Page 66 of Montana Heat

He held me for a long time. Just like he had each time all night when I’d had a nightmare.

“Water?” he asked.

“Please.” He handed me a glass, and I guzzled it. I looked around as I tried to get my bearings. I had no idea what time it was. “How long have I been out total?”

“All night and most of the morning.” He glanced at his watch and muffled a yawn behind his free hand. “It’s almost lunchtime.”

“Have you been up this whole time?” Worry filled me. He had to beworn out.

“I napped some. Did some carving.” He pointed at the small box that sat on the chair.

“You’ve been there all night?”

“I was on the couch, but you were crying out.” His face softened into an expression of concern.

“I’m sorry.” I tried to pull away from him, but he pulled me back.

“No need to be embarrassed. Anyone would’ve had nightmares after a day like you had yesterday.”

“I hate that I kept you up most of the night.”

He stroked a hand down my cheek. “I’m sorry you went through what you did. I should’ve never let you go into that apartment alone.”

Now that some of the general shock over the snake incident was wearing off—not that I wasn’t going to be terrified of snakes for the rest of my life—the reality of the situation was setting in.

“You couldn’t have known.”

He shook his head. “When I think about the fact that the stalker could’ve been there just waiting for you…”

A shudder ran through us both. That was what was even scarier. That the stalker had to have been inside my apartment to sabotage the bathroom door lock and put the snake in my bathtub.

“You can trust that won’t happen again,” he said. “I’m not going to let you out of my sight.”

At one point, that might have made me feel smothered. But not with this man. I snuggled farther into him, drawing from his strength. “Thank you.”

“Lucas and Charlie are looking into Alan’s release.”

I nodded. “I sure wish he could just stay in my past.”

“And Liam and Jude are looking into who he could be in contact with at the hotel. Alan says he’s looking for a job, but that’s too much of a coincidence for me,” he added.

“Him or not, I just want all of the snakes out of my life.” I shuddered again.

“That’s going to happen. We’ll figure out a plan with the guys, lie low here, and make sure you’re safe again.”

I had no doubt they would. But I also knew what that meant—it would be time to leave Garnet Bend. Time to leave Jensen.

I couldn’t think about that now, not while I was so close to him, breathing in that unique Jensen scent that both comforted me and turned me on.

I tilted my head up and kissed the side of his neck, the only part of him I could reach. “Thank you. For everything. Just being close to you makes me feel safer.”

He turned so we were facing each other more fully and cupped my cheek. “I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you. I hate that you’ve been through so much.”

I shrugged. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? You, more than anyone, know that.”

“Your strength amazes me, City. I just want you to know that.”

I kissed him. Not to stop his words, but because I didn’t want to go any longer without feeling his lips pressed up against mine. Maybe it was the near-death experience, or maybe it was the fact that everyone was working so hard to get me out of danger.

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