Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Nia

Over the course of the day, the fear and shame recede. A little…

I think I appreciate that I've met someone who understands what it means to be raised by a psychopath. Then again, Jake might be a psychopath too. He did kidnap me. And maybe I've got Stockholm syndrome because as he sits next to me on the couch reading, I'm glad he's there.

I feel…safe.

Crazy, right? This man is the threat, not the shield. Then again, my father is supposed to be my protector and he's been mostly a cruel jailer. Maybe I don't know the difference.

Maybe shit has been rewired backwards in my head.

Or maybe Jake is different.

I have to will myself to stop thinking about it all. The only thing I should be working out mentally is escape. But I'm sluggish and out of sorts after falling. And Jake learning one of my secrets has made me feel both ashamed and somehow bonded to him, which is dangerous. This is the man I'm supposed to escape from. Not stay with …

Jakes makes dinner and as the sun sets, there is little to do besides go to bed.

I'm tired anyway. Being here, it's like my body has suddenly decided it's time to catch up on all the sleep I never seem to get.

Tomorrow, with some more rest, I'll come up with a plan.

So I go to bed, curling under the covers, my eyes drifting closed.

But I don't fall asleep. I can feel that I'm tired, but some of my old fear is creeping in. What if another snake creeps in the house? The desert is loaded with them.

What if Toni finds me before I can run?

This is my one chance, and I have to make the most of it, because the truth is, if I can escape Jake and this house, he really has helped me just disappear in a way that could keep my father from finding me.

Jake comes in the room and shucks off his shirt, then sits on the bed, removing his shoes.

When he stands, he unbuttons his jeans and pulls them down his powerful thighs, just enough light coming into the room that I can see his body.

God, it's a gorgeous body. The kind that could make a girl forget she ought to be afraid. "Jake?"

He turns around to look at me. "I thought you'd be asleep."

I shrug. "I'm so tired but I can't turn my brain off."

He nods as he climbs into his bed, pulling the covers up to his chest. "What's rattling around your head?" He asks like it's completely normal that I share my inner thoughts with him.

"How did you recover? From your father?"

He's silent for a few minutes. "I'm still not sure I have."

I nip at my lip. "What makes you say that?"

"I did just steal you in the night. I'm not exactly winning any good-guy awards."

For some reason that makes me smile. "Do you really think you're helping me?"

"Yes," he says without a moment of hesitation. "Toni would have found you within two days if you'd gotten on that plane."

That makes me sit up. I want to deny it but I'm sure he's right. Look how easy it was for Jake to take me. I've got to do better the next time. "So I'm doomed?" But Jake doesn't need to know I'm already planning the next time…

"You can let me take care of you," he says, looking back at the ceiling. "I'll do a much better job than Toni."

"What does that even mean?" Take care of me? I lay back down, frowning at the ceiling. I don't know that I'll ever trust a man after what I've been through. I can't even give affection to my sister. Then again, Jess hasn't been through what I've been through. She doesn't know what I know…

"It means," he whispers softly into the night, "that you could become a Kincaid."

I gasp, sitting up as the spaghetti strap of my tank top falls down off my arm. "You're not serious."

"I am," he says and then he props up on one elbow, his lean body on full display in a way that makes my mouth go dry. He's so tempting…

I shake my head slowly. This can't be real. He abducted me to propose? Even stranger, I think I might actually be considering his offer.

I lay back down, flopping onto my pillow. "This is crazy." My uninjured arm goes over my head, and I stare at the ceiling. I don't want to marry into another Vegas family. I want to go far, far away. Find my own place in this world and never trust a man again.

The room quiets and I shift, trying to stop my swirling thoughts.

"Nia," Jake finally says. "I can hear the gears in your head grinding."

I push back up, wanting to ask him what a marriage to him might involve. Wanting… "I…"

"Come here," he says and then he lifts the covers back from his bare torso, a clear invitation.

My mouth goes dry. There is a part of me that's so tempted. "Jake," I stutter out. "I…"

"We're just going to sleep. I worked out three times today and I'm exhausted, but I doubt I'm going to bed until you do."

I only hesitate for one more second before I'm pushing off my twin and stand in the small space between the two beds. I'm in a short tank and a pair of bikini briefs but it doesn't seem weird at all, as I slide into the little bed. I know you're not supposed to snuggle the man you're trying to escape. But I was up against him today, and he feels good. I can't deny that.

