Madison and...and something else. I rubbed my temples, willing the memories to return.
Piece by piece, they slid into place.
I had taken a big gulp of Scotch on a completely empty stomach. Not my finest moment.
It didn’t help that breakfast was half a protein bar I’d found in my purse while I was waiting in line to get into court this morning, and lunch was a complete miss. In my defense, I had planned on eating before I was sidetracked by being kidnapped by one of the hottest men I’d ever seen.
My stomach growled, and I realized that was what woke me.
The Scotch had settled into my gut and detonated. I remembered stumbling, then muscular arms holding me close.
I closed my eyes.
Memories came back in flashes. Scratchy. Out of focus. Entire scenes missing.
My fingers twisted in Greyson’s collar.
Madison.
Gunfire.
Pierce.
The splatter of rain against the windowpanes.
Jameson.
My heart beat faster. My body was reacting to something my mind hadn’t caught up to yet.
I clenched my fists, digging my nails deep into my palms.
Jameson was alive.
The rat bastard wasn’t dead.
