Understood (Unspoken #1)(2)

The night Jake had found out the truth was a night he’d spent in hell.

He pulled into the driveway of the small house she rented and turned off the ignition. Ellie reached for her door handle, and Jake put his hand out to stop her.

“Stay there and don’t move.”

She trembled against his fingers but obeyed.

He got out and walked around to her side. He opened the door and reached for her.

“I don’t trust you not to kill yourself in those damn shoes,” he muttered.

She didn’t protest when he curled his arms underneath her and lifted her from the seat. He stalked to her door and fumbled with the handle. Damn woman hadn’t even locked her door.

He shouldered his way inside but still didn’t put her down. He flipped a switch, flooding the small living room with light. His gaze focused on the coffee table and the bottle of liquor, the half empty bottle of liquor, sitting there and swore again.

“Just how much have you had to drink tonight, Ellie?”

She went still against him. “Jake?” she asked.

He sighed. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

He spit out several more curses as he ran for the bathroom. He threw open the door and managed to deposit her in front of the toilet before she started retching.

The sounds she made were god-awful as she rid her stomach of all the alcohol. He cringed and hovered as he waited for her to finish.

He busied himself wetting a washcloth then gently wiped at her forehead as some of the heaving subsided. She let out a low groan of misery.

“Bet you’ll think twice before pulling a stunt like this again,” he chided.

She opened her eyes and stared up at him. “Don’t lecture, Jake,” she pleaded.

He softened. He couldn’t help it when she stared up at him with those baby blues. He cupped her cheek in his hand and stroked lightly over her skin with his thumb.

“What did you think you were doing?” he asked.

She looked down and a tear splashed onto the toilet seat. Then she bent her neck until her forehead touched the rim.

He reached down to pull her to her feet. Sitting here next to a commode full of mixed alcohol and only God knew what else wasn’t his idea of a good time. He reached back to flush the toilet then swung her back into his arms.

She hiccupped softly against his chest. “Where are you taking me?”

“To bed,” he replied.

He walked into her bedroom and deposited her on the bed. As her head fell back, she moaned and closed her eyes.

“Ellie, don’t you pass out on me now,” he warned. “Ellie?”

He ran a hand through his hair and swore for the hundredth time since she’d walked into the bar. Hell of a note. Passed out cold.

Sighing deeply, he clenched his jaw and put a tight rein on himself as he started to remove her clothing. It was remarkably easy given she didn’t have much on to start with.

He swallowed the knot in his throat as her pink tipped br**sts bobbed into view. Fuck me. He eased the mini skirt over her hips and felt his jeans tighten all over again when he saw the tiny scrap of lace that covered her dark curls. Covered but didn’t conceal.

He left the underwear on then went to her closet and rummaged for something to cover her up. He’d be damned if he was going to torture himself further by having her naked body on display.

When he returned to the bed, he gazed down at her small body sprawled on top of the covers. She looked so damn vulnerable. When he thought of such a tiny woman standing up to a man like Ray, it made him physically ill. He didn’t know how she’d survived, but he knew one thing. She’d never have to worry about it again.

He bent over and pulled the T-shirt over her head. He lifted her slightly so he could arrange the shirt and get her hands through the armholes. Then he pulled the covers back and tucked her in. She uttered a small sigh and burrowed her face into the pillow before her easy breathing resumed.

His hand lingered over her hair. He let the curls trail over his fingertips, enjoying the satiny feel. He touched her cheek for the briefest of moments before finally turning and walking quietly out of her bedroom.

In her living room, he dug around in one of her cabinets until he found an old afghan. He dragged out a few throw pillows and tossed them onto the couch. He’d stick around tonight, make sure she was okay in the morning. Then they were going to have a heart-to-heart chat about her little escapade.

Chapter Two

Ellie opened her eyes and groaned as a shaft of light skewered her head. She rolled to her side to avoid the sun streaming through her blinds. Her tongue felt heavy and swollen, and God, what on earth was the foul taste in her mouth?She sat up, licking her lips to try and inject some moisture. Bits and snatches of the previous night danced around in her head like a bad B movie.

Jake.

Oh, dear God. Jake had brought her home. No, he’d carried her home. Could her humiliation be more complete?

She struggled out of bed and stumbled toward the bathroom. She made a grab for her toothbrush and lobbed a clump of toothpaste onto it before going to town on her teeth. Anything to get rid of the taste of alcohol and vomit.

The brush still dangling from the side of her mouth, she reached in to turn on the shower and waited for the water to warm. When a curl of steam rose from the stall, she gave her teeth a final scrub and rinsed her mouth in the sink.