Page 10 of Gray

“Yes,” she said matter-of-factly. “It wasn’t exactly like you’re imagining. He didn’t rape me, although I’m sure he was planning on it. He liked that I was weak and helpless, and when I’d come to again, he’d grope me and tell me all the horrible things he was planning to do. I’d start to panic, and then he’d drug me again so I would pass out.”

“Fucking bastard,” Gray seethed. “I want to kill him for even touching you.”

Lena wrapped her arms around herself, looking like she was trying to hold herself together. “I wouldn’t mind. Is that horrible of me to think?”

Gray shook his head, his lips pressed together. If Gray had found Ivan Rogers in that home, the other man would’ve been begging for mercy. And Gray would’ve ended him without a moment of remorse.

“He was toying with me,” Lena finally said. “I don’t even remember most of it, but when we were in the SUV, the men were planning to sell the other women they’d kidnapped. I don’t know where he was going to take me.”

“He wanted to keep you,” Gray said, his voice hoarse. He’d read some of Lena’s statement to the police. Fuck. If they hadn’t gotten there in time….

Lena reached over and grabbed his hand, surprising him. “I was so out of it, it almost feels like some sick, twisted nightmare. I keep trying to forget it even happened, but I’m terrified he’s going to come back for me,” she said, fresh tears filling her eyes.

“That’ll never happen.” Gray’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’m already beating myself up for waiting outside the coffee shop while you went back in—”

“We’ve been over this,” Lena interrupted. “No one was expecting them to track Kaylee down. Even if you’d come inside, you wouldn’t have walked into the ladies’ room with us. They were determined to get her.”

“I could’ve waited in the hallway,” Gray said, guilt coursing through him. “By the time I realized you’d been gone too long….”

Lena shook her head, squeezing his hand tighter. “You found us. That’s all that matters. Kaylee and I are both fine. Kaylee has Nick, and I stayed with Jett and Anna until I felt comfortable enough to come back home. We have to move on with our lives.” She shrugged, swiping away another tear.

“You and Jett go way back,” Gray commented, searching her face.

“We do. I’ve known him since before his military days.”

“And you two never…?”

Lena shook her head vehemently. “Goodness, no. We’ve known each other forever. Old family friends. He’s more like an older brother to me. When Jett got out of the military, he offered me a job at Shadow Security. How could I refuse? I was jumping around between various admin positions, and he pays me better than any of those ever could.”

“He’s lucky to have you.”

Lena let out a huff of laughter. It felt good to make her smile, even if only for a moment. “That he is,” she agreed, flashing him a tiny grin. “What time is it anyway?” she asked.

Gray looked over her shoulder to the alarm clock on her nightstand. “Oh-four-hundred. I’ve been here a couple of hours.”

“Do you want some coffee? I’m not sure I can go back to sleep.”

“Sure,” he agreed, rising from the bed. “I doubt I’ll fall back asleep either.” He reached out a hand to Lena, enjoying the feeling as her soft, slender hand clutched his own. She rose to her feet, barely coming up to his chin. The baser part of him wanted to lower her back into bed and kiss away all those fears she had. Explore all that soft, creamy skin and then make love to her until she was clinging to him, crying out his name.

He could actually picture it happening, Lena’s hair spilled out over the pillow, her gorgeous body beneath his own. It took everything in him not to duck down and kiss her soft lips right this second, running his hands over her perfect curves and admitting how much he wanted her.

“Thank you,” Lena said, suddenly wrapping her arms around Gray in a big hug. He flinched as the material of his shirt rubbed against his back and immediately tried to hide his reaction.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, the alarm clear in her voice as she pulled away.

Lena’s eyes were filling with worry again, and Gray wanted to curse. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. “No. The fabric of my shirt caught against my scars. I’m fine.” It was more than he’d ever shared with his teammates. Gray had no problem ignoring the pain when he knew to expect it. Donning a Kevlar vest or slinging a rifle across his back was uncomfortable sometimes, but his scars were usually a dull pain that he could live with.

Lena had surprised him, and he hated that his reaction had made her pull away.

She was warily looking at him now, her gaze tracking up and down his body, trying to see where he was injured. None of his scars were visible with his clothing on. Gray had enjoyed the pleasure of exactly two women since his Army days, and he’d fucked them without caring what they thought of his body. He generally kept to himself now, not interested in a quick lay. He was too closed off to have a relationship, yet here he was, having no trouble with confiding in Lena. Taking her to bed was a privilege he’d love to earn. Thrashing around in his sleep because of his own damn nightmares, however, didn’t exactly make him feel comfortable having a woman at his side while he slept. And wasn’t that just another fucking thing the terrorist assholes had stolen from him.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked, her voice soft in the early morning hours.

“I’m fine.” His voice was gruffer than he’d intended, and he reached out and drew her into his arms for the hug she’d wanted. His lips brushed against her temple, his immediate reaction to soothe her.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” Lena said, her touch light. Gentle.

“You surprised me. In more ways than one.” Gray released her and turned away before she could respond, striding down the hall toward her kitchen. Staying with Lena in her bedroom made him want all kinds of things he couldn’t have.

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