Page 13 of Stalked By the Accountant

I lunge at the attacker, knocking the knife from his grasp. He wheels on me with a snarl, fists swinging. I deflect the blows and land one of my own, satisfaction flooding my senses at the crunch of bone.

The man stumbles back, eyes wide with fear. Becca collapses to the floor behind me, sobbing. I step toward the intruder, teeth bared, ready to rip him limb from limb.

"Please," he gasps. "I didn't—I'm sorry..."

My hands curl into fists, trembling with the effort to restrain myself. The monster rages, screaming for blood, but I force it back into the darkness where it belongs.

I take a deep, steadying breath and nod at the door. "Get out. Now. Before I change my mind."

He scrambles to obey, disappearing into the night. I turn to Becca, guilt and regret warring within me. Have I saved her only to become the villain once more?

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, but no fear. Only trust. And maybe, just maybe...forgiveness.

"Jack," she whispers.

My heart swells with hope, the beast retreating into the shadows. I've been given a gift beyond measure, a chance at redemption I never dreamed possible.

Becca holds out her hand, and I take it.

CHAPTERTEN

Becca

Relief floodsmy veins as Jack's hand takes mine, chasing away the terror that gripped me only moments before.

I stumble forward on shaky legs, collapsing into the warmth of his embrace. Strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close against a broad chest as I breathe in the familiar scent of his cologne.

"It's okay, I've got you now," he whispers, his breath hot against my ear.

My fingers curl into the soft leather of his jacket, clinging to him as tremors wrack my body. I can't find the words to express my gratitude at his timely rescue, so I simply hold him tighter, hoping he understands.

After a long moment, I pull back to meet his gaze, struck by the intensity of emotion swirling in those fathomless blue eyes. My heart skips a beat at the barely restrained passion burning beneath the surface, fueled by his primal need to protect what belongs to him.

I know I should feel afraid, but instead, a different heat begins to build low in my belly.

"You're mine," he growls, cupping my face in his hands as his eyes darken with desire. "No one will ever hurt you again."

His lips crash down on mine, devouring me in a kiss that steals my breath away. I melt into him, surrendering to the delicious sensations flooding my senses.

In this moment, wrapped in Jack's embrace, I feel utterly possessed—and I don't want to be free. All that matters is him, and the way he makes me feel.Safe. Wanted. Loved.

I break the kiss, panting for breath, my heart pounding in my chest.

Jack rests his forehead against mine, his ragged breaths mingling with my own. I trace the lines of his face with trembling fingers, overwhelmed by the depth of emotion in his eyes.

"I thought I'd lost you," he whispers, his voice thick with passion and regret. "When I saw him, I..." He swallows hard, squeezing his eyes shut as if to block out the memory. "Who was he?"

Guilt twists in my gut at the anguish in his voice. I shake my head, my body beginning to tremble again. "I don't know. I've never seen him before." I never meant to hurt Jack. I just couldn't condone what he did, but now I realize that if he hadn't been watching me, there's no telling what might have happened.

And over the past few weeks, I've realized that it doesn't matter to me anyway. The only reason I ever cared that Jack was "stalking" me was because I thought I was supposed to. In all actuality, I'm glad my man is that obsessed with me. I'm glad that he wants me so much he can't bear to be apart from me.

So, what's the problem?

There isn't one.

I've been so blind this whole time.

"I'm sorry," I breathe, brushing my lips over his in a feather-light kiss. "I was wrong."

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