Page 15 of Lord of Punishment

CHAPTER 6

Georgia

After placing a blanket over my little Dillon, I’d found a bottle of well-aged whiskey in one of my cabinets. While I didn’t drink the liquor, preferring wine and vodka, it had been here the day I’d walked into the house for the first time. I’d found the refrigerator and cabinets stocked with food, several bottles of wine and liquor below the counter as well. There’d been fresh linens for the bed, toiletries in the bathroom, and brand-new DVDs secured in the bookshelf beneath the flat-screen television.

Sasha had somehow managed to ensure that while I was leaving everything and everyone I knew, I would find the quaint house cozy and welcoming. I had. After the wretched long drive where I’d been on edge the entire time, I’d slept for almost three days straight. I’d only ventured out from under the covers for food and to use the bathroom.

After wallowing in self-pity for that length of time, I’d pulled myself up by my bootstraps and never looked back. While the horrors were always there, the nightmares debilitating, I’d refused to allow them to derail my entire life.

My pregnancy almost had.

I took a deep breath, cradling the glass of whiskey against my chest before knocking once and opening the door. The sight of the unknown man standing in bare feet and his trousers, having removed his jacket, vest, tie, and shirt was a sight to behold. The suit had managed to hide his gorgeous physique and exquisitely carved muscles. The ink extended down, the vines crawling along one arm and his chest in an even more intricate design complete with green leaves and red flowers. The effect was as mesmerizing as the man.

He lifted his gaze in the mirror, studying my reflection in the same concentrated way that I was doing to his. For a few moments, I was no longer afraid, merely captivated, which wasn’t like me at all. He didn’t blink, didn’t say a word, his hand remaining across where the bullet had hit him. I finally took a deep breath, involuntarily dragging my tongue across my bottom lip. I wasn’t certain if the gesture was out of appreciation for his buff body or a nervous tic given his presence.

I forced myself to look away, moving to the side to hand him the glass. When he reached for it, our fingers touched and I was thrown by the level of electricity shooting straight down my arm. “I found whiskey.” I quickly jerked my arm away, curling my fingers as the heat blasting from the touch almost spiraled out of control.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice still gruff but more so in a sexy way.

It had been a long time since I’d allowed myself to be attracted to a man and the fact I was doing so at this moment kept my stomach churning. Even worse, my pussy was throbbing from an unwanted desire.

He polished off almost the entire drink and I watched him do it, which was also ridiculous. “Let me see where the bullet hit you.”

While he pulled his hand away, he kept his eyes on me warily, turning slightly so I could more easily see the injury. Fortunately, the skin hadn’t been broken but his skin was already dark blue, a bruise forming. I had to wonder how long he’d been in the water. When I placed my fingers across his skin, he took a deep breath, the sound reminding me of Max’ earlier husky growl.

The touch almost seared the ends of my fingers and I exhaled as I lifted my gaze. He stood a solid six inches taller than me, and I wasn’t short by means, standing at five feet eight in my bare feet. Everything about him was powerful, albeit his dangerous persona remained. “You’re very lucky you were wearing a Kevlar vest and not one made of polyethylene. If you had been, you’d be dead.”

“You know your body armor.”

His statement made me laugh nervously. “I’m an author. I do research for my books.” I continued stroking the bruise as if by caressing him I’d take away the pain. The fact I remained electrified was unnerving, more so than anything I’d experienced since moving here.

“An author. What do you write?”

“Romance novels. I know. You don’t read them.”

When he wrapped his large hand around my fingers, pulling them to his mouth, a single moan slipped past my lips and I hated myself because of it.

“I don’t know, beautiful lady. Maybe I do.”

I immediately pulled my hand away, moving my fingers to the gash on his head. “You might need stitches and I don’t think you should go to sleep for a couple hours.”

“I’m tough.”

“Maybe you are but as I said, you might have a concussion.” I wasn’t certain if not sleeping was an old wives’ tale or not, but I wasn’t taking any chances he might slip into an unconscious state that would require me to take him to the hospital. I backed away on purpose.

“Thank you for the drink. Do you mind if I take a shower?”

“Of course not. I’ll see if I have anything you can slip on. We can order from somewhere like Walmart to get you some clean and dry clothes, delivery by tomorrow. I’m afraid your suit is ruined.”

“That’s very kind of you. What is your name?”

“Georgia. You have a clue what yours is?”

He shook his head slowly, his gaze into the mirror as he studied his face haunting. I knew who I was even if I could never be that woman again. To not know who I was at all, locked in that kind of darkness was even more terrifying than what I’d been forced to live.

“Well, hopefully it will come to you. I’ll get you some clean towels as well. Take your time.”

“Georgia. That’s a beautiful name for a lovely woman. Thank you for saving me.” There was a cool arrogance about him, something I admired greatly. Even though he was uncertain of who he was or what had happened, he was in full control of everything around him.

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