“It’s okay, love.”
Before she knew what was happening, he caged her within his arms and his mouth was on hers. The kiss was savage, his tongue stabbing inside her mouth. She gave him the control he seemed to crave, kissing him back with the same amount of urgency.
She wound her arms around his neck. Passion and profound relief intermingled as they kissed. Christian had tried to save her from a rowdy crowd. From Jordan Matthews.
All too soon, his lips found the side of her face. He gently pulled the remaining pins out of her hair and ran his fingers through it. “Are you okay? I didn’t scare you, did I?”
“Yes, no… Maybe. But not as much as what happened during my book signing.”
“I’m so sorry. All I could think of was getting to you and Matthews was in my way,” he said, massaging her scalp. “I’d stop the world from spinning if gravity was causing you pain. There is nothing I wouldn’t do. Not a damn thing.”
She moaned as fingers worked their magic. “Where did you learn to use your body like that?”
“Let’s just say I do really well when I train for a role that calls for street fighting or hand to hand combat. I rarely require a stunt double.” He leaned back and stared down at her, his expression intense. “Growing up, I was a bit of a brawler.”
“Oh,” was all she could manage to say.
“Today has been, without a doubt, the scariest one of my life.”
Her heart beat loudly in her ears at his admission. “Why?”
He tilted her chin up. “You can’t be serious. I thought my feelings for you were— are obvious.” Flushed cheeks made his eyes seem a brighter blue. “I care about you. This makes sense. We make sense. You know more about me than any other person on this planet.”
“I-I don’t know what to say.” His admission touched her heart. Her soul. However, the sensible part of her, the part of her that she still kept to herself and knew what Christian was capable of doing expected the worst.
He nipped at her bottom lip, then his tongue rubbed against it to soothe the sting. “Say you feel the same way, but if you don’t…” His fingers lightly caressed the side of her face. “I’ll change your mind somehow.”
She leaned into him, his touch so calming yet seductive that her heart couldn’t keep pace with her emotions. “I do, but—”
“No buts. No ifs.” Christian’s hand fell to his side, clenching and unclenching. “Tell me what to do…what to say to assure you I’m serious.” He leaned against the metal shelves, the tips of his fingers pressing against his bottom lip as he studied her. She became hyper-aware of the rip in her dress, the throb at her temple and that her hair was completely undone.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in the familiar heartbreaking scent of him, then opened her eyes. “I don’t know.”
His lips pressed together. For a moment he looked as if he wanted to argue. “I want you to stay in your room for the rest of the afternoon. I need to make sure this wasn’t planned, that it was only drunken idiots with an excess of testosterone. I’ve had threats in the past from stalkers.”
“Most recently from those who want to blackmail me,” he added with a resigned look on his face.
The pictures. She hated that he was in this position. He had so much to give, and already gave so much, without anyone knowing.
“Okay, I’ll stay in my room until you find out who was behind it.” She tucked a large chunk of hair behind her ear. It fell forward, covering one eye. “I need to call my family, anyway. I’d rather they hear about what happened from me than the news.”
“Let them know that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” His arms came around her, gently squeezing her. All she wanted him to do was hold her like this and never let go.
***
Arriving at her room, he turned to face her. “Don’t unlock it for anyone but me.” Taking her key to the room, he swiped the card and opened the door. He held up his hand, indicating for her to wait. “You’ve eaten lunch?”
“Yes, and I have snacks.” Chocolate sounded good right about now. Lots and lots of chocolate.
“Good.”
He entered first, checking the closet and bathroom before returning to the bedroom. “I’m sending security to stand at your door. Men on my payroll. Ones I trust and you can, too.”
“B-but I don’t need security now.” Or maybe she did. “All right.”
“Did your phone make it through?”
“I don’t know.” Frowning, she pulled her phone out of her skirt pocket and examined it. “Still works.”
Plucking it out of her hand, he began typing. “Here’s my number.” He slipped the phone into the pocket of her skirt. “Text me if you need anything or if you just want to talk.”
“Is this your sneaky way of getting my number?” she asked, trying to lighten his mood.
“Maybe. I’ll be back soon, yes?” He kissed her again, hard and quick. “How about dinner at a restaurant without a reputation?”
She nodded in agreement, despite the need for him to stay. Only she didn’t know how to ask, without coming across as needy. Why couldn’t she woman-up and tell him exactly what she wanted?
“What am I thinking?” He scrubbed his hand across his face, then turned to lock the door behind them. “I can’t leave you like this: alone and waiting on me. I’ll make my phone calls from here, if that’s okay?”
Smiling as he faced her again, she said, “Staying is exactly what you do to begin convincing me.”
***
Christian posed for another picture and signed a napkin. He craned his neck, looking for Zoe. She sat on a nearby bench, playing with her phone. Mostly likely she was trying to beat his score at ‘Angry Birds’.
After making the decision to not leave her alone, he’d spent rest of the afternoon with her lying in his arms as she drifted in and out of sleep. Inquiries had been made about the fight and The Oasis employee while he’d held her. The fight had turned out to be spontaneous. Unfortunately, Mr. Fulner didn’t exist and all signs pointed to his father hiring the man to make Christian look bad.
He had become so furious at the news that he’d left Zoe (and a note) asleep in bed and a security guard at her door to go workout in the gym. Thank God she’d understood.
“Would you sign here?” A woman with a pouty red mouth pointed to her br**sts.