Page 34 of Erik's Redemption
“Calm down. I’m gonna call my guy. I’ll get back to you.”
The second Chandler hung up, Erik ran his fingers through his hair, almost pulling out the damn strands. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see. He was barely remaining on his feet. Every minute that passed felt like ten.
When Chandler’s name finally flashed on the screen again, Erik answered before the first full ring. “Where is she?”
“Calm down, she’s okay,” Chandler said slowly. “She’s been sleeping at her house.”
Erik’s entire body locked. “Herhouse?” Shit. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Because he’d been so panicked, he’d lost his goddamn mind.
“Yeah. Since the first night you left for the job.”
The relief was instant, and it hit him so hard it felt like a physical blow. She was okay. She was safe. But just as quickly, his gut clenched.
She’d moved out of his house…
“You all right?” Chandler asked.
No. He was far from all right. “I’m fine. Thanks for finding out.”
He hung up, grabbed his key to her house, and went straight outside. When he reached her door, he let himself in, locked the dead bolt, then walked down the hall. Hehatedthat she’d been staying here. There wasn’t enough security in her house.
When he reached her room, the air rushed out of his lungs. She was curled into a ball, half under the covers, wearing his T-shirt.
His. This woman was his.
For a moment, he didn’t move. He needed to take her in. Then, without blinking, he tugged off his sweatshirt and jeans. When he was down to his briefs, he slid into the bed behind her and pulled her against him. The peace was so instant, it cut through every other emotion.
“Erik…” Hannah breathed his name, as if she knew his touch without opening her eyes.
He kissed her neck. “Yeah, Angel. It’s me. You’re safe.”
The quiet soundof movement in the room pricked at Hannah’s subconscious. The rustle of clothing. Hushed breathing.
Slowly, she peeled her eyes open to see Erik’s back toward her as he pulled on his jeans. His muscles flexed which each movement.
She half remembered him climbing into bed with her last night. The warmth had penetrated her sleep, the strength of his arms around her middle like a protective circle. The second he’d touched her, her restless sleep had calmed, and she’d sunk into him.
But he was leaving already? The sun wasn’t even up.
Her gaze shifted to the bedside clock to see it wasn’t even six.
He’d just pulled his shirt over his head and stepped toward the door when she spoke.
“Really?” she said, the word full of hurt. “We haven’t seen each other in a week, and you’re leaving before I even wake up?”
He froze. It was a full three seconds before he turned, his expression unreadable.
She swallowed. God, she hated how closed off he’d become. If anything, that hurt more than the physical distance he’d put between them.
She sat up slowly. “You weren’t even going to give me a kiss goodbye?”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
Her brows flickered. Shouldn’t hewantto wake her? Shouldn’t he want to see her smile and hear her voice, particularly after days of being apart?
She climbed out of bed, something hard and uncomfortable coiling in her belly. The Erik in front of her reminded her too much of the man she’d met all those months ago. That man had been a stranger…and this man felt like one too.
