Page 11 of Stone (Claimed and Protected #3)

D aniella

Memories ripped at my mind, my thoughts all over the place.

How was Stone here? How had he managed to save me?

Every nerve ending was on fire, the ache behind my eyes nothing compared to the anguish I felt in my heart. So much time had gone by. So many emotions were keeping me on edge. But I was safe.

Freedom.

I had no idea how amazing it could feel after experiencing such a horrible few days. I’d thought for certain I would be killed. The bastards who’d kidnapped me hadn’t worried about what I’d overheard, which had given me a clear indication that even if my father paid the ransom, I’d be disposed of.

Even now as I stood in front of the mirror wrapped in a nice, warm towel after taking a long, hot shower, I couldn’t believe that I’d been rescued.

As startling and amazing as the realization was, the fact Stone had risked his life to save me after twenty years of not seeing each other and nineteen of not talking was unbelievable.

Yet the ugly truth was that I wasn’t free. Seeing him again reminded me that freedom came with a price.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I battled memories from the past. They were wonderful and ugly, terrifying and irreplaceable.

As a single tear rolled down my cheek, I wasn’t entirely certain I could live through any more memories.

It had taken me a very long time to drive the nightmares away, the sense of being a failure haunting.

Stone had changed, not only becoming even more handsome, but also in the light in his eyes.

Once, they’d reflected eagerness and joy.

Now, they projected sadness and uncertainty.

However, he’d come to my rescue and I just couldn’t understand how or why.

Another electric shiver skated down my spine as I furiously brushed the tear away. Now wasn’t the time to break down.

I’d clung to him as his friend Kage had driven us to a small house nestled in some woods. They’d called it a safehouse and although I shouldn’t feel safe under the circumstances, with three muscular men guarding me, I felt completely protected.

And thoroughly overwhelmed.

Plus, I’d seen and heard what they’d done in their efforts to act on the rescue attempt. They’d killed more than a dozen men bearing guns. I should be appalled, but knew they were all Navy SEALs doing their jobs, something obviously orchestrated by my father.

But how had my dad managed to convince Stone to come find me?

Not only because of the years, but because of the way we’d left our relationship.

I’d all but burned the bridge between us, but only after getting the letter from him that had broken my heart.

He didn’t know why I’d stopped contacting him and I doubted he’d ever trust me enough again to believe my story.

I’d seen the hurt in his eyes when he’d walked into the room where the men were holding me.

Just for a split second, but it was enough to rip at what was left of my heart.

Plus, there were secrets that I couldn’t imagine revealing. I’d never thought I’d need to. Now decisions weighed heavily on my mind.

I rubbed my hand across the steamy mirror and instantly my eye caught the ring that I hadn’t taken off in twenty years. I studied the small diamond, flicking the gold band back and forth before fisting my hand.

A promise made and then broken.

The hurt had never left me and I knew after seeing him now, I’d think of him and the what-if’s for the rest of my life.

He’d changed, taller by at least two inches and packed with an additional seventy-five pounds of raw muscle. His jaw was just as strong, but his facial features were more chiseled. Age had turned him into a gorgeous hunk of a man, so much so the sight of him had taken my breath away.

With his three-day stubble, a girl could swoon just looking at him. His hair was much longer, a couple of inches past his collar, but the rich whiskey color was exactly the same as I’d remembered, and I’d wanted to run my fingers through the thick strands.

A quick knock on the door forced me to suck in my breath. When the door was opened quickly, I yanked at the two corners of the towel, uncertain who to expect.

Stone stuck his head in, and immediately his eyes opened wide. For a few seconds, he allowed them to linger before dropping his gaze.

For those same few seconds, I wanted to drop the towel.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I just wanted to make certain you were okay. And to bring you some clothes. Not much, but it’s something you can sleep in.” He extended his arm as if afraid to walk into the tiny room.

“I’m fine, Stone. You can stop worrying about me now.

I can take care of myself. At least usually.

” I took a few tentative steps closer, reaching out for the folded clothes.

When I did, our fingers touched. The burning sensation I’d missed during long, lonely nights returned with throbbing pressure.

