Caleb stared at her long and hard. She met his gaze with unwavering resolve, willing him to understand, to support her decision to stand strong against Vincent.
“How could I have missed it?” he asked quietly.
“Missed what?”
He slid into the seat next to her, his hard, muscled frame crowding her space as he gathered her against him. His lips pressed against her forehead a second before he tightened his arms around her. “How special you are. You’re an amazing woman, Samantha Quinn,” he whispered close to her ear. “I’ll always be on your side. We’re in this together, Samantha. No matter what.”
Tears sprung in her eyes again and she blinked them back. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me, Caleb.”
He pulled away so she could see his face. He shook his head, his expression sincere. “Wouldn’t even think it.” He brushed a hand over her hair. “I’d slay dragons for you, if you’d let me. You know that, right?”
“There’s no such thing as dragons.” She leaned into him, sank into the protection of his arms. Her guard began to dissolve. She didn’t have to be strong all the time, she’d realized. Not while in the arms of the man she loved. Just for a moment, she could let his strength hold her up, keep her going. Just for a moment.
“It’s getting late.” His lips brushed against hers for a brief moment. “Let’s go home.”
Samantha sighed. There was that word again.
Home.
Chapter 14
All these years…
He’d known Samantha was tough, but damn. Her strength humbled him, made him proud … and more determined than ever to protect her.
The fact that she’d been abused, had been forced to watch as her mother was abused … Caleb rolled his shoulders in an attempt to release the tension that had been building all afternoon. He had the insane desire to find Thomas Quinn and work off a little aggression. Caleb doubted the man would fare as well against someone bigger than him.
And, as if the disgust he felt for Samantha’s father wasn’t enough, he wanted to kick Alec’s ass for not telling him what she’d been through. Then, hug the crap out of him for keeping her safe.
If he hadn’t heard it from Samantha herself, Caleb wasn’t sure he’d have believed it.
It seemed there was a lot he didn’t know about his baby brother. Alec worked hard and played harder, that he knew. There was obviously more to him than hacking and sex. Go figure. He’d have to watch him more carefully in the future, to see just how fooled they all were.
For now though, all of his attention went to the beautiful redhead in the other room.
Caleb stretched his back, twisting from side to side. The unwelcome feel of the tie against his throat made him cringe. He bounced a few times on his shined up, black boots, feeling like a boxer about to enter the ring. His leg ached, but would survive the night without too much trouble. Provided Samantha didn’t have her heart set on dancing the entire night.
He hadn’t lied to Alec. He had this.
As elusive as Matteo had been, this could be his only shot. After Samantha’s bombshell this afternoon, it was even more important that Caleb educate the man as to who he was dealing with.
Samantha was his. Nobody threatened, taunted, or touched what was his.
Period.
He wasn’t sure when it happened, or when he’d come to the conclusion, but now that he had, there was no going back.
“Well, don’t you look handsome?”
Caleb turned, drawn by her sultry voice, and was immediately floored.
“Wow.”
Not very articulate, but it was all his brain could process as Samantha walked into the room. Son of a bitch, she was stunning. The emerald evening gown she wore hugged her curves, accentuating every inch of her womanly figure. A slit ran up her thigh, offering him the slightest tease of skin as she moved.
Her rich, auburn hair fell in irresistible waves, framing her face and tumbling over her bared shoulders. He imagined shoving his fingers through the thick mass and tasting those red-stained lips. From there, he’d kiss down her throat to the valley created by the deep, plunging neckline.
A thin, delicate-looking line of sequins crossed under her breasts and disappeared around her sides. His gaze traveled lower and his hands ached to find out what she was wearing under that gorgeous satin. Or wasn’t wearing.
“How do I look?”
Caleb’s heart pounded in his chest as Samantha turned a slow circle. He growled low in his throat as he checked out her ass. A fine, delectable ass. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened again, yet nothing came out. How could mere words describe the perfection that stood before him?
Like a temptress, she sauntered forward, stopping mere inches from him. Her hands smoothed over the lapels of his jacket and came to rest at his waist. “I do believe I’ve rendered the horseman speechless.”