Chapter Three~Amber

I can’t believe I’m standing in the middle of my bedroom folding clothes to be put in a bag so I can go to the designated safe house where I’ll be until the trial begins. I don’t understand why they can’t have people watch over me in my own home, but I had told Derek as we left the elevator that I would cooperate with him just to make his life easier.

I’m not sure if being in the safe house alone with him is a good idea or not considering every time he looks at me my bundle of nerves between my legs pulses and sends shivers up my spine.

I finish gathering the things I need for my extended stay in safe house prison and Derek carries my bags to his car. We ride to the safe house in silence and I wonder to myself why I put myself in this position and seriously consider going back to family law.

I tell myself that it will be worth it once the Silver Tongues are behind bars for the rest of their hideous existence. After a few hours on the road and a few pit stops along the way, Derek pulls into the driveway of a beautiful log cabin. I take in a deep breath as I get out of the car and look at the beauty of it all.

The cabin is set on a good-sized piece of land with a lake rippling behind it. Derek grabs our bags from the trunk of the car, and I help him get the door open. We had been on the road for a while and all I want to do is find the bed I am supposed to sleep in. My body is so tired from all the worry and frustration plus the traveling, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do or where I’m supposed to be. As I look around the living area of the safe house, I notice there are pictures of a younger Derek in them.

“There are pictures of you here, does this safe house belong to you?” I ask him curiously.

“This cabin has been in my family for generations. I’ve used it as a safe house a time or two. I figure that it’ll take the Silver Tongues quite a while to figure out where you are if they even do. No one really thinks to look in such a remote location because most people want to stay close to the modern comforts like internet,” he says with a grin.

“Do you enjoy your job?” I ask.

“I do. Being in the military is something I’ve wanted since I was a young boy and my cousin enlisted. My father enlisted when he was young but didn’t make a lifelong career out of it like my cousin planned to. He was killed on a mission in Iraq. I signed up as soon as I turned eighteen and have been working my way up the ranks ever since,” he says.

A dark look sweeps over his face and for a moment I wonder what he is thinking. He gets quiet for a moment and I can tell he’s thinking about something that makes him sad. I fight the urge to put my hand on his shoulder as I don’t want to seem like a touchy kind of person, but I want more than anything to wrap my arms around him and let him know whatever is bothering him will be okay.

Suddenly as if he heard my thoughts, he snaps out of his trance and turns back into his normal self. He claps his hands together and grabs my bags that he’d sat by his feet. He motions for me to follow him and we go down a long hallway until we stop at the last door on the left-hand side. He puts my bag down and opens the door before taking my things into the room.

“This will be your room while you’re here. My room is across the hall. Both rooms have a bathroom in them, so we don’t have to share. There will be a few more members of my team arriving tomorrow so they’ll take the other rooms up the hall. I hope you’ll be comfortable in here. Let me know if there’s anything you need and I’ll leave you to unpack.” He says as he steps out of the room closing the door behind him.

I stand in the middle of the room, my bags at my feet and feel an overwhelming sadness. Tears well up and spill over my lashes as I try to control the sudden sob that wants to escape me. I have no idea why my emotions are running rampant inside me, but I know that it’s better to let them out and not try to keep them bottled up. I just don’t let anyone at the office see me do it so my reputation for being tough doesn’t get damaged. I let a few more tears drop from my eyes before I try to suck it up and hold them in.

As I’m trying to pull myself together, there’s a knock at the bedroom door. I know it’s Derek and I panic because I don’t want him to see me like this.

“Amber? Can I come in?” He asks softly through the door.

“Yes, it’s your house after all,” I say as I try to hide the fact that I’ve been crying.

Derek opens the door slowly and steps into the room. His scent hits me like a wave and instantly my nipples harden against my bra and my nub begins to swell. His eyes draw me in like a moth to a flame and I can see there is concern on his face.

“Amber, honey, what’s wrong? Have you been crying?” He asks clearly mortified.

“I’m okay, there are just times that I doubt I’m good enough for my job and now my life could potentially be in danger and it’s just bringing up a lot of things. Don’t worry about me though,” I say hoping that he won’t feel bad.

“Would it be okay with you if I give you a hug? I don’t want to do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable,” he says as he edges closer to me.

I nod and the tears begin to flow again as Derek wraps his strong arms around me and holds me close. He presses his mouth close to my ear and whispers to me that everything is going to be okay as he runs his hand through my hair. I know I’m going to be embarrassed about my emotional display later, but for now I’m glad he is there with me and willing to hold me with no expectations for anything in return.

As he continues to hold me, I breathe in his scent and it arouses me more than before. I can feel his muscles rippling beneath his shirt and I have to resist the urge to pull his shirt from his body and kiss every inch of him. I catch myself imagining him naked and I know that I can’t deny the attraction, or the fact that I want him in my bed and soon.