The pain in his voice ripped Bree apart. He was fighting to keep it inside, but even decades later, the wound was only a scratch away, just underneath his skin that she had thought was so thick. She couldn't even comprehend going through what he had.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she listened to him talk about his sister's last moments. What an imaginable thing for him to witness. Why was he telling her about it? What could she do to make the pain end?
"Apparently there was a pole that came loose. She leaned on it, and fell through. She grabbed another bar, but before anyone could help, she slipped. If I'd been next to her, she'd still be alive today. My mom showed up at her funeral, even managed to force a few tears. She ate up the sympathy from strangers. There was a huge article in the paper and crowds of people flooded the service. I hated them, every single one of them. What right did they have to be there! I was supposed to watch her. The guilt tore me in two. My mom got a huge settlement from the city and took off in the middle of the night. She never looked back and I've never tried to seek her out. After she left, Ray couldn't handle me. I was angry and holding onto so much guilt that I was striking out at him – on everyone."
Bree scooted closer and wrapped her arm around Chad's trembling form. He was in another place at that moment, but he seemed to draw comfort from what she was doing so she stayed pressed against him.
"Ray finally dropped me off at a human services office and I went into foster care. I was tossed from home to home. Nobody wanted to deal with a messed up kid like me. Finally, I ended up in the juvenile courts. That's where I met Mark and Joseph. They saved my life. I was on a path to destroy myself, but they wouldn't let me. They were doing volunteer work and took me under their wing. Mark and I became best friends, and Joseph helped me realize Jackie's death wasn't my fault. I still, to this day, feel responsible, but I know I didn't cause her death. I just never ever want to lose someone again who I'm supposed to watch. Your family feels the same way, Bree. They love you, and if something were to happen to you, it would destroy them," he finished.
His words made Bree feel about two inches tall. She was so blessed, with a family who loved her enough to go out of their way for her, and she was being stubborn. She still needed to prove her independence but she'd accept having her own personal bodyguard without complaining about it.
"I'm sorry," she finally said, feeling the words were inadequate. She knew they couldn't take away the pain, but she felt helpless to do anything more. What did you say to someone when they opened up to you the way he had?
"It was a long time ago. I just wanted you to understand how much your family loves you – and also understand why I can't let anything happen to you. They'd never forgive themselves if those threats against you were real and they did nothing to stop the man. I can't sit back and not give this my all – I've committed to guarding you, and isn't it better to be over-protective than not protective enough. It's all done for the right reasons."
Both of them were silent for a few minutes and Chad finally realized that Bree was practically wrapped around him. The heat of her body was more effective in healing his wounded soul than any amount of therapy he'd gone to, insisted upon by Joseph.
As he closed his eyes and felt the tender touch of her hand caressing his arm, and the press of her rounded breast pushing against his chest, he felt the sorrow always present, ease and instead his body came to life.
He suddenly needed her with a vengeance. He knew she could take away the pain. The touch of her small hands, the feel of her silky skin, the sway of her body. Without thinking it through, he leaned down and his mouth connected with hers.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It was filled with despair and need. He was trying to push away his demons and quench his thirst. Bree paused for only a moment before she was kissing him back with her own hungry need.
Chad's body instantly hardened. He pulled her onto his lap and his hands explored her back, moving along the slender slope of her spine. She moaned into his kiss, igniting fire inside him. He moved his hands below the hem of her shirt and broke the kiss only long enough to pull her shirt off. Then, before either of them could come to their senses, his mouth connected with hers again.
His tongue pushed against the barrier of her lips and slid inside the warm recesses of her mouth. He greedily took all he could from her, but she wasn't a victim. She clawed at his head, tugging him closer to her, groaning into his mouth. He unclasped her bra and tossed it aside, needing to feel her untethered br**sts pressed against him.
He pulled back to shed his own shirt, then pulled her body tightly against his. The feel of her bare br**sts pushing against his chest intensified the ache in his groin. Her ni**les were hard as they pressed against his skin – sending a shudder straight through him.