A slimy, wicked grin full of sharp, too-perfect teeth flash at me, moving closer. Behind him, I hear the crying. I close my eyes, not wanting to see what I know is there. I start moving awaywhen he grabs me, spinning me quickly,so my back is pressed against his chest.One arm holds my armstight across my chest while the hand of his free arm grips my face.
“Watch.” His hot breath growls into my ear.
“No,” I scream. I thrashagainst his restraint, trying to free myself.Trying to break free.
“Cara.”
A whimper escapes me. “No,” I whisper. “Don’t make me. Please, stop.”
“Cara, open your eyes.”
I shake my head back and forth in refusal. I don’t want to open my eyes. I don’t want to watch. I don’t want to see.
“Cara, sweetheart, open your eyes. Wake up.”
My eyes fly open. My heart raceslike a stampede in my chest. Sweat runs down my temples,and tears stream down my cheeks. I gasp for air and struggle against the arms wrapped around me.
“Shh.” Ahand strokes my hair, rocking back and forth. “I’ve got you, baby. Nothing can hurt you here.”
I tilt my head up, looking into his blue-green eyes,swirling with worry. “Jake,” I breathe out, then bury my face into his chest.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers.
After another minute, he pulls me back, resting his forehead against mine.“You were having a bad dream, yeah?”
I give a little nod, breathing in deeply. Hisscent of mint, orange blossom, and a hint of cedar are comforting.It has a heady effect on me. Warmth envelops me.Affection and concern fill the small space.
I pull back,looking into his eyes again.I swallow hard at the genuine care I see.
It makes no sense to me. Why, after all these years, does he have thiseffect on me now? Why does he suddenly seem so interested in me?
It’s ridiculous. Feelings don’t just appear out of nowhere.Attraction maybe,but not feelings. Even though I swear,that’s what I see when he looks at me.If it were just attraction, it wouldn’t scare me so badly.
I drop my eyes quickly. I try topull away,but he doesn’t let go. I feel my heart that hasn’t slowed since my dream speed even more.“I’m not going to hurt you, Cara.” He tips my chin, so I have no choice but tolook at him. “I will never hurt you.”
“I – uh – I didn’t mean to scare Lyra,” I say, changing the subject.
His jaw muscles go taut.“You didn’t scare her. She just told me you needed me to sing.”
“I needed you to what?” I laugh. Genuinely this time.
He smiles too. God, why does he have to look so sexy when he smiles?
“When she has bad dreams, I sing until she feels better,” he shrugs.
“I think my ovaries just exploded,” I mutter under my breath, looking away from him.
“What was that?” he questions, but the way his eyebrow quirks tells me he heard me.
I feelflush with embarrassment. “I said that’s sweet,” I lie anyway.
He keeps smiling,but he doesn’t acknowledge that he knows I’m lying. “Anything to stop her pain or fear,” he tells me. Except I get the feeling he’s not talking about Lyra anymore.“Cara, about last night.”
I pull in his grip again. This time he lets me go. I can’t exactly get away from him,though. “I don’t want to talk about any of that, Jake.”
He nods. “Then, at least, let me apologize for being an ass.”
“No big deal.” I wave him off.