And as much as I know Jake should be one stepping-stone on the path to finding my way, I need to get my feet back under me, and drawing from his strength sounds like a really great idea.

He extends an arm and wraps it around my torso as I settle into the space next to him. He pulls me close against him, my skin slides against his.

I almost moan at how good his rougher skin and hard muscles feel. No one told me about this. I hear the other girls talk about sex but never about intimacy or how just touching a man like this is so…erotic.

About how even laying against a man with his arm around you can make a girl's brain kind of fritz.

My hand comes to Jake's chest, my fingers flexing on one of his pectorals before it slides over his muscle as I test its shape.

"I did say you were just here to sleep," he murmurs, sounding completely relaxed.

I lift my head. "That marriage you offered up, are there any other perks besides safety?" I should not be asking this question, but he feels so good.

His head jerks to face mine, his eyes dark and intense in a way that steals my breath. He half turns toward me, his other hand cupping my ass cheek and pulling my pelvis tighter against his hip. "You want a few perks, sweetheart?"

My mouth goes completely dry. I should have known that Jake is not the kind of man you tease. He's an alpha. Used to getting his way and shaping what doesn't conform to his wishes into exactly what he desires.

I can fool myself that I'm trying to use him but, in this moment, I know, I'm putty in his hands.

He slides his palm down the back of my leg, until he hooks my knee and then pulls my leg over his. It pushes my aching sex deeper against his hip and I give the smallest gasp.

But he only looks away, closing his eyes. "Go to sleep, sweetheart. It's too soon for anything more than that."

See. There he goes, thinking that he's going to dictate exactly when and how things happen between us. Granted, he's commanded my every move, but that doesn't mean…

I feel my eyes closing.

Because as good as he feels, I'm exhausted too. And what I need more than to prove him wrong by humping him, is to get some sleep, and make my brain work out a plan for getting out of here and starting on my own life.

Allowing myself to trust him too much would ruin me forever—well, any parts that aren't damaged beyond repair.

Next to him, however, I fall asleep within seconds.

And I don't wake up until Jake moves me. "What time is it?" I slur into his chest, that I'm still using as my pillow.

"Seven," he answers, tightening his arm about me as he lifts me and then slides me under his body.

My eyes jerk open, a little gasp falling from my lips, but he keeps moving, as he stands up and stretches.

I let my gaze slide up the power of his thighs, his narrow hips and lean waist, over the rippling muscles of his chest and broad shoulders.

I lick my lips as he leans down and kisses my forehead. "I'm going to work out. Feel free to go back to sleep.

"All right," I stretch in the bed, knowing that I'm not going back to sleep. "Can you leave me a cup of coffee?"

"You got it, sweetheart."

I rise from the bed, stretching too, my arms over my head, my hip out to one side.

He stops, going still, as his gaze slides down my body.

I lift up on my tiptoes, extending even further into the stretch as I partially turn away, showing him my profile, my ass sticking out.

I don't know why I'm teasing him like this…

Except I remember how he tried to dictate all the terms last night and I feel the need to try and gain a little power here. It's a dangerous game. He's got way more experience than me, but I've never even been tempted to tease a man this way and part of me can't resist.

I know it's a dangerous game. I'm even sure I'll lose but…I love the heat of his gaze as he takes a step closer to me.

I'm covered in his scent, the feel of him still fresh in my memory as I pivot again, my back facing him as my arms stretch out from my sides.

"Nia," he says, his voice so full of gravel that the ache between my legs pulses. Maybe I need to work out today too. I'm clearly amped up.

I look over my shoulder, giving him a sweet smile. Is this bothering him?

His face is set in hard lines, the cords of his neck standing out as the heat of his gaze nearly sears me.

And suddenly it occurs to me how I might distract Jake…find my method of escape. It's a shit plan because every time I think I have the smallest bit of control, he takes it right back, but it's all I've got.

And besides…the man is too delicious to ignore. I've never had a chance like this and who knows if I will again.

And yes, I'm totally justifying.

With a deep breath, I drop my arms just enough to run my palms over my hips.

He takes a step closer, a rumble erupting from his throat. "You know that I'm the predator here," he growls, one of his hands fitting into the curve of my waist.

He's right. I'm completely inexperienced, a captor, and apparently, a slave to my impulses.

But I just need to feel his skin on mine again.