Page 9 of Jamison's Story

“Because I know it is. It might take time, might take some effort, but it’ll work out the way it’s supposed to—you with me,” he states, and I shake my head with a little sigh, wishing I could feel so certain of it.

Craig’s not going to just disappear from my life because Jamison’s now in it. If anything, it’s likely to make it worse.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you because of me,” I warn, finding myself wrapped up in a hug that’s like being wrapped in heaven.

“Give me Craig’s information and I’ll have him dealt with, baby,” he says, his tone reassuring and calm, but the anxiety is rushing through me just thinking of him showing up when I’m with Jamison, tearing this sweet heaven away from me.

“Craig…he scares me, Jamison,” I admit, finding his gaze after taking a deep breath, trying to tame down the anxiety once more. I don’t want to rely on the medication because it makes me sleepy, and I need to be alert in case he shows up.

“I know, Nat. I know he scares you, I can feel it in the way your heart’s racing. It’s not the same as when I touch you, kiss you. When I do that, it pulses, quickens along with mine. Right now, it’s beating so hard, so fast, it worries me, baby. I know it’s your body’s reaction to the adrenaline, the fight or flight response trying to figure out what’s best, but I hate that you’re feeling it at all. That you’ve had to deal with it all on your own,” he adds, his hand cupping my cheek and my eyes flutter shut. He presses a kiss to my forehead, settling my racing pulse for a minute, and I try to cling to it, to this feeling of safety and…love that wraps around me.

I know it’s crazy to think that’s what it could possibly be, but there’s nothing else that fits. Yes, I want him physically, but this right here is more than just lust. The way he’s holding me, touching me isn’t arousing desire and nothing else inside me. It’s waking every part of me, and I don’t want to let it go for even one moment.

“Tell me who he is, and I promise, I’ll make sure he stays away from you,” Jamison offers bringing the words I’ve only told the therapist after the cops laughed me out of the precinct.

“He’s not just showing up where I am, trying to get me back, Jamison. He’s been carrying a gun with him, pulled it out at least twice when I was just talking to a man. Not so they’d see it,” I add as his brow rises in surprise. “He’d be standing behind them watching us, lift his shirt, so I’d see it in his waistband, or grip the handle through his shirt, showing me it was there. He’s not just going to walk away because you tell him to. I told the cops he threatened me with a gun, and they said I was being hysterical. That Lieutenant Commander Dennings’ son wouldn’t do such a thing. That he’d only ever use a gun responsibly or if someone was threatening him and as his girlfriend, I should be grateful that he’d protect me with it.”

“Shh, it’s okay, baby,” Jamison says as my voice cracks, tears hitting hard, and I’m once more wrapped up against his chest, his hands holding me close. I want to drown in the sense of security being with him gives me. It’s heady and so tempting to just stay right here like this forever.

“It’s not,” I admit, not fighting when he lifts me onto his lap. “I want this…you, me, this thing that’s happening between us,” I add when he tilts my face up to his, brushing away the tears. “I want it more than I ever imagined possible to want something, but every time I try to imagine what it might be like to be with you, next to you back in Oak Grove, my brain starts screaming at me to stop being stupid and just hide away.”

“Which is why I’m not going to press you for anything more than acknowledging that this is something right now, baby,” Jamison states, his eyes somehow soft even while shining with desire, as they hold mine. “Until Craig is handled, out of your life, I know you’re going to be looking over your shoulder, fighting this, which is why I want—need to help. Call me selfish for it, but I want you all to myself, Nat. To know that when you’re with me, you’re thinking only of me.”

That pulls a little laugh from me, and I shake my head at him. “I don’t think it’s coming from a selfish place, Jamison. I think it’s coming from a really amazing and special place, because that’s the type of man you are, and I love it, but it also scares me.”

“Scares you how, baby?”

“That I’ll lose it, you, because you won’t admit to just how dangerous Craig is, can be. I haven’t felt like anyone’s been there for me, on my side first and foremost since my parents died and losing it would hurt worse than never having it again now.”

