She followed Matt through the kitchen and into the living room/dining room area. There was an office and bath downstairs, and two bedrooms upstairs.
"You can have this room," he said as they entered the primary bedroom, which had a king bed and en suite bathroom.
"That's very generous."
"You've had a rough day."
"They all seem to be rough. I'm just glad we made it through. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
"Hopefully answers."
"I'm having a hard time believing that anymore. Answers always seem to be just out of reach," she said, sinking onto the edge of the bed.
He sat down next to her. "We're going to figure this out, Haley. I know it doesn't seem that way, but we know a lot more now than we did yesterday. We have a better idea about what Landon was trying to do. We know what Sabrina was looking into and how she got my name, and we know that Harrington had nothing to do with Landon's death. That he was also a pawn."
"But we don't know who killed my brother and what they're up to now," she said in frustration. "And today, when the front door shattered, and that man walked in with that enormous gun, I really thought we were going to die. I've never been so scared in my life. I keep hearing the sound of the gun going off. I don't know how we escaped, but I do know it's because of you."
"I just did my job."
"You did it very well, and I'm grateful. But I don't want you to feel responsible for me."
"I am responsible for you," he said firmly. "You're under my protection."
"It's your job to catch the criminals, not to protect me."
"At this moment, it's both."
"It doesn't have to be. If you need to be at your office, then you should go. I'll be fine here on my own, right? No one knows where I am. My phone is off. I'm safe. And I don't want to hold you back."
"You're not doing that. I gave Jason and Andi all the information we had. They're at the office, along with other members of my team."
Despite his words, she could see the conflict in his gaze. He wanted to be in two places at the same time. "Are you sure, Matt? I really will be okay on my own."
"I'm sure."
A heavy silence followed, thick with everything they hadn’t said aloud… "Matt?" she asked, giving him a questioning look. "What are you thinking?"
"You don't want to know, Haley," he said roughly.
"Are you really worrying that much about leaving me alone?"
"Yes. Not just because you're in danger, but because I want…"
Her heart pounded against her chest as she suddenly realized what all that unspoken tension was really about. "I feel the same way," she murmured.
"I didn't tell you how I feel."
"Yes, you did. I can see it in your eyes. Hear it in your voice." She held his gaze to hers. "You want me. And I want you. So, don't leave me. Stay here. With me. For just a little while."
"It won't be a little while," he said.
"That's fine, too," she said, pressing her body against his, putting her hand to his face. "All I need right now is to be with you." As the words left her mouth, she realized how absolutely true they were. "I don't want to think anymore. I just want us to be together. Don't say no."
Her words unleashed the last of his restraint. He leaned forward, his mouth finding hers in a kiss that was desperate and hungry. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she took everything he had to give. And that only made her want him more.
They broke apart just long enough to pull off their clothes with shaking hands, their movements urgent and clumsy with need. He made a quick trip into the bathroom to get protection before coming back to her, before pressing her back against the mattress.
Skin met skin, she let out a gasp of pure pleasure as his kiss, his touch, drove everything else out of her mind. All she needed was him. All he needed was her. The rest of the world could wait.
