I ran it gently over her face, then smoothed back the damp, stray strands of dark hair that stuck to the sides of her face.
“Her mind’s still processing what she saw.”
“No doubt. It’s more than most normal people can handle.” He stood beside the bed, gazing down at her, eyes full of compassion. “Poor thing.”
Leo had a point. We could protect Harper going forward, but were helpless to protect her from what she’d been through. No one could take away what she’d seen. Not even me. The damage was done. “She’ll probably need trauma counseling after it’s all over.”
“Totally possible. You should stay with her…while she sleeps.”
That was the Leo I knew. Protecting at all costs.
The reason he’d been my closest friend since we were kids.
“Okay.” I told him. “Thanks.”
“I’m going to turn in. I’ll be in my room,” he added and turned to leave. “Give me a shout if she needs anything.”
“Will do,” I answered, kicking off my shoes.
After a few minutes stretched out beside her on the bed, she stirred. She mouthed the word no, to whoever was with her in the dream, tossing and turning a bit before settling on her side. As I rested my hand on her upper arm, she inched closer to my side of the bed, still asleep, likely drawn to my body heat and the dryer, warmer bedsheets.
Her bare skin felt like silk and the scent of her...something tropical, filled my senses.
I kissed her hair without thinking as she settled into me, her head tucked under my chin. She sighed and her trembling eased. Her back was pressed against my chest, her ass tight against my groin, and legs molded to mine. She was warm, soft and perfect in my hold. My cock ached, pressed against her, our clothes the only barrier keeping me from sinking deep.
Willing my cock down, with no success, I knew it was going to be a long night, but at least she was safe. At peace.
That couldn’t last, but I was sure of a couple of things.
I was ready to fix her problem.
Leo was ready to fight for her.
Together, we
’d keep her alive. Even if it killed us.
Six
HARPER
I woke up shaking. I’d heard the sound of my own voice, shrill and hoarse, shouting for him to please open his eyes.
The dead man.
I was unraveling.
My hand rose to my neck, and I swallowed down the bile in my throat, hoping to soothe the rough feel of it from all the times I must’ve screamed while sleeping.
Then I felt it. Warmth. Muscular arms wrapped around me. A firm chest at my back. And that steely thickness pressing up against the back of my upper thigh. I was in bed with a man. My first instinct was to quickly raise the cover and look down my body. Thank goodness, I still had clothes on. Although my dress was bunched up past my hips and my panties were the only thing between me and that firm, masculine smelling source of body heat.
“It’s all right,” his deep voice rumbled at the whorl of my ear. “You’re safe. Everything’s fine. Do you remember where you are?”
Turning in the circle of his arms, I faced him and it all came flooding back. The job. The body. The panic. Leo’s cool, level head. Dane’s comfort. I was lying in Dane’s bed with him, my skin balmy and my hair hanging tangled about my shoulders. I swallowed hard as our eyes met, and scrambled for something to say. “Did we…did you and I—”
“No. You were having nightmares. Nothing happened.”
I sat up and pulled the cotton sheets up to my shoulders. “My clothes are still on.”