Page 48 of Ramshackle
Chapter fourteen
Raegan
Heat, like asphalt ona sunny day, warms my cheek down to my feet. It wraps tightly around me like a heated blanket until even the air I breathe is thick with warmth.
Too tight, I realize, when I attempt to move and fail.
My senses jump into overdrive while I’m gripped with panic at what new torture Gordon has in store for me this time. My eyes flip open to darkness. But when I draw a deep breath, the smell of musk and motor oil soothes the building frenzy.
Kellan.
I’m not with Gordon anymore.
I’m in my room in the bunker where I’ve been recuperating the last couple of days.
I’m safe.
Now that I know it’s awhorather thanwhatwrapped around me, I shove at him where my hands are trapped between us. “Back up,” I tiredly grumble when he still doesn’t budge. “Kell, it’s too hot.You’retoo hot.”
Wait…is he…?
Kellan grunts and shifts, though his arms remain firm in keeping me against what I’ve now realized is his exposed chest. “Mmm…thank you, beautiful.” His deep, baritone voice rumbles above me and vibrates through his chest. “I think it would be a hard toss-up between the two of us on who’s the hottest, though. I can’t take all the credit.”
I roll my eyes and a small smile threatens to break free, but I hold it back to focus on what I’ve just realized is happening here.
“Why are you in my bed?” I pull my head back as far as I’m able until he gets the hint to loosen his hold enough so I can look at his face. His blue-green eyes twinkle at me with the roguish grin that’s soKellan, I can’t help the visceral heat that swims through my veins at the sight of it.
“I climbed in to rescue you.” I frown in confusion, and he continues, “Trying to wake you up didn’t work, and you were thrashing about so much that you were going to hurt yourself. I had to hold you to get you to calm down, and then you looked too comfortable to move.”
“Oh,” I reply softly, pulling my gaze away from his and back to his chest. It’s nothing new for me to get nightmares, though I’ve never had anyone with me when it happens. I’d been able to keep it private, usually with alcohol and sex, on the nights I shared a bed with someone. It’s a vulnerable side to me that I’d hoped to keep to myself.
I gnaw on my lower lip.
Kellan brings my face to his. “What’s wrong?” His dark brows are pinched with concern as he studies my expression.
I hurriedly blink away anything he might read. “It’s nothing. Thanks for…that.” My hands unfurl to push at his chest and bring more space between us. “But I’m fine now, so you can let me go.”
His other arm jerks me back against him. “No,” he growls. “This is the first time I’ve been able to hold you since…” Kell tightens his hold again, although this time, it means my face gets closer to his instead of his chest. His countenance turns serious. “I swore to never let you go, and you still ran from me. Twice.”
I wince at the reminder. “Kell, it wasn’t—”
“I don’t need that,” he interrupts. “I know why you did it. I know that was your way of trying to protect us. But you forget that I don’t need protecting.”
I open my mouth to argue but the look he has compels me to snap it shut. He cups the side of my face, stilling the breath in my lungs.
“How many times will I need to chase you until you realize I’m not going anywhere?”
My heart squeezes until I think it’ll burst in my chest. I swallow the emotion clogging my throat down, forcing a light smirk onto my lips instead. “Maybe one more time,” I tease softly, trying to shift the mood away from getting too serious.
Kellan raises a single brow, but his lips spread open to a wide grin. “Run all you like, beautiful. I enjoy the chase. Just promise me to stay the fuck away from GE from now on.”
My smile drops. “You know I can’t do that,” I huff. “I can’t take them down by staying away from them.”
His grin sharpens, taking over his face in a dangerous flash of teeth that reminds me more of a feral animal than a human. His hand collars my throat, grasping it enough that I know he can feel the sudden acceleration of my heart rate in response.
I’ve noticed that three of the four guys in this group have a certain fixation with my throat. Not that I’m complaining.
I love it.
