“I’m livid, Emma. Right now, seeing you like this, I want to hurt someone.” He paused. “Someone else. I’m using all my restraint right now.”
I nodded. “Please take me home.”
Something cut the ties on my wrists and ankles. “I’m leaving the blindfold on.”
“I want to see you.”
“You don’t need to see what I just did.” Rett lifted each of my wrists. “Don’t argue with me. Now isn’t a good time.”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded again.
“I’m going to put my t-shirt over you and get you to a doctor.”
Warm, soft fabric came over my head. If I hadn’t known this was Rett, I would now. The damp mustiness of the room disappeared as I was covered with the rich, spicy scent of Rett’s cologne. One arm at a time, he helped me lift my arms through the armholes. With each movement, I tried to stifle the groans, but every effort caused pain. It radiated through my body as if my nerves were ready to spark and my bloodstream was filled with liquid fuel.
“Now lift your arms, Emma. I’m taking you home.”
I did as he said, unable to stop the moans as he lifted me.
The sound of a thud came with a small jolt—was that a kick?
Rett’s tone grew colder. “These bastards didn’t suffer enough. If I could, Emma, I’d bring them back to fucking torture them slowly.”
This was a glimpse into this complicated man.
Rett’s words and his actions reflected a dichotomy. His speech was vengeful and his tone emotionless, yet as he held me, his touch was gentle.
Laying my head to my side, I realized that Rett had literally given me the shirt off of his back. My cheek settled on his warm, bare chest as he carried me away from wherever we were.
I listened to Rett’s shoes as they clicked over the flooring. In my other ear, his steady heartbeat slowed to normal from the accelerated beat when he’d first lifted me. It felt as though we’d stepped through a doorway.
Warm air replaced the air conditioning. We were outside. Though I couldn’t see, I assumed due to the limited information on a timeline Rett had given that it was now night and the sky was dark.
“Miss North.”
I turned toward the voice. “Ian, I’m sorry.”
“No, miss, I should have been watching.”
I shook my head. “I was wrong.”
It wasn’t Ian who replied. “You were.”
My breath caught at Rett’s tone.
Doors opened as Rett placed me on a cool leather seat and followed me into the vehicle. It was funny that being with him, safe at his side, I no longer had a desire to remove the blindfold. This covering of my eyes had come to mean I trusted him and at this moment, I did. As I leaned against him and his arm came around me, I didn’t care about vision. “Thank you for saving me.”
He didn’t reply.
The vehicle began to move.
I lifted my chin as if to look up at Rett. I imagined his dark brown eyes and strong chin. “I’m sorry.”
His finger came under my chin, holding my face in place as a kiss came to my lips and another to the top of my head. “Not as sorry as you will be.”
“Rett, you have to understand how I felt when—”
His finger came to my lips. “Don’t, Emma. Now isn’t the time to make excuses. I’m a man of action, and you don’t want that at this minute. You’re safe and I’m trying to concentrate on that. I assure you that it isn’t in your best interest to have me thinking beyond that fact.”