Tears streaked down her cheeks as he gently folded her into his arms. God, he wanted to cry. Wanted to howl in fury. She trembled against him, her small body shaking in his arms.
“What did they do to you?” he choked out.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered. “I was so scared.”
Jack pulled her away so he could see her face. His fingers carefully trailed down her cheek, wiping her hair from her face. He pressed his lips to her forehead, and felt the sting of tears in his eyes.
“What did he do?” he asked raggedly.
“I fought him off,” she said proudly. “I think I broke his nose.”
Jack smiled, his breath catching as he tried to hold back the emotion. “Way to go, baby.”
“Don’t leave me in here,” she begged, more tears filling her blue eyes.
“I won’t, sugar. I swear I won’t. I’m taking you to the hospital. We’re getting out of here right now.”
“I was so afraid,” she whispered. “Now that you’re here, I’m not afraid anymore.”
The words said so trustingly tugged at places long ago buried. Elicited emotions he didn’t know he had. Had he ever thought her weak? It shamed him to admit he had.
Now looking at her, bloodied and bruised but so strong. So very strong. He knew she was far from weak. He was the weak one. When it came to her, he felt as vulnerable as a newborn.
He carefully picked her up, cradling her to him like a fragile piece of glass. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek as he walked down the hall.
When he walked to the front, his cold gaze locked onto the cop still sitting at the desk. He worked hard to control the rage brewing like a thunderstorm.
“This isn’t finished. I’ll be back, and so help me, you’re a dead man.”
The cop blanched. “It wasn’t me,” he said defensively. “It was Moreland. Dumbass couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. She fought him off. Broke his damn nose. I sent him home to clean up.”
“Come on, man,” Mac said quietly beside him. “I’ll drive you to the hospital. We can take out the trash later.”
Jack followed him out, his emotions that of a crazy person. He’d never felt so angry, so furious in his life. Yet, when he looked down at Mia, he was simultaneously assailed by so much tenderness and guilt, it threatened to bring him to his knees.
He got into the truck, cradling Mia to his chest. He was careful not to jar her. He didn’t want to cause her any more pain.
When they arrived at the emergency room entrance, Mac shoved a jacket toward Jack.
“Wrap it around her if you want,” Mac said.
Jack nodded and arranged the jacket around her so she was shielded from view. “Thanks. I appreciate the ride. Don’t wait. I’m sure Kenny will need you.”
“I’ll get back to you and let you know what’s going on,” Mac promised.
Jack carried Mia inside. He never put her down, even as they waited for a room. When they were finally called back, he placed her on the bed and arranged a sheet over her.
Through it all, the exam, the questions, Jack sat beside her holding her hand. He trembled with anger as he listened to Mia recount the details of her attack. He wanted to kill the bastard. Wanted to spill his blood. Rip his dick off and shove it down his throat. He’d never felt such a surge of violence in his entire life.
When the doctor finally left, Jack traced a finger down Mia’s cheek. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Mia. I’m so damn sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”
She let out an indelicate snort. “I managed to take care of myself.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m proud of you. The other cop says you kicked Moreland’s ass pretty good.”
She grinned crookedly around her swollen lip. “I don’t imagine he’ll be using his equipment anytime soon.”
Jack choked back his laughter.
Mia’s expression grew serious, and fear shadowed her eyes. “What’s going to happen, Jack? Will I have to serve time? I’m so scared.”
Jack reached out to cup her face with both hands. “It’s not going to happen, Mia. You were set up, plain and simple. I don’t care that you knew what was in that bag. You were played from the beginning. Martin and Drake sang like birds, according to Kenny. They worked the same set up on pretty girls who floated through town. They used them to make money in the strip club, then they’d sell them off to the highest bidder in an auction. Over the years, it’s proved to be a profitable business.”
Tears slid down her cheeks. “I was so stupid,” she whispered. “If I had just stayed in Dallas. I had an apartment, a job.”
Pain slashed through Jack. He knew well why she’d left Dallas. Because of him. He closed his eyes and looked down. He remembered her pain-filled statement, that he hadn’t loved her, hadn’t cared about her, and that was why he hadn’t made sure she knew what was going on. It shamed him to his core that she’d been right.
He hadn’t cared about her. Not in the way that mattered. She’d always been a duty to him, a little lost girl he’d looked out for after she’d lost her dad in a drug raid.
The night she’d come to him, so full of innocence, had thrown Jack for a loop. Then he’d been called away, and he hadn’t given thought to how it would affect Mia. He’d done his job, placed her below it in his priorities.
And now . . . now he realized just how much he loved her. He loved her, but he was absolutely no good for her. He’d caused her so much pain and heartache already, and he feared if she stayed with him that he’d take the one thing he loved most about her and crush it. Her spirit. Her courage.
He couldn’t do that, couldn’t force her to submit to his dominant nature. He hated this. Hated the pain.
“Jack,” she whispered.
He looked up at her, sure his tortured emotions were emblazoned in his face.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
She put her fingers out to touch his lips.
He caught her hand and kissed it. “I was thinking how much I love you. How much I wish things were different. How much I’ve hurt you.”
Her blue eyes filled with heartrending emotion. “You love me?”
