Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(36)

Her fingers tightened around his. “Grace was doing some investigating, but I begged her to stop. We can’t take the chance. I suspect it’s a government agency or group simply because they seem so well funded. They’ve dogged my steps for the last year. I move frequently. I never stay in the same place for long. Just long enough to earn enough money to keep running. The longest was two months in Kansas City, but they caught up to me there as well. I’ve tried to be methodical. I’ve tried to be unpredictable, but I swear I’m becoming predictable in my unpredictability. I’m so tired, Nathan. I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how much longer I can keep evading them.”

The hopelessness in her voice made Nathan’s gut tighten. “You’re not alone anymore, Shea. You have me now. I’m not going to let those bastards hurt you. We’ll figure this out. Together.”

She squeezed his hand again. Tears shone in her eyes, reflected in the glow of the dashboard. “Thank you.”

He squeezed back. “No. Thank you, baby. I got to see my family again because of you.”

CHAPTER 16

NATHAN pulled into the lot of a small motel just as the sky was starting to lighten to the east. They had driven through the night, stopping only long enough to get food and water for Shea. He’d wanted to examine her for injuries, but she’d insisted they keep going. She had just dozed off a half hour before, and he hated to wake her, but he didn’t want to leave her unprotected for the time he needed to arrange the room. Neither did he want her to be seen by anyone who could identify her to her pursuers. Which meant she needed to be awake and prepared for anything.

He gently shook her. Her eyes popped open and she stared around in a near panic before her gaze settled on him. Then she sagged into the seat in relief.

He palmed his Glock and then extended it to her, stock first.

“Know how to use this?”

She took it without hesitation, chambered a bullet and then thumbed the safety. Guess that answered his question.

“I’ll be right back. Watch out. Only shoot if you have to.”

She nodded, but her attention was already focused away from him and on the area surrounding the parking lot.

Nathan hurried in, paid for a room and then went back out for Shea. He’d purposely scoped a motel with rooms that opened on the outside so that Shea would never have to travel through the lobby.

Before he allowed her out of the jeep, he draped one of his fleece jackets around her and pulled the hood over her hair.

“Can you walk?” he murmured. Carrying her would gain too much notice.

She swung around, and it was then he remembered her bare feet. With a curse, he rummaged in his bag and pulled out a pair of his socks.

He slipped them on and then helped her down. He handed her the key and said, “Go on ahead. I’ll get the bags.”

She glanced at the number on the tag and then walked in the direction of the door sporting the same number. Nathan watched her walk away in his socks, absurdly captivated by the image.

He grabbed his bags, locked up the jeep and then headed for the room. The door was left slightly ajar, and he pushed it open with his foot. As he shouldered his way in, he saw Shea sitting on the edge of the bed.

She looked up and their gazes locked. He dropped the bags to the floor, kicked the door shut with his foot and then strode over to where she sat.

She stood at the same moment he reached her, and he crushed her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on just as tightly as he held her.

He inhaled her scent, uncaring of the blood and dirt and grime that permeated her hair and clothing. He was holding her. Finally holding her.

“You’re real. You’re real.”

She pulled away, looked up at him, the same answering emotion shining in her blue eyes. With a groan, he lowered his mouth to hers. He couldn’t hold back. Nothing in the world would have kept him from kissing her in that moment.

He was overcome.

Her mouth, sweet and warm, melted against his. He’d never felt something so completely right in his life. As if everything had worked up to this moment.

She felt small and delicate in his arms. She quivered even as she kissed him back, her lips moving in a slow, sensual slide across his.

He was wrecked. Completely and utterly wrecked.

He gripped her shoulders and pulled away, his legs weak and shaky. He should be caring for her. Seeing to her needs. But he couldn’t keep his hands from her. The need to touch her, to reassure himself that she was finally…his.

Yes, his. And not finally. She’d been his from the moment she’d touched his mind. Perhaps it was why he’d gone crazy when she left him. It was like having a part of his soul ripped out. The months since had been a torture of a different kind. But now she was here. In the flesh. Not just in his mind. And he’d be damned if he’d let her go again.

“We need to get you cleaned up, baby. Let me go turn on the shower so it’ll warm up then we’ll get you out of these clothes. I want to see how bad it is.”

She stirred, a protest forming on her lips. “I’m okay, Nathan. Really.”

“I want to see that for myself.”

His tone brooked no argument and finally she nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat. He left her long enough to turn on the shower and then he came back where she still stood by the bed.

“Do you need my help?”