Page 45 of First Time

“Pull over, and I’ll come get you.”

I inhaled fully, my entire body shuddering from fading adrenaline and a strange mixture of fear and euphoria. “You d-don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

“C-can I just stop by your p-place?” The question flew from my lips, every word unstable and rushed. “Chantelle isn’t answering her ph-phone, and I d-don’t want to be alone.” A tremor ripped through me again.

“You know where I live?”

Finding his house wouldn’t be a problem, seeing as how I had used Google Maps to locate—memorize—exactly where he lived. I would never admit to being a stalker though. Not even to Chantelle.

“Your card,” I reminded him, my tone rasped. Raw. “I’m not too far away…I can drive to your house.”

“I’ll meet you out front. Just focus on calming your breathing, Becky. You’re safe. He can’t touch you.”

I released a shaky exhale, once more nodding at the truth he spoke. “Be there in about ten minutes.” I hit the “end” button and turned off the phone before dropping it onto the passenger seat. The electronic leash deserved to be tossed out the window onto the highway for a date with passing tires, but until I arrived safely at Daniel’s, I couldn’t chance it.

I pulled into his driveway alongside his SUV.

The sight of his hulking form in the lit garage directly in front of me fluttered my stomach but also sent a strange peace through me.

He motioned me to take my vehicle inside.

Smart, I realized while pulling into the bright interior. If by some stupid chance Stephen figured out where I’d gone, he wouldn’t see my car when driving by. I put the Chevy into park, and the garage door slid shut behind me with a loud clanking noise that broke the sudden silence.

Daniel opened my car’s squeaky door, and I grabbed my purse, leaving the cell phone on the seat.

He grasped my elbow and helped me out.

I couldn’t meet his gaze but stared at the cement floor, my heart pounding, only imagining what he must think of the state of my face.

“Jesus Christ,” he bit the words out, causing more tears to well in my eyes. Gentle hands pulled me forward, and I breathed in the scent of citrus and Daniel. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from sobbing again and rested my unbruised cheek on his hard chest.

Hot exhales fanned my forehead, and he kissed my hairline before backing away much too soon. “Let’s go inside.”

I nodded, and he laced his fingers through mine. My legs sore and weak, I allowed him to lead me through a door which he locked behind us.

Cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and sparkling stainless-steel appliances met my quick glance around his kitchen.

He sat my purse on the island and lifted my palm to his lips. The softest touch of his mouth on my skin sent a wave of desire through me, but a rush of riotous emotions followed in its wake.

“Can I hold you again, Becky?” His quiet request for consent made my threatening tears even harder to hold back.

I jerked my head yes, and he wrapped his arms around me again in a delicate, calming embrace. Sinking into him was the easiest thing I’d ever done. There was no striving with Daniel, just a simple acceptance, a safe harbor I knew I could trust with my body and emotions.

Large hands soothed up and down my back in a non-sexual way, and I wanted to dive deeper into him, never come up for air.

He was hard all over, a massive, warm giant of a man who could carry the weight of the world on his shoulders without bending.

A shuddering sigh rippled through me in knowing I’d finally made the right choice. That I’d finally put my own safety and mental health first—as I should have done all along.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he murmured against my hair.

“J-just water. Please.” I wrapped my arms around my midsection when he released me, realizing as I did so that I had never put on my coat—or replaced the bra I had taken off after getting home from work hours earlier. Not that the latter mattered. Daniel had already seen every inch of my skin anyway.

“Here.” He handed me a glass of ice water, and I finally lifted my head.

His brow furrowed as his troubled gaze trailed over the left side of my face.

---