Save Me(WITSEC #2)(66)

“Who’s Keelan?” a familiar voice whispered into my ear.

Jacob.

I dropped my water bottle and tried to get out of his hold. He wrapped his other arm over the top of my arms and lifted me off the ground, carrying me down the hall that led to more classrooms and out of sight.

“Help!” I screamed before he covered my mouth.

He chuckled next to my ear. “It looks like you pissed some people off, Shiloh. The judge decided to let me go home until my trial. That is, if my new friend, the sheriff, doesn’t convince the judge to throw out my case.”

He made the mistake of trying to open one of the classroom doors because he had to release my mouth.

“Help me!” I screamed and got one of my arms free. As he tried to pull me into the room, I grabbed a hold of the doorframe. “Keelan!” I was going to have to let go of the door. I’d have to do it to fight him because no one was coming. Just as he yanked on me to get me to let go, the door swung open wide, revealing Knox.

He didn’t hesitate in grabbing me and ripping me free from Jacob’s grasp, which pulled us both out of the classroom. Knox shoved me behind him and grabbed Jacob by his shirt before slamming his fist into Jacob’s face. Jacob crumpled to the ground and Knox followed him down to hit him again and again.

“I should fucking kill you for touching her!” Knox roared and punched him again.

People were beginning to gather and watch.

“Everyone, out of the way!” I heard Keelan yell before he pushed through the crowd. He took in the scene, from me to Knox pummeling Jacob. “Knox!” He grabbed his brother and pulled him off Jacob.

Knox struggled against Keelan, his rage overriding his good sense. I put myself in front of him, blocking his sight of Jacob, who rolled over, groaning. I grabbed Knox’s hand and held his wild eyes. “I’m alright.” Breathing laboriously, he tried to look past me. I brought his bloody hand up to cup my face. “Look at me,” I said firmly, and he did. “Hold me,” I pleaded. His hand twitched against my face before he moved it behind my neck and pulled me to him.

“Get out of my way!” Jacob roared behind me.

Knox went to go after him, but I dug my feet into the ground and held onto him. Keelan tried to go after him next. I grabbed him by his shirt just in time. “Let him go,” I barked. “He isn’t worth it.”

Keelan frowned. “We need to call the police.”

“No,” I said. “They won’t help us with him.”

“What do you mean?” Keelan asked.

I looked at the crowd, which was slowly thinning out. “Not here.”

He nodded. “I’ll get everything squared away here. Go to his office and I’ll meet you two there.”

I grabbed Knox’s hand and led him to his office. I pulled him into the bathroom and flipped on the light so I could see his hand. His knuckles were split, and blood was already drying on his skin. I cupped his cheek. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said, his voice low and slightly detached. “Did he hurt you?”

“He didn’t have time.” I turned on the sink and led his hand under the water. I washed away the blood gently. I could feel him watching me the entire time. When all the blood had washed away, I turned off the water and grabbed a towel off the rack. I patted his hand dry. “I was prepared to fight him. I was ready to face what he might do to me in that room, alone. But when I saw you…I knew everything would be alright. I feel that way every time I look at you.” I brought his hand up to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “Thank you for saving me.”

His hand twisted in mine and moved it to cup my chin. He tilted my head back to look up at him and he slammed his mouth down onto mine. Shock held me for a breath until I kissed him back. He kissed like I remembered. Demanding. Controlling. This time I didn’t rebel against him. I melted. I wanted to take everything he was offering, greedily. Because I was scared I’d never have this again.

When I realized that, I found the will to push against his chest and break away from him. “You cannot kiss me if you’re just going to pull away,” I said, looking down. I couldn’t meet his eyes. I was scared of what I’d see. “You’ll break my heart if you do.”

“Look at me,” he said.

It took a lot of strength to do that, but I did. I met his beautiful golden-brown eyes.

“Every time I look at you, I get a glimpse at happiness.”

I held my breath, refusing to assume what that meant.

“You’re my match, Shiloh.” His hands framed my face. “I’m so fucking sorry if I hurt you. I let my fear of the worst get the best of me.”

“Living in fear isn’t living.” That was what he had told me once.

“I should have taken my own advice.”

I put my hand on his forearm. “I’ve been guilty of not listening to my own advice a time or two.”

He leaned closer. “Will you forgive me?”

“Don’t pull away from me again,” I said.

“I won’t.”

I leaned in the rest of the way. His mouth covered mine and his hands moved to the back of my neck. This time when he tried to control the kiss with his tongue, I rebelled. My tongue lashed back at his in a sensual dance.

He smiled against my lips. “You just won’t let me be in charge, will you?”