Shadow of Sin(14)

His head snapped around, his gaze directed at the door to her room. Sweet fuck, she didn’t just…

Oh yeah, he was in the worst kind of hell.





Chapter 4

Samantha bolted up in bed, her heart pounding. Her gaze roamed the room in panic, searching for something, anything, familiar. She put her face in her hands and took a deep breath as the memories of last night returned.

Daylight was muted beyond the tempered windows and sheer curtains and for that, she was grateful. She couldn’t deal with the sun in her eyes right now. She reached for her phone to check the time. She’d only been asleep for a couple of hours.

Samantha didn’t know why she’d woken so suddenly. It could’ve been the desert wasteland that was inside her mouth or … a noise pulled her gaze to the door. Or, it could have been that.

She froze, feeling the deep, guttural shout in the pit of her stomach. What the —? The back of her neck itched with uncertainty, but in the end, her curiosity and the need to check on Caleb won out.

She eased from the bed and slipped her panties on. She shivered as the silk hugged her pussy, reminding her of the incredible orgasm she’d had … as well as who she’d imagined giving her that release.

She really should get out of here. Being in this close proximity to Caleb, when she’d been so long without a man between her thighs, was not a good thing. Every time she’d looked at Caleb, she’d wanted to run her hands over the scruff on his cheeks, nibble on the muscles that corded his neck, and have his firm, delectable lips on hers.

Yeah, once she made sure he was okay, she was so out of here.

Samantha crept from the room and came to an abrupt halt. Shades had been drawn, shrouding the room with a dimness she hadn’t expected. Soft light emanated from a lamp next to the couch, allowing her to see enough not to stub her toes on the furniture.

She hadn’t taken much time to look around earlier, but she’d admit the place had a comfortable, homey feel. Her fingers trailed across the back of the couch, its leather cool and soft. Nothing like its owner. There was nothing cool or soft about Caleb Martin. He was all hot temper and hard edges. Tough and unbending.

A quick scan around and she spotted him in his room. Clad only in a pair of shorts, Caleb sat on the edge of his bed, his head cradled in his hands. Even from where she stood, she could see he was breathing hard. The wide expanse of his shoulders rose and fell with each inhalation.

As if drawn by an invisible string, she padded closer.

A sheen covered his tanned skin, giving him a glow in the warm light that streamed in from the windows. He had a bandage on his arm, reminding her that he’d not come out of their adventure unscathed any more than she had.

He dragged his fingers through his hair with a frustrated growl, making her heart hurt for him.

Had he had a nightmare? She’d heard most soldiers who’d seen combat suffered the affliction. She didn’t know the details of his service—she didn’t know the details of his life, period. What she did know about him wouldn’t fit in a paper cup. But, she’d seen the torment he tried so hard to hide.

Torment she’d yearned to help alleviate, if only for a little while.

Changing her course, Samantha went to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge. She couldn’t walk away without doing something. He looked so lost. As alone as she’d felt earlier. No one should feel that alone.

He’d never accept comfort. Not from her. He’d more likely tell her to fuck off than to accept anything from her. Better she turn the tables, make him think she was the one who needed comfort. She could suck up her pride. It was a small price to pay to help someone she cared about. And like it or not, she did care about him. Too much for her own good.

“Caleb?”

His chest rumbled. “What do you want, Samantha? You should be sleeping.”

She approached him carefully, stopping to lean against the archway that served to separate his bedroom from the living room. The man really didn’t like to be closed in. She waved the water bottle at him. “So should you.”

He looked up and her heart seized. Pain unlike anything she’d ever seen flashed in his eyes before he blinked it away. “Go back to bed.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Can’t sleep.” She plopped down next to him and offered him the water.

“Try.” He took the bottle and got up, giving her a fine view of his ass as he went to stare out the window.

“I never sleep well in new places.”

He snorted but offered no reply, so she tried again.

“Every time I closed my eyes, I’d hear those horrifying gun shots.”

Caleb head snapped around, disbelief evident in his expression. She shuddered, as if afraid, then blinked a few times for good measure. He obviously wasn’t buying her act.