Into the Storm (39 page)

She was here. She was safe.

She was mine.

Rabbit shivered in my arms and my head snapped up.

What had I just done?

Taken her without so much as a warning. I hadn’t spoken a word.

In the mudroom no less.

I groaned quietly.

My eyes found hers, not sure what to expect. The soft gaze of warmth that met mine eased my mind instantly.

“
So, hello …” she whispered.

I leaned forward, my forehead resting on hers.

“
Feel better now?” her sweet voice murmured.

I opened my eyes back up and gazed at her. “You were gone. I thought it was a dream. I thought I was alone again.” My voice was raspy and still filled with emotion.

“
Oh, Joshua,” she stroked my cheek. “Bear was restless and I couldn’t settle either, even after you got me a snack.”

I looked at her, blinking. I
had
gotten up. I had put on my pants when I’d gotten up to get her some crackers and milk. I remember watching her nibble on them as I fell asleep, secure in the knowledge she was beside me again.

I shook my head. “I did get you a snack then? I thought I did … but I woke up and the room was cold. You weren’t beside me and the house was dark and quiet ... and it felt so empty.” My voice caught. “It was as if I had dreamed it all. That I hadn’t gotten you back.”

“
You did get me a snack, Joshua. You took care of me. Like you always do. You fell asleep, sweetheart,” she whispered. “You were so tired and you were so deep into sleep that I didn’t want to disturb you. I got up and tidied the kitchen and then took Bear outside for some air and a run. I thought it would do us both some good. I thought I would be back before you even woke up and missed me. I’m sorry you woke up so disoriented and I wasn’t there.”

I looked down to where we were still joined and looked back up sheepishly. “Sorry about the … jumping on you with no warning.”

She laughed affectionately and cupped my face, kissing me sweetly. “It was quite the
impressive
greeting.” Leaning forward, she nibbled my ear. “And extremely
hot
, Joshua.”

Grinning, I flexed my hips and we both groaned at the sensation. “Good to know, Rabbit,” I moaned huskily as I felt myself growing hard inside her again.

I looked down at her, arching an eyebrow. “Shall we go from one extreme to another?”

She looked at me, unsure.

Grinning and giddy, I kissed her and spoke lowly into her ear. “Freezer to hot tub, Rabbit? I’ll warm you up
and
take my time.”

She shivered and her arms wrapped around my neck.

“
Hot tub,” she murmured into my ear.

I held her tightly all the way downstairs.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Joshua

The bright light of mid-morning woke me. I lay blinking, staring at the pillow beside me and then smiled. Rabbit made sure I
knew
she was there. Even though we had been wrapped around each other in the night on my side of the large bed, she had obviously mussed up her side purposely. And, sitting on her pillow were the two tiny rabbits I had given her. I picked up one of the rabbits, feeling its softness.

“
Hi.”

I looked up and felt my heart stutter at the sight. Rabbit stood in the doorway, holding a mug of coffee, smiling shyly at me.

I sat up and held out my arms. She walked forward, stopping only to place the mug on the nightstand, and crawled onto the bed. I wrapped my arms around her and nuzzled into her soft hair. “Hi,” I whispered back at her. “You look so pretty today.”

I felt her blush against my bare chest. I pulled back and lifted her warm face. Could she be more adorable?

“
I like you in pink.” My fingers stroked her warm cheek. “Both clothing and skin wise.” I grinned. Her blush deepened and she didn’t meet my eyes.

“
Why are you blushing, Rabbit? I’m sure it’s not like you’ve never been told how pretty you are before,” I teased her softly.

She shook her head. “No one has told me that since my dad died,” she whispered.

I felt both a tug of sadness for her and the rekindling of my anger. Of course. That fucker withheld affectionate words from her as well.

I tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.

“
Every day, Rabbit. I promise to tell you every day how much you mean to me. I think you’re the loveliest woman I have ever seen.”

She blinked. Her face broke out with her sweetest smile. I smiled back and kissed her tenderly. We looked at each other quietly.

“
I’m making omelettes.”

I laughed. I loved her randomness. “So you were coming in to get my lazy ass out of bed?”

She shook her head, smiling. “No, my hair is in the way. I thought I remembered having a hair tie in here. I was going to look for it.”

Sheepishly, I held up my wrist. “This one?”

“
Joshua, why are you wearing my hair tie on your wrist?”

