Page 49 of Justified Fear
He could hear the disgust in her voice.Worse, he could see from her expression that she believed that bullshit.
“You aren’t weak.”
“I am.”
“You held yourself together until your parents left.You knew they were worried about you.”He had seen the way she behaved around her parents.She had done everything with such care, he doubted she realized it.“You did that for them.”
She pressed her lips together.
“It’s one of the things I admire about you, but never think you are weak.You are one of the strongest women I know.And remember, my world includes women like Cat and Nikki.”
“And Autumn.”
“She’s just crazy.And I guess strong, in her own way.”
“I’m standing here falling apart.”
Pain radiated in her voice, and it damned near broke his heart.The fact that this strong woman thought she was weak was just wrong.He stepped closer and pulled her back into his arms.
“You are not falling apart.You are holding it together even now, but Keely, you can let go.”
Keely looked up at him.Tears streamed down her face, her golden eyes filled with such sadness that he wanted to destroy the person who did this to her.
Her spine straightened.She shook her head and stepped away from him again.“No.I can’t take advantage of you.”
He blinked.“What?”
“I get that this is part of your job and you’re here to keep me safe.I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“What are you saying?”
“Please.It’s embarrassing enough that I was practically mauling you.I get it.I’m just a job, and I shouldn’t be bothering you with my issues.”
It was as if her few short sentences tore a hole into every reason he had ever given to keep himself separate from her.She needed to know that there was no way he was just doing this for the job.
He stepped closer to her, crowding her against the counter, as he cupped her face with one hand.He moved his thumb across her cheek—so smooth…so silky.He knew he shouldn’t be touching her or even wanting her this way.
“You have to know how much I want you.”
She blinked up at him, tears leaving her eyes almost luminous.
“I don’t.You don’t have to worry about my ego, Ryan.I have a pretty big one being a chef.”
He smiled.“I know.But I’m trying my best to be on my best behavior when all I want to do is take you into your bedroom and count the times I can make you scream my name.I’m hoping for at least twice before I would slam into you.”
She swallowed.“Uh, two times.”
He pressed closer and knew there was no doubt at that point that she couldn’t say how much he wanted her.“At least.”
Keely licked her bottom lip, and he groaned.Instead of ignoring the need pulsing through every inch of his body, he bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers.And in that instant…he stopped running.
Ten
Keely’s head was spinning as her entire body seemed to buzz.Lust slammed through her so hard that she was amazed she hadn’t fallen from the body blow.The truth was, she probably would have if the hunk of a man who was giving her the best kiss of her life wasn’t holding onto her.
He slanted his head and skimmed his tongue against the seam of her lips.There was no use resisting.Why would she?From the moment she’d met Ryan, Keely had been drawn to him.She knew a lot of people would call it a hero’s complex or whatever, but that didn’t matter in this moment.And right then, all she cared about was the panty-melting kiss he was giving her.
Keely pressed her body closer to him, trying to get as close as possible.She could feel the long, hard length of his cock pressed against her stomach.Curling her fingers, she slipped them through the belt loops of his cargo pants.She wanted—no,needed—this.This escape into pleasure so she could ignore the fear that had been chasing her for days.
