I love you.
Her whispered confession in the Emergency Room haunted him every f**king minute of every day. Had she meant it? Had she even been talking to him? She had been confused, disoriented, barely aware of her surroundings. There was no evidence that she even remembered speaking those words, so how did he know who she meant them for? Maybe it was just mindless babble, brought on by her injuries. He didn't even know if he wanted those words to be intended for him.
Oh, hell yeah, I do.
Groaning softly, he shoved another pillow under his head, trying to ignore his swollen c**k as it pulsated beneath the sheets, creating a large tent underneath the coverings. Christ, could he ever think about Kara without his balls turning blue?
Actually, yeah, he knew he could. Scared shitless after the attack, his c**k hadn't been his primary concern. Seeing her appear so fragile, pale and helpless in a hospital bed, had nearly destroyed him, making him ache in other areas above his waist. For several days, his driving need to protect her, to keep her safe, had been his primary motivation.
His lips turned up in a small smile as he remembered her outrage over the fact that he had contacted the college, explaining the situation and getting her absence for the rest of the week approved. He had thought he was being helpful, smoothing things over so she had time to recover. His crazy woman had actually thought she was going to return to classes the day after she was discharged from the hospital, and she had raked him over the coals for interfering in her life. She had gotten right up in his face and ripped him a new ass**le. Kara had no problem challenging him, and her intelligent mind was provocative. Maybe...just maybe...part of him enjoyed it. Had a woman ever opposed him, questioned him, called him out for a behavior she didn't like? The women in his life used him, let him use their bodies. None of them had ever cared enough to get in his face about anything.
She's getting to me. Bad.
He could feel his internal walls beginning to crumble and it wasn't a comfortable sensation.
Fuck. Pay. Move on.
It was the way he had interacted with women his entire adult life, but Kara was changing all that, tempting him to trust her. And f**k, he was tempted. It might be excruciatingly painful when her eyes bored into him as though she were peering into his soul, but knowing that she cared enough to do it? That was intoxicating, bewitching.
She didn't give a shit about his scars, his money or elevated social status.
And she thinks I'm hot enough to melt glaciers in Antarctica.
Sam had told him about his conversation with Kara, how she had declared Simon the hottest Hudson. He and his brother had never been competitive. They had always been too busy working together to survive and then to thrive. Although they liked to verbally spar, Simon loved his brother. Fiercely. Yeah, Sam was f**ked-up when it came to women, but he could hardly chastise his brother for that when he was just as bad. Probably worse. However, he had gotten perverse satisfaction from knowing that Kara had verbally slapped Sam down during her conversation with him at the fast food place before the attack.
I love you.
Gritting his teeth, he rolled to his side, punching his pillow and trying to get comfortable. He had to forget, get a grip on his emotions, stop wishing for more than her presence. He had the comfort of knowing she was safe. Wasn't that enough? At least he wasn't going insane from not knowing where she was, if she was okay.
A piercing, terrified female howl made Simon shoot straight up in bed, his muscles clenched, his heart racing.
Kara!
Panic held him in its grip for a few seconds as the screams grew louder, more intense.
His feet hit the floor, protective instinct making adrenaline pump through his body as he raced down the dark hallway to her room. Flipping on the light without even breaking his stride, he halted abruptly at the side of her bed.
Her arms were wrapped protectively around herself, tears flowing like a river down her sweet face. Hair tangled, head down, she was whimpering and gasping for breath.
"Sweetheart, what happened?" He sat next to her on the bed. Her sheets were snarled and twisted, as though she had been fighting World War III on her mattress.
"Dream," she whispered, as though still trying to convince herself. "Just a dream."
She was shivering violently. He scooped her up and placed her in his lap, pulling her unresisting body into his, trying to warm her in his embrace. Heart racing, he enfolded her, pulling her head into his neck.
"What were you dreaming about?" He stroked her silky hair, letting it slide over his fingertips, as he took a deep breath, trying to calm his hammering heart.
"The attack. It was so real," she murmured, shuddering against him.
"It's over. You're safe. You'll always be safe." Right here. With me.
Sliding her off his lap, he went to stand, only to have her arms tighten around his neck, holding on for dear life.
"No! Please! Don't go yet." Her vulnerable cry stabbed him straight in the gut.
She needs me.
And he was going to be there for her, insecurities be damned. "It's okay. I'm not leaving you alone." I'm never leaving you alone.
He didn't bother trying to pry her fingers apart. Shifting his body, he lifted her into his arms and came to his feet, trying not to notice that she was scantily clad in a silk, pink, lacy garment that barely covered her ass. He suppressed a groan as he adjusted her weight against him; the lace abrading his chest as the silk caressed his skin. He strode out of the room, making his way down the hallway and into his bedroom, with the most precious thing in the world to him held safely in his arms.
*****
Simon lowered her into his massive bed, coming down with her because she still hadn't loosened her death grip around his neck. Her panic abated slowly and Kara relaxed her arms, allowing him to pull the covers and a quilt on top them before he slid in behind her, spooning her body against his, and wrapping his warm, muscular arms around her body protectively. Kara sighed, sinking into his warmth, as she relaxed her head back to rest against his shoulder, relishing the security of his huge, masculine body.
"Okay?" he questioned softly, his breath ruffling her hair.
"Yeah. I'm sorry I woke you. I'll go back to my own bed in a minute." She didn't want to go back. She wanted to stay right where she was, warm and safe in his arms. But she respected the fact that he liked his space when he slept.
"You're not going anywhere," he rumbled against hair.
"But you won't sleep," she protested, feeling suddenly selfish for wishing she could stay.
"I won't get a f**king minute of sleep unless you're here. I haven't slept worth a shit for two weeks." His arms tightened around her waist.