Page 21 of Blood

CHAPTER EIGHT

Samantha

For the second time tonight, I jolt awake. My harsh breathing fills the room while my heart tries to beat its way out of my chest.

“Shhh,” a deep voice rumbles as a large hand soothes back and forth on my stomach, kicking my blood pressure up another notch.

Kaleb.

Wetting my lips, I turn my head to look at the man pressed against my side, his head resting on my pillow. I’m lying on my back, so he no longer spoons me. Instead, he’s cuddled close to my side.

Eyes closed, Kaleb nudges his nose with mine. “I’m right here. Go back to sleep,” he whispers.

My mind responds to the order, but my body fights him. Heat spreads through me, starting all down my right side where he touches me. My cheeks flush, and my body tingles. I have never been more aware of him.

His hot breath fans my face, and my eyes drop closed. What would happen if I closed the gap?

As if he heard me, his eyes pop open.

Drawing in a breath, I start to speak, but the palm on my stomach shoots up and clamps down on my mouth.

Kaleb’s large body rolls, his weight pinning me to the mattress. His left index finger settles over his lips.

Startled, I don’t even breathe. All sound in the room stops. That’s when I hear it. Metal jingles downstairs.

What the fuck is that?

Steely gray eyes stare down into my terrified blue.

Someone’s breaking in! I swallow the lump in my throat.

Kaleb’s eyes dip to my throat, and a look I can’t place settles on his face, but a second later, it’s gone, and so is he.

Climbing out of bed, Kaleb speaks quietly. “You will go into my bathroom and lock the door. I’ll lock the bedroom door. You come out for no one but me.”

I watch in silence as he calmly opens his bedside drawer and pulls out a large kitchen knife.

He keeps that in his fucking drawer?Why?My question is answered when a noise downstairs draws my attention.

Fingers on my chin turn my face back to his.

“You will go into that bathroom and lock the door. Now is not the time to disobey me, Samantha. The punishment I give you will be unlike any other.”

I nod, words refusing to come.

Kaleb nods back. Leaning in, he places a soft kiss on my forehead.

“I’ll call the police?” I force out.

At the bedroom door, Kaleb pauses, turning back. “No.”

I shiver at the smirk he gives me, and my nipples bead.

And then he’s gone. The wood silently closes, and metal clicks as the door locks.

My harsh breaths echo in the room, my eyes searching for something to grab. What if the person comes upstairs?

Then Kaleb’s dead.