Chapter 44
[ 497 words ]
Chapter 44:
Jarrod was not asleep. He was a soldier; he had been resting in a state of hyper-vigilant shallow sleep, acutely aware of every breath she took.
The moment the mattress shifted, his eyes snapped open.
In the dim light from the window, he watched as Caroline turned toward him.
She didn’t stop. She kept moving, sliding across the sheets until her body collided softly with his side.
Jarrod’s entire body went completely rigid. His breath caught in his throat.
Caroline let out a long, contented sigh. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, her soft cheek pressing against the exposed skin of his throat. Her right arm flopped over his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his white shirt. Finally, she threw her right leg over his thighs, effectively pinning him down.
She was clinging to him like a koala to a tree.
Jarrod stared at the ceiling, his heart suddenly hammering a frantic, heavy rhythm against his ribs. The sensation of her soft, warm body pressed flush against his hard muscles was absolute torture.
His first instinct, honed by years of discipline, was to push her away. He raised his left hand, his fingers hovering over her shoulder.
But then, Caroline let out another soft sigh. The deep crease of anxiety between her eyebrows, which had been there since she fell asleep, completely smoothed out. She snuggled closer, burying her nose into his scent, finding the absolute safety she was desperate for.
𝘈d𝘥𝗂𝘤𝗍𝘪𝗏e 𝗌𝘵o𝘳𝗶e𝘴 𝘰n 𝘨а𝗅ո𝗈𝗏els.𝗰о𝗆
Jarrod’s hand stopped in mid-air.
He looked down at her peaceful face. A profound, overwhelming wave of protectiveness crashed over him, drowning out his discipline.
He slowly lowered his left arm and wrapped it securely around her waist. He pulled her flush against his side, tucking her head under his chin, absorbing her entirely into his space.
He buried his face in her messy hair, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. He closed his eyes, and for the first time in his life, the demons in his head went completely silent.
He pressed his lips against her forehead in a long, lingering kiss.
Hours passed. The storm raged and finally died, leaving behind a quiet, rain-washed morning.
Pale sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting thin, golden stripes across the bed.
Caroline’s eyelashes fluttered. The heavy fog of sleep slowly began to lift.
She felt incredibly warm. She was wrapped around the most comfortable, solid pillow she had ever felt. It was firm, radiating a deep, soothing heat.
She stretched her legs, her bare foot sliding against something rough and warm.
Her brain stalled.
She nuzzled her face deeper into the warmth, her nose brushing against smooth, hot skin. She inhaled deeply. Cedarwood.
Caroline’s eyes snapped open.
Her vision focused on an expanse of tanned, muscular chest, exposed by a white dress shirt that had come completely unbuttoned during the night. She saw the sharp, defined line of a collarbone.
A jolt of pure, unadulterated panic electrocuted her nervous system.
She slowly, agonizingly tilted her head up.
She found herself staring directly into Jarrod Romero’s dark gray eyes.
.
.
.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.