I pulled her forward. “Because you had touched it. Worn it in your hair. I wore it under my watch because I wanted it next to my skin,” I admitted quietly into her ear as I awkwardly gathered up the heavy tresses, pulled the band off my wrist and wrapped it around the messy ponytail I had created. “You, ah, might want to fix that,” I said, indicating my sloppy handiwork.

She shook her head. “No. It’s perfect.” She leaned up and kissed me. “Just like you.” My hand flew up, holding her close, enjoying the feeling of her soft lips as they moved over my skin. When her hands began stroking teasingly across my chest, drifting slowly across my nipples, rolling and stroking before dropping down to my already straining cock, I groaned.

It didn’t matter that I had made love to her twice before we slept, or claimed her in a frenzy of passion on the freezer in the middle of the night, or that we then brought each other to a shuddering release in the hot tub after that. Right now, it felt like forever since I had felt her wrapped around me, hot and wanting.

“
Did you start those omelettes, Rabbit?” I asked roughly, not really caring if she had.

“
No,” she breathed.

“
Good,” I growled and flipped her on her back, covering her with my body. “Right now, the only thing I want to sink my …
teeth …
into ... is you.”

My mouth swallowed her giggle, reveling in the sweet taste of her laughter.

“
Shower with me?” I murmured into her ear, hating the thought of even getting out of our warm bed. She looked up at me blinking slowly. I frowned, and stroked her cheek. “On second thought, Rabbit, you should stay in bed. You look so tired, my girl.”

She shook her head. “No, I want to make breakfast … well lunch at this point I suppose. I’m fine, Joshua. Neither of us got a lot of sleep last night,” she teased.

Her exhaustion went beyond one sleepless night, but still, I felt a pang of guilt. I stroked her soft cheek again. “I should have let you sleep. I was selfish … and you are just too irresistible for your own good.”

She smiled and stretched her body, arching like a contented cat in the sun and then burrowed back into my chest.

“
You’re pretty hard to resist yourself, Mr. Bennett,” she whispered. “And I’d rather be tired but feel like this than …” her voice trailed off.

“
Than what?”

“
Than tired, alone and scared like I have been. I couldn’t sleep there, Joshua. The house was so cold, so … forbidding. I hated it.”

I tightened my grip on her.

“
You never have to go back there again, Rabbit.”

She looked up, the need in her eyes breaking my heart. “Promise me that, Joshua. Please.”

I cupped face, staring down into her eyes. I spoke slowly and clearly. “Never, Rabbit. He will
never
take you away from me. You will
never
go back there.”

She sighed shakily, but smiled. “I’ll hold you to that.”

I kissed her tenderly, resting my lips against hers. “You do that,” I murmured against the softness.

I continued to hold her, savoring the closeness with her.

She pushed on my chest lightly. “I’m hungry. Let’s shower and then you can take care of your assignment while I make the omelettes.”

I let her up regretfully. “My assignment?” She smiled at me. “You promised me a steak today, Mr. Bennett. You need to forage for it, I believe.”

I grinned. “I’ll happily forage for you. Not only that I’ll cook my offering too.”

She smiled. “That’s what I like to hear.”

Despite saying she was hungry, Rabbit ate very little again. Even when I pulled her chair over and coaxed her, trying to feed her myself, I was only able to get a few more mouthfuls into her. ”You need to eat, Rabbit,” I pleaded softly.

She looked away. “I’m trying, Joshua. Please.” She shook her head.

I laid down the fork. I wouldn’t push her. And, I’d cook her a big dinner. “Maybe another snack later then, yes? After your nap?”

She looked at me, frowning. “We just got up. I wasn’t planning on taking a nap.”

I stood up and scooped her up, ignoring her protests. “
I
just got up. You’ve been up for a while. And, I didn’t let you get much sleep last night, so I want you to rest.” I placed her on the sofa and grabbed the blanket off the back, draping it over her. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Please.”

“
Where will you be?” I could hear the anxiety in her voice.

“
Right here.” I indicated the other end of the sofa. I picked up my laptop and sat down lifting my legs so they were stretched out beside her. Bear lay down on the floor by her head, chuffing at her to let her know he, too, was close. Her hand dropped down and stroked his head quietly. “My protectors,” she mumbled sleepily, already drifting.

I squeezed her leg. “Always, Rabbit.”