My core was on fire, my fingertips seared.

He sucked in his breath as he glanced at my hand, but remained quiet.

With my mouth suddenly dry, I had no idea what to say to him. I clutched the clothes, immediately taking a step back.

He remained transfixed in the doorway, also uncertain what to say.

Even with our reconnected chemistry, tension remained.

There was something entirely different about the way he was looking at me.

Not like the soldier determined to free a woman held hostage, but more emotional.

As if living the same memory over and over again, the once faded black and white images shifting to vivid color.

After he rubbed his face, he cleared his throat.

“Um, when you’re dressed, why don’t you come out into the living room.

There’s some food and drinks. I mean… I mean if you’re up for it.

If not, you can take the bed and rest. We’ll be flying out early in the morning as long as everything goes according to plans. ”

I’d never felt so frozen or awkward around him before. “Okay.” Okay? The man had flown halfway across the world to rescue me against brutal odds without knowing the outcome. He’d made certain I could rest and would be taken to safety and all I could say was ‘okay’?

I placed the clothes on the edge of the sink, rubbing my sweaty palm against the towel. He was watching me, even dragging the tip of his tongue across his lips.

God, they were rosy and looked so soft.

“How’s your bruise?”

I touched my eye, half laughing from nervousness. “It’s getting better.”

“Good.”

“Yes, good.”

He nodded, lingering for a few seconds longer. I couldn’t stand the tension between us. Before I second guessed myself, I closed the distance, stood on my tiptoes, and tried to press my lips against his cheek, but at the same time he moved his head, so our lips collided.

We were both so shocked we didn’t move, but a mere two seconds later, he slipped his hand around to my waist, holding me still as he opened my lips with his. The taste of him was exactly as I remembered, all man with the slight addition of peppermint candy.

My pussy quivered, the intense throb pushing my heart to a rapid beat. When he darted his tongue inside, dozens of sparkling lights floated in front of my eyes.

The feel of his hold was possessive, so strong and caring and I allowed myself to briefly forget about everything else.

The danger.

The uncertainty.

The possibilities.

The fear.

All I wanted to experience was having him close and forgetting all the years that had passed between us.

He dominated my tongue, skittering my heart until it pitter-pattered.

I was lightheaded, no longer able to feel my legs.

This felt more like a fantasy than a cruel reality where nothing in my life could ever be the same.

I pushed him away, fearful where this would go. When I did, I lost hold of the towel. Yet when the terrycloth slipped away, I was still so frozen in the moment I didn’t notice at first.

Until his nostrils flared, his eyes now completely hooded and his chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Shit,” I muttered, heat rising into my face as I dropped down and grabbed it.

“Yeah, shit. I’ll leave you alone,” Stone growled while backing into the hallway. He kept the door open for a few seconds as a different awkwardness hit us both.

As soon as he closed the door, I placed my hand on the surface, turning around and leaning against it.

“What are you doing, Dani?”

There was no logical answer. I had no idea.

After he left, I looked at myself in the mirror once again. Gone was the eighteen-year-old girl who’d believed the world was in the palm of her hand. And that her hero boyfriend would return and sweep her off her feet.

In her place was the woman hardened by years of feeling lonely. I’d dated, even once involved in a rather serious relationship, but we’d gone our separate ways more out of boredom than anything else. No one had measured up to Stone.

My first and possibly only love.

Sadly, I recognized we were two different people.

He’d gone on to serve his country, receiving the highest accolade given to a hero.

I’d paid attention, even if I hadn’t been able to share it with anyone.

After he’d left the service, I’d lost track of him and that had nearly broken me.

It was almost as if he’d died. That’s how much I’d grieved.

But I had to face facts before the hurt rumbled in my heart again.

The one thing I’d learned after so many years of living apart was that you could never look back and have exactly what you’d experienced.

With every step we’d taken over the years, every joy and sorrow, our lives had become different.

We were just two people who no longer knew each other. Even though familiarity was comforting, it provided nothing more than a safe landing spot.

As I glanced at the woman staring back at me, I realized she’d become wise in her old age.