Just One Touch (Slow Burn #5)(103)

He was begging and pleading and didn't give one damn who saw. He ignored the others as they surveyed the carnage of Jaysus's earlier rage.

Jenna finally lifted eyes filled with so much grief and devastation to Isaac that he wanted to die right on the spot.



       
         
       
        

"He k-killed them," she wept, gesturing at the bodies that were still fresh, rigor not having set in yet. "And he wouldn't let me heal them. He wanted me to see them die and all I wanted was to see him die," she whispered as if confessing a great sin.

Isaac cradled her gently in his arms and then shakily stood to his feet, determined to get her out of this room of horrors. The stench of blood and so much death clung to his nostrils, and he wanted nothing more than for both of them to be cleaned of the whole experience.

Shadow waited until they were outside the door, and then he stopped Isaac and tucked his hand beneath Jenna's cheek. "Look at me, angel face," he said gently.

When she reluctantly lifted her gaze to his, he leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her forehead. "Not a single person blames you for wanting to see him die or for being the one to kill him. He drew and would have shot Isaac. You saved Isaac's life as well as your own. Don't know how the hell you managed to get the upper hand, little bit-hell, you didn't even need us-but I'd sure as hell love to hear the story sometime when you're up to it."

She offered him a shaky smile. "Maybe one day. Right now I just want to go home." She glanced up at Isaac, a pleading look in her eyes. "Can you just take me home now? To our home? Please?"

If he hadn't been holding her in his arms, his knees would have given out in that moment and he would have face-planted on the floor in relief. After failing her time and time again, all she'd asked was for him to take her home. To their home.

"Baby, you don't even have to ask me for a damn thing that's in my power to give you," Isaac vowed. "There's nothing I'd love more than to take you home so you can rest in my arms for as long as you need. Always whatever you need. I'll give everything I own to make you happy, my angel."





THIRTY-TWO

ISAAC carried Jenna into his bedroom, in his house, marveling that he could finally bring her home-to their home-instead of having to move her from safe house to safe house because of the constant source of threats she was forced to live under.

She was already sound asleep in his arms, having succumbed to exhaustion halfway into the ride home. He gently laid her down and very carefully removed the clothing that still had blood on it, anger building all over again as he examined the bruises on her small body from the repeated blows Jaysus had given her.

Her poor little face was swollen on one side and a dark bruise covered one cheek. He bent to kiss it, unable to control himself. In the morning, he'd draw a bath and wash away every last memory of this night and of the bastard who'd terrorized her, and he would wait on her hand and foot every single day until he was satisfied she was fully recovered. 

Stepping back, he stripped off his own clothing and after hesitating to leave her even for the briefest of moments, he ducked into the bathroom to take the world's fastest shower, because he wouldn't taint their bed or her with so much as a drop of the blood on his clothes and skin.

He strode back into the bedroom in the act of toweling himself dry and then dropped the towel and rushed to the bedside, sliding beneath the covers to wrap his arms around her when he heard her pained whimpers that whispered past her lips in her dreams.

He held her tightly, running his hands up and down her body, kissing her hair, her face, whispering his love for her, telling her he'd always love her and protect her with his last breath.

After a moment, she quieted and he relaxed, curling himself completely around her so that no part of her wasn't surrounded by him. He had nearly drifted off in the heaven of her body when the nightmares began again, and this time she began weeping softly in her sleep.

His heart breaking, he kissed away every tear as soon as it slid from her eyes. Then he began talking to her, telling her all over again of his love for her and that he'd never allow her to hurt again.

Each time he soothed her, she immediately settled, but it wasn't long before she became lost in the throes of another nightmare, convinced she was still in hell. She called out his name, over and over, and he was in agony that nothing he seemed to do could rouse her from the horrible things happening to her in her dreams. He finally broke down and cried with her, because it tore his heart apart to think she was so desperately calling for him and thought he wasn't there or that he wasn't coming for her.