Page 9 of Burly and Possessive

I wasn’tsure what I thought when I saw the text from my sister saying she “kidnapped” Leesa for the day. But, not being there when she showed up at The Lodge, there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. I only hope she didn’t scare Leesa off. Andrea is a good kid sister, but she has more energy than any one person should have, and she can be intense.

After running some errands, I stop by the grocery and pick up fixings for an easy dinner. My cupboards are pretty empty, and I don’t want Leesa to think she has to do anything.

On the way back up the mountain, I find myself humming along to the radio. I usually experience a vague sense of emptiness when I head to The Lodge alone, but knowing that Leesa is there makes me drive faster than I should up the mountain roads.

I don’t know what will happen with her, but I know what I want. Every fiber of my being says she’s mine, and it’s a struggle not to claim her like I want to, like my soul needs to.

Yet if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’m a patient man, and Leesa is worth waiting for. We may barely know each other, but I’m certain she’s the woman who will becomemywife.

I frown as I pull up in front of the cabin. All the lights are out. I text Andrea.

I thought you said you dropped Leesa off.

My sister immediately responds.I did. Is everything ok?

I’ll let you know if it’s not.

I’m out of the car and up to The Lodge with a few long strides. If Andrea is screwing around…

I open the front door and still. The air is unnaturally silent. My mind runs through the possibilities. Could Leesa have been foolish enough to go for a hike? It’s dusk outside, and a night hike when you don’t know the terrain is dangerous.

Then I hear a muffled sob. I turn toward the living room and see my woman, sitting in the dark and curled up on the edge of one of the couches like she’s trying to disappear.

“Leesa,” I say softly, turning on a lamp as I move toward her. “What’s wrong?”

She looks up at me, her eyes red and swollen, a mountain of damp tissue next to her. I swear to almighty God that if anyone has hurt her, they’ll find themselves at the bottom of a ravine on this mountain, where no one will ever find them.

Leesa sobs and wraps her arms around herself even tighter. My heart clenches with pain.

“It’s…everything.” Her voice is choked with sadness.

Without thinking, I sit beside her on the couch and pull her into my arms. I hug her, and she doesn’t resist. When she lays her head across my chest, I hold her tighter.

I’m going to give my woman whatever she needs—tonight and forever.

CHAPTER 5

LEESA

Ithought I had everything figured out,” I sniffle. “But…I threw it all away. I’m scared of what I did and what it means for my life now.” Another wave of sadness engulfs me and drowns me.

My voice is quiet because I’m scared of what I’ve done. I just exploded my marriage before it even happened, and I don’t know what anyone thinks back home. I don’t know if I even have a home to go back to or if shame will follow me forever.

I look up at Jax, but he keeps holding me. For once in my life, I’ve found someone who isn’t eager to force their opinion on me or flat-out tell me what to do.

Jax continues to hold me, rubbing my back. “Don’t talk like that.” His voice is low and deep. “Life doesn’t work in a straight line. It throws things at us, but that doesn’t mean it’s over.”

I want to believe him. I want to take those words and hold them close, but it seems impossible. “I don’t know…” I say, my voice barely audible. “Everything feels broken.”

“It’s not.” His words are quiet but sure. “It’s just not what you expected.”

Shame fills me. I wish I could escape, but I can’t. No car. No money. Tension flares through me. No one wants me.

“I’m sorry—”

“Leesa,” Jax cuts me off, his stern voice startling me. “Stop apologizing.Youdidn’t fuck things up. That asshole of an ex has that dubious honor. Look at me,” he says, releasing me and shifting so we’re eye-to-eye. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You did the right thing.”

Oh.I never thought the approval of a stranger would mean anything to me, but Jax being on my side is a rush of validation I never expected to need.

---