“And if I promise that won’t happen? That I won’t do anything stupid. Have no intention of just going up to the bastard and threatening him to stay away from you? Does that reassure you more, make it easier to accept that I’m going to help, that nothing will stop me from ensuring you’re safe now that I’ve found you, because you’re mine. The woman made for me to take care of, to keep safe…to love in every way a daddy should love his baby girl,” he adds, and my heart absolutely stops for a long moment as shivers of need flood my system.

Nothing on earth has ever sounded as perfect as what he just said. Not a single thing and a smile hits my lips wanting more of it.

Chapter 6

Jamison

I can’t resist from dropping another kiss onto Natalie’s lips, seeing the smile that appears on them. She doesn’t fight my hold, or argue my words, and that calms the part of me that was worried she’d pull away and reject what I know is meant to be for us. Who I’m meant to be to her, how I’m meant to love her.

Never in my life have I understood why Dad calls Mom his baby girl, why she calls him daddy as much as I do now. The need to see nothing touches or harms Natalie is immense. I want to fuck her hard and at the same time, love her softly to show her she’s my world, my heart, an absolute angel that’s been given to me to keep safe from other men and their vile thoughts.

“Jamison,” she sighs as I lift my lips from hers, cradling her head in my hand as hers lifts onto my shoulder, holding it tight.

“Does that make it easier, angel?” I ask her, needing her agreement to let me handle this. As scared as she is, I know I have to push her on it. She’ll never just say yes. Not if she’s feeling half of what I am towards her. Hasn’t felt she’s been anyone’s priority in ten years, but sees with me that she can be, will be, and doesn’t want to lose it because of the idiot she dated.

“You promise you won’t go near him alone, will watch your back if it comes out we’re together?” she returns, settling the first rush of worry that she might say no still.

“When we go public with our relationship, you mean,” I state, smiling as I tease her chin gently until she smiles just a hint at me in return. “Yes, I’ll make sure not to do anything stupid, baby girl. I have absolutely no intention of something coming between us or something happening to me to take me away from you. The private investigator that helped clear Jeffery’s name, also helped us find out information on the trafficker that was after Johnnie’s wife Carly. He’s the one that found the dirt on the quadruplets’ father, who’d also fathered at least half a dozen other kids that he abandoned, and helped run him out of town although he had half the judges in his pocket. Not to mention he also helped Adam with the woman that was stalking Cleo when the police brushed them off, so it’s not the first time he’s been up against them. Between him and Chief Davidson, they’ll find a way to make him stop. If there’s anything they can legally connect with him, they’ll find it. Including any of his past stalking of you.”

“And if they can’t?” Natalie asks, her eyes growing more worried.

“Then I’ll have some of Doug’s men assigned to be your security, so they can catch him doing something. If you have anything on your phone—text messages, voicemails, photos, videos, they can use them so we can at least have a restraining order issued. Chief Davidson will know who isn’t under his father’s thumb to help with the paperwork at the precinct to get it issued. Doug will find out which judge, if any, he’s aligned with and take it to another, so they won’t toss it out as well,” I reassure her. “I won’t let you argue it, not when it’ll keep you safe, and I’ll make sure not to go places alone where he could try to get to me as well, alright?”

“Okay,” she says, resting further against me.

I guide her head onto my chest, my hand holding her head gently, keeping her pressed against me, no matter how much it makes me ache physically. I’ve never felt desire like this before, the depth of it says everything Dad told us was true, that with the right woman, it’s deeper, purer, and I’m glad I waited now. In the past it seemed stupid to not give in for even a little taste, but now…I’m damn glad I didn’t, forced myself to push past any momentary desires. It didn’t feel right to go around sleeping with girls when I was doing my best to keep guys from doing the same with Jasmine.

“You said he was Lieutenant Commander Dennings, so is that his last name? Craig Dennings?” I ask her, getting her nod of confirmation with no hesitation. “And do you have anything on your phone, any records of you going to the police or the school about it that I can send to Doug?”

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