Page 6 of Protected By the Ranger

“Sorry if I woke you up, but I had to hammer shut the window. The temperature would have plummeted during the night,” he explains, shrugging out of his puffy winter jacket. I see the toned muscles of his abdomen when he pulls off the sweater underneath the jacket and gulp. My mouth has suddenly watered.

“Mh-hm,” is all the answer I can manage to mumble.

“Listen,” Gideon begins, running his hand through his hair. He looks lost in thought. “The storm is getting worse. There is a strong possibility it might knock out the power. I have a backup generator, but I prefer to keep it for emergencies since the roads are not accessible at the moment. I only have one emergency heater which I will keep in this room. In my opinion, hypothermia symptoms had already set in when you came here. You need to stay warm.”

He walked to the bed and sat on the edge near my feet. If I lean forward, I can touch him. I crush the thought immediately and push my hands under my thighs.

“I can sleep in the living room, but I am a sound sleeper and if you need me for anything, I might not hear it. So if it’s alright with you, I would like to spend the night in the chair near you.” He points to the rocking chair and watches me closely.

Despite my best efforts to resist it, I feel the strange need to stay close to him. Maybe it’s the thought of sleeping alone that scares me, but I know I will feel a lot safer with him in the room.

“Of course. It’s your home, Gideon. I am the unwanted visitor. Please don’t put yourself in an uncomfortable position for my sake—” Before I can finish, Gideon clasps my hand between his and says, “You are anything but unwanted. Do not say such things about yourself, Ariel. Do you understand?”

His words halt my thought and all I can do is nod in response. The heat of his hands seeps into mine, making my body bask in its warmth.

Indicating that my response isn’t enough with a frown, he orders, “Answer me. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I croak the word out of my dry throat. His thumb is caressing the back of my hand. The sensation is overwhelming enough that I almost miss his next words. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”

For some reason, I know it’s true with every fiber of my being. The knowledge envelops me in a loving cocoon. All he has done since I stumbled into his home is take care of me. I wonder how I can repay him for his kindness. There are many ways, I think, but then order my brain to shush.

He nods to himself, helps me out of bed, and carries me to the living room. The fireplace roars with fire, painting a warm glow in the room. We eat dinner in comfortable silence, the occasional popping of the wood the only sound in the room.

As I eat, steal glances at Gideon. He has changed into comfortable pants and a sweatshirt. I feel the absurd urge to trace his bulging veins with my tongue. Shaking my head, I force myself to focus on the grilled chicken.

But then I look up and nearly choke. Gideon, sitting on the other end of the sofa, licks his fingers clean. The thought of him doing that to me makes my palm clammy. When he catches me staring, I quickly look away, telling myself I must be going insane from the head injury.

“Do you want some?” he asks, offering the salad, but his tone is so sinful that I almost blurt out yes please.

“Nuh-uh, I am done,” I answer, keeping my eyes fixed on the plate.

“Are you sure?” he prompts, waiting for my reply as he stands up. Not meeting his eyes, I bob my head as a yes. The floral pattern on the plate is fascinating.

Gideon takes the empty plate from my hand and keeps it on the coffee table. Then, he bends and pushes his hands under my waist and thighs, picking me up. I feel a difference in his demeanor. He holds me a little tighter, a little closer. Being this close to him, it’s impossible to ignore how he makes me feel. His firm hands under me press against my waist, and I let out a gasp.

I feel his chest rumbling from laughter under my palm, and I resist the impulse to hit him and tell him to knock it off. How can he look at me like that, say all those things, and then laugh at my reaction?

As Gideon lays me down on the bed, he hovers over me, his knee resting on the edge, effectively caging me under him. Despite his imposing presence, his touch is unexpectedly gentle as he tucks the blanket around me, cocooning me in warmth.

When I think he’s about to move away, he leans in closer, his face inches from mine. My heart pounds erratically in my chest. He brushes a stray hair behind my ear, his fingers tracing a path to my throat. His dark, intense eyes follow his fingers, filled with an unreadable emotion.

I don’t want him to stop there. I wildly wish for him to hold my throat, even choke me, but I force the thought away. Gideon meets my gaze, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Sleep well, Ariel,” he murmurs, his voice low and seductive. I can hardly sleep, my mind racing and body thrumming with desire.

Gideon settles into the chair next to the bed, propping his feet up and covering himself with a blanket. His presence is a constant, magnetic force. I try to calm my thoughts, but his proximity—so close yet out of reach—drives me mad. Each rustle of his clothes sends waves of awareness through me.

With his eyes closed, I take the chance to study his features in the soft warm light. His jaw is firm and set, his lips slightly parted as he relaxes. He looks peaceful, yet there’s an undercurrent of raw power and control. I imagine the intensity of his full attention as I explore every inch of him.

“Go to sleep, you” he mumbles, his voice drowsy but with a teasing smile. Embarrassed at being caught, I mumble a quick “good night” and turn my back on the tempting man. Exhaustion eventually overcomes me, and I drift off, my thoughts a tangled mix of desire, fear, and longing.

Chapter 3

Fear grips me, freezing my feet outside my apartment door. Sweat drips down my spine, and my hands shake. The door swings open, a shadowy figure emerging from my home and I come face to face with my stalker.

Panic jolts me into action. I sprint down the dim corridor of my apartment building, my heart pounding against my chest. The exit light ahead seems so close, but this time I’m not fast enough. A hand grabs my wrist, yanking me back into the ghastly darkness of my apartment. I scream and struggle, but the iron grip keeps me trapped.

The stalker’s hot breath scorches my neck, his grip tightening painfully as he drags me closer. His sinister laughter echoes, and the fear wraps around my chest, squeezing tighter until I can barely breathe.

Suddenly, a firm hand shakes my shoulder, yanking me from the nightmare. I jolt awake, gasping for air, lost in panic.

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