Page 7 of Gray

“I woke up after a bad dream and then thought I heard footsteps. It’s probably just my overactive imagination.” She tried to hide the slight wobble in her voice, and Gray felt his chest clench. She’d been spooked by whatever she heard. By whatever haunted her dreams.

“I’m coming over.” He ended the call, something immediately settling inside him. He’d make sure Lena was okay and that her property was secure, and then be on his merry fucking way. If seeing her right now helped calm something inside hisown restless mind, so be it. It’s not like he’d be falling back asleep anytime soon. Making sure Lena was safe was better than dealing with his own nightmares.

After yanking open his dresser drawer, he pulled on a tee shirt. Gray didn’t bother with a coat, just strode to his closet for a pair of boots. The night air bit into him as he went outside, but it was refreshing. Cold and crisp. Anything was better than his memories of the dry, oppressive heat in the desert and sweltering inside the goddamn tent that he’d been held in. Blood mixed in with sweat and sand made for a miserable situation. And wasn’t that the least of it.

Gray yanked open the door to his SUV and climbed inside, starting the engine. He’d been to Lena’s exactly one time, earlier tonight, but he already had the directions memorized. He ran a hand over his shortly cropped hair, noting his own wild-eyed gaze in the rearview mirror. He needed to pull his shit together. If there was a problem, tearing over there like a bat out of hell wouldn’t solve it. Something twisted inside him, however, at the idea that Lena was alone and scared. She’d stayed with Jett and Anna right after the kidnapping and probably wasn’t used to being alone in her house again. He could understand that.

Ten minutes later, Gray was pulling onto her quiet street. Her neighborhood looked much like his own—homes on big, wooded lots and a serene sort of calmness in the surrounding area. Her road didn’t have the cookie cutter look of some new housing developments. It was for people who sought privacy and peace, something Gray knew all too well. The fact that he and Lena were more alike than different wasn’t lost on him. Sure, he was an operative trained by the U.S. military, gruff and muscular compared to her sophisticated appearance and polished movements, but deep down, he sensed they were more similar than he’d realized before.

His gaze swept the area before he shut off the engine. There was no movement in his headlights, but if someone was there, no doubt they’d be hiding now. Biting back a curse, he stalked out of his car. Was he pissed about the situation or pissed he could never have a woman like the one he’d rushed to tonight?

Gray momentarily stilled as he walked up her driveway and Lena opened the front door, looking like a goddamn siren calling out to him in the middle of the night. The warm light from inside her home shone around her long, dark hair and pretty face like a fucking halo.

Lena was beautiful, vulnerable, and forbidden.

His heart stuttered as he swallowed, tamping down all those feelings for good, and then Gray was moving toward her.

Chapter 3

Lena stepped back as Gray’s gaze swept the front hall and living room. He’d grunted hello and then strode into her home like he owned the place. It should probably annoy her, but once again, she just felt safe in his presence.

“I don’t think anyone’s actually outside,” she hedged. Why had she even mentioned to him that she’d heard something? Gray was exactly the type of man to rush over. All of the men on Jett’s team were assertive, alpha males. Jett was the same. How Anna managed to deal with his overbearing tendencies was a wonder. Then again, Anna was a force in her own right. Their personalities might be different, but they balanced each other out. Jett doted on his wife, and it was sweet to see such a gruff man like him practically fall to his knees for his woman.

Not that Lena would take that type of chance in her own life.

She drunk Gray in as he stood in her foyer, taking in his tall, muscular body in jeans and a tee shirt. All of his muscles were on full display, and it made her heartbeat speed up. Gray was a good-looking man. She almost didn’t know what to make of him standing here in her home.

“Maybe someone was out there, maybe not,” Gray said in a low voice. “It’s better to be safe than sorry given the circumstances.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “You’re right. Do you think someone might still be out there right now?”

Gray’s dark eyes met hers. “If anyone was lurking outside, they probably ran the second I pulled up.”

“Right. Of course.” Maybe they couldn’t see Gray’s big frame in the dark, but knowing he was there and Lena wasawake—or soon would be given his arrival—could’ve changed whatever plans they had. Maybe she was completely jumping to conclusions though. Just because she heard something after her nightmare didn’t mean a thing.

“I’ll check the yard and perimeter anyway. It should be easy enough to determine if anyone was out there before—trampled grass and the like. Footprints. I’ll feel better knowing for certain that you weren’t being watched for some reason.”

“Me too.”

Gray’s long strides ate up the distance to the back of her home. He peered through her blinds into the dark night, his big hand separating the slats. Broad shoulders led to a muscled back and trim waist. And no, she wasn’t staring at his toned ass. Not at all. She knew that he’d been tortured in captivity, but there was no evidence of that at the moment. He seemed nothing but virile and strong. Unstoppable. Still, her heart ached for him, knowing what he’d been through. Gray had a quiet confidence she appreciated, but Lena wondered if he’d always been this subdued. Was he a different man before his Army days? The answer was no doubt yes. Something like that would change a person.

“Is your backyard fenced in?” he asked, looking her way once again.

“Yes. There’s a gate on the side, to the right of the house. It’s not locked or anything, you can just undo the latch if you want to search the yard.”

He nodded. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’ve got a flashlight in my SUV, and I’m carrying.” Her gaze dropped to the weapon holstered at his waist. She hadn’t even noticed it at first. It seemed like such a normal part of him.

“I’m sorry you had to rush over here in the middle of the night,” she said, suddenly feeling foolish. This certainly wasn’t the first time she’d woken up alone and scared. It was, however, the first time Gray had texted her right after one of her nightmares. That was nothing but a coincidence, but she couldn’t deny she liked having him here, even if just for this one night.

Gray’s gaze briefly swept over her, and Lena felt her blood heat. She’d thrown on a long cardigan over her thin tank and joggers. The night air had felt too cold as she’d opened the front door for Gray, the chill of it seeping into her bones. Ironic that he only had on a tee shirt. Winters in New York were no joke. There was no snow on the ground, however, and he’d only been outside mere moments. Certainly, he’d wear more suitable attire for extensive exposure to the elements. Even a muscular guy like him wasn’t immune to the bitter cold.

“Do you need a jacket?” she found herself asking.

Gray looked surprised. “No. I’ll be fine. I won’t be gone long.” He pinned her with a look, seeming to only now notice she was wearing what could pass as pajamas. Barefoot, she was even shorter than usual, making her feel feminine and delicate beside him. She crossed her arms, and his gaze briefly tracked to her breasts. Flushing, she was relieved when he glanced away. “Lock up behind me. I’ll be right back.” Gray was already moving toward the door, his gruff commands not anything she’d argue with. Lena had no intention of going outside.

She grabbed her phone and pulled up her doorbell camera footage. No one had been out front until Gray drove up. His movement in her driveway pinged a notification now, but she set her phone down. It would be weird to watch him through the doorbell camera, and the quality wasn’t great anyway. She wished she had a camera out back, but even then, it’s not likeshe’d confront an intruder. If Lena was ever truly in danger, she’d call 911.

She heard the gate opening outside but knew it was Gray. Her house felt empty and cold without him in here. Weird that she’d always felt relatively fine alone before—until her kidnapping that is. After a few minutes, Gray was back, rapping lightly at her front door. Lena opened it, then shivered as the cold air washed over her, her nipples pebbling beneath her clothes. She flushed, realizing she should’ve put on something more appropriate—or at least worn a bra. Too late now.

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