He bowed his head. “I only now realize how much I love you. I wish it wasn’t too late. I wish . . .”
She struggled to sit up in the bed, hissing in pain.
“Sugar, what are you doing?” he demanded as he pushed her back down.
“What do you mean it’s too late?” she demanded. “You don’t want me? Is it because of what I did?”
He looked at her in shock. “God no. It’s because of me, Mia. I’m no good for you. Never have been. It’s why I fought my attraction to you for so long. You’re so sweet and innocent. You have such a fire in you. And your spirit . . .
“Don’t you see, Mia, if we were together, I’d crush the thing I love most about you. I’d take you and I’d push and push until you’d have no choice but to bend or break. I don’t want you to break, Mia. And I don’t want you to bend.”
She looked at him in confusion. “What are you talking about, Jack?”
He felt the knot of shame growing in his stomach. “Earlier, when we fucked, Mia, when we put on a show. It wasn’t a show. That’s how it would be with you and me. I’d expect, no I’d demand complete submission from you. In and out of bed. I can’t do that to you, sugar.”
She smiled. A big glorious smile that lit up her entire face. It made her blue eyes shine like a clear Texas summer sky. He’d never seen such a beautiful sight.
“Oh Jack,” she breathed. “Is that all?”
“All?” he sputtered. “Mia, I don’t think you understand.”
“Oh, I understand,” she said, the smile never leaving her face. “I understand that I love you and that I’m not letting you go. Ever again. Don’t you think I know all this about you, Jack? I knew it when I snuck into your bed two years ago. I knew it and accepted it. Craved it. Needed it. I need you, Jac
k. Only you.”
He swallowed then swallowed again, but the emotion swelling in his throat wouldn’t go away. He’d done everything wrong and yet, he was being given the most beautiful gift in the world. She was giving him herself, her trust and her love.
“Are you sure?” he croaked out. “Be sure, Mia. I won’t let you go. I’ll love you always. I’ll take care of you, but I’ll never let you go.”
“I’ve always been sure, Jack. I wish I had waited for you. Wish I hadn’t run like a scared, hurt little girl. I’ve made so many mistakes. I’m tired of running. I want to go home. With you.”
Jack gathered her gently in his arms and held her tightly.
“You once told me you didn’t have a gentle bone in your body,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest. “But you lied, Jack. You’ve never been anything but gentle with me. I know you’ll never hurt me. I crave your dominance. I need it. I only feel safe when I’m with you.”
He pulled away just enough that he could kiss her, devour her mouth. Her words set his soul on fire. He felt a satisfaction, a deep contentment he never thought he’d experience.
“I’m still too old for you,” he said gruffly.
She grinned saucily. “Lucky you. When you’re old and gray, you’ll have a hot young chick in your bed.”
He kissed her again, hungrily, trying to absorb every inch of her. “Damn right. And I plan to keep you in my bed for a long, long time, sugar.”
CHAPTER 16
“Open your eyes,” Jack said as he moved his hands from Mia’s face.
Mia opened her eyes and looked at the brick house looming in front of her. Her gaze filtered down to the “For Sale” sign with a “Sold” slogan slanting diagonally across it. She looked back at Jack in wonder.
“Is it . . .”
“It’s ours,” he said. “Signed the papers this morning.”
She let out a squeal of delight and threw herself into his arms. He caught her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She peppered his jaw and lips with kisses as he laughed.
It had been a month since they’d left south Texas and all of the painful memories associated with her time there. She’d been cleared of all her charges, and there had been a veritable roundup as multiple arrests were made.
Jack had taken her back to Dallas, where they’d stayed in an apartment. He had gone back to his job with the Rangers, and he’d insisted she not return to work. She knew he still worried over her injuries, both physical and emotional.
“What do you think?” he asked as he grabbed her hand and started toward the front door.
“I love it!”
“I want you to marry me,” he said in a matter of fact tone. “As soon as we can arrange it. Thought we might even fly to Vegas in the next weekend or two.”
She smiled. In typical Jack fashion, he hadn’t asked, he’d merely said. Not that there was any question of her agreeing. He well knew it too, or at least he should. They’d spent every minute of the last month together, exploring their newfound relationship to its fullest.
There were still times when he caught himself, when he worried he was being too forceful, but she laughed and told him she wouldn’t have him any other way. And it was the truth. She loved him, loved his dominant nature, delighted in submitting to his demands. He took such very good care of her.
She sighed. After so much fear and pain, she found it almost too good to be true that she and Jack were together, that they were so happy.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Jack murmured beside her.
She smiled up at him. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“Just that it all seems too good to be true. I’m so happy. I can’t believe you love me.”
His eyes darkened. He pulled her against him almost angrily. “It’s me who is lucky, sugar. I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve your trust after all that’s happened. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know just how much I love you. Not a day is going to go by that you won’t know how much.”
She sighed against his lips and gave herself over to his kiss. “And yes, I’ll marry you.”
He grinned somewhat sheepishly. “I guess I should have asked.”
She smiled and kissed him again. “Well you could have, but I rather liked being told I was going to marry you. I think Vegas is a great idea. Now, are you going to show me my new house or are we going to stand out in the yard all day?”
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