Chapter 19

19

Caleb climbed down from the tree, the bark rough and real under his palms as he landed on faded pine needles. He'd hoped contact with the earth would dispel the lingering tendrils of desire coiling in his gut, but they held fast, refusing to loosen their grip as he helped Grace down, his hands gripping her hips, before sliding to the sweet dip of her waist.

In the tree, elevated from the turmoil of the world below, he'd allowed himself to relinquish his fears and be. Hidden within the tree, there had been no need for him to be her guardian. The tree had been their shelter against the world and in doing so, he had allowed himself a glimpse of what could be. Of a fragile new connection with this woman.

He exhaled, reluctantly releasing her. Could such moments ever be more than a fleeting illusion? Especially after everything she had shared so far. Surely, there could be no future between the two of them, even though the possibility increasingly dominated his thoughts?

She turned to face him, her cheeks flushed with the aftermath of their shared kiss. That kiss.

Doubt worried at his resolution. His desire to protect her was both a strength and a vulnerability. No matter how desperately he wished to shield her from harm, he couldn't control every outcome, and that knowledge, heavy with the burden of experience, preyed on his conscience.

She took his hand, her fingers curling into his in a way that made his heart race and the skin on the underside of his fingers tingle as she led him out from under the tree into the cold sluice of rain.

Caleb squinted into the darkening sky, the horizon painted with ominous hues of deep purple, mirroring the turmoil churning within him. A subtle hum seemed to permeate the air, as if charged with raw power waiting to be unleashed. The sensation pricked his skin, urging him to take her home. "We should hurry. It'll be dark soon."

The information she had shared about Hudson buzzed in his brain. He was still at a disadvantage. He needed to know more.

When they arrived back at his cabin, he sent Grace to go warm up in a bath while he secured the perimeter alarms. The tension across his shoulders only eased once he knew the alarms were reset. No one would get within one hundred yards of his property without it being announced.

It was almost an hour later when Grace came downstairs to join him. He'd lit the fire to take the chill off the room, and the lick of flames cast a golden glow across her skin. Her hair was damp, lying in wavy tendrils across her shoulders scented with his shampoo. An image of her rinsing suds from her hair in his tub, bubbles sliding between her breasts, sprang unbidden into his mind.

He looked away for a second, gathering himself. Sex couldn't be on the menu, even if it was the only item he wanted to be on the menu.

She padded into the kitchen with socked feet, wearing one of his long-sleeved t-shirts that came down to mid thigh. Her legs were lean and toned.

"Can I help? Smells delicious." She sniffed the air and smiled.

Fuck, she was wearing his clothes, and the fabric told him she wasn't wearing a bra under that t-shirt.

Get it together, Caleb.

She came up to the counter where he was prepping salad to go with the chicken roasting in the oven.

"Sure. Can you chop?"

She shot him a shy smile. "I can chop."

He gave her the knife and pushed a bowl of peppers toward her.

"Can I get you a drink?" He opened his fridge.

"Um…A beer would be lovely."

He twisted off the caps of two ice-cold beers with a satisfying pop. Condensation glistened on the sides of the bottles, tracing delicate paths down the cool glass.

He handed one to Grace and their fingers brushed, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through him.

Shit. He took a hefty swig, forcing himself to focus on the sweetness of the hops instead of Grace.

She closed her eyes and brought the bottle to her lips and drank.

Fuck. The way her lips curved around the bottle, the way her throat moved as she swallowed. It stirred primal need in him, awakening desires he had long buried.

"Enjoying it?" He cleared his throat, his voice rough with suppressed desire.

She blinked as if suddenly aware he was still in the room with her. A smile played at the corners of her lush mouth. "Very much. It's been a while since I was allowed...since I've had a beer."

His teeth met at her slip. How much control had that bastard had over her life?

He extended his bottle, seeking focus. "To good food and good company."

She chinked her bottleneck with his. "Good food and good company." She licked her lips before she picked up the knife.

Caleb was mesmerized. What would it be like to kiss her right now? Would her lips be cool from the beer? Would he be able to taste the fruity notes lingering on her tongue?

"Shit." Grace dropped the knife and sucked her thumb. "Clumsy," she muttered.

He came up behind her. "Is it cut?"

She took her finger out of her mouth, and he took hold of her hand. Dark blood welled. The nick was small but deep.

"Hang on." He retrieved his first aid kit from the kitchen cabinet. "Here let me."

She held out her hand, and he wiped the wound with an antiseptic wipe. Her skin gleamed with moisture.

"The band aid won't stick like this." He blew on her finger, hearing her sharp intake of breath, his cock hardening as he then wrapped the band aid around her finger. He couldn't take much more of this. Soon, his whole body was going to explode with need.

"I need to work on my chopping skills. I'm a little out of practice." Her voice was breathy and color blazed across the top of her cheekbones.

The intensity of their connection sparked deep within him. He wanted more than these fleeting moments with her. He wanted everything. "Out of practice at cooking?"

She gave a dismissive shrug. "Richard didn't like me cooking." She took a hasty slug of beer. One he was sure was to prevent any more questions.

He moved behind her. "Okay. Let me remind you. It's all down to how you hold the knife." He placed the knife back in her right hand.

Soft hair brushed his face. He wrapped his arms around her, closed his right hand over hers, his cheek bumping hers. God, her skin was so soft, he could barely feel it. "Hold it like this. He closed his left hand over her left, securing a pepper in place then made a rapid sawing motion so the pepper flayed into thin wafers.

When he released her hand, his skin was on fire from the contact. "Now you try."

Grace widened her stance. Her ass bumped against his crotch, sending fireworks throughout his body and fiery blood rushing to his cock. Caleb swallowed a groan and inched backward, gritting his teeth, creating a distance between them, to save himself from combusting on the spot. She had been through so much and even though she had kissed him back with an intensity that matched his own, that didn't mean she was ready for things between them to go any further. The last thing she needed was him pawing her, concerned with only his own desires.

Grace concentrated on slicing a cucumber. With a triumphant last slice, she lifted the knife. "Success! No wounds."

"You did." He lifted his beer and took a deep drink, needing distraction from the molten heat coursing through his body now he had glimpsed what he wanted.

It had been so long since he dared to let someone else in. So long since he had fought to control his desire.

But in that moment, he knew he had found something worth fighting for.