Page 46 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“Jarom!” She buried her head in the crook of his neck and clung to him. Her tears wet his neck and T-shirt.

“I’ve got you, love. I’ve got you.” He cradled her close and all her fears disappeared. Her mother’s boyfriends couldn’t find her; no one could hurt her here, not even herself. Until he rejected her or she left him. She shoved that painful future event away.

“Thank you,” she said, burrowing into him and letting him take the pain and the worries away. She was loved and safe.

He kissed her forehead and shifted to put his back against the headboard, cradling her against his chest. “Are you all right?”

“I am now.” She bravely tilted her face up and meshed her lips with his.

Jarom responded as beautifully as their other kisses. Their lips danced in beautiful synchrony. Shewas happy. She was loved. She was complete. Nothing mattered but Jarom never letting her go.

As the kisses slowed, he tenderly held her. “Would you feel safe … telling me about the nightmare?”

She swallowed and glanced up at him. It was an odd way to phrase the question. Jarom gave her safety she’d never experienced in her life. Of course she felt safe sharing with him, trusting him. It blew her mind, but she couldn’t deny it was the truth.

“I was drowning and you were fighting with Benjamin Oliver and then he was sticking a knife in your chest.” She shuddered.

His gaze was serious in the darkened room. “I saved you from drowning,” he said softly. “And you’ll save me if Benjamin comes around.”

“I will,” she said fiercely.

He smiled.

After a few beats, he asked, “You said the nightmares are from childhood terrors, but sometimes they’re reminiscent of what you are dealing with? Such as security details?”

“This is the first time.” She knew it was because of how much she loved him, but she wasn’t about to admit it.

A few seconds passed, then he said, “You’ve seen so much, been scared. I wish I could take that away.”

He did take the fear away, by loving her and being here for her. Would she ever be able to completely let down her guard and tell him that?

“I haven’t been truly scared since I was a child. I’ve become a machine.” She swallowed and admitted something she shouldn’t. “But I felt fear watching you fight Easton. I prayed for you.”

He jolted. “Autumn … You’ve been through far too much death and been surrounded by evil, yet you were afraid while I fought in an innocent sparring match? You prayed for me?”

“Don’t make a big deal of it, all right?” She was being too transparent.

“I’ll try not to.” His voice was semi-teasing but also full of emotion. “You said you weren’t a believer.”

She disentangled herself from his arms. “I need to get some rest. I can’t sleep in your arms every night.”

“You in my arms every night would be incredible,” he murmured huskily.

Autumn’s stomach pitched happily, and her heart soared. She agreed but knew it could never happen.

When she didn’t respond, he stood next to the bed. He bent down and gave her a lingering kiss. “Goodnight.”

He strode out of her bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Autumn had never known a gentleman to equal Jarom. Instead of pressing her on prayer or asking to stay in her room and hold her, he respected her wishes and walked away.

She relaxed into the pillows. Instead of sleeping like she’d said, she replayed each touch, kiss, verbal exchange.

She loved him. Far too much.

How was she going to survive without him?

Chapter

Eighteen

---