She bolted up in bed, screaming and crying. Before she knew what was happening, Dev was there, pulling her into his arms. “Kate, love, what’s the matter? Are you hurt?” She couldn’t speak, sobs racking her body.
“Talk to me, love. What happened?” She continued to weep on his shoulder, soaking his shirt. “Kate, please. Talk to me. You’re scaring me.”
“Th-They h-have her tied d-down. L-like, l-like an animal. I think she might have b-been, been—”
“Who? What are you talking about, love? Did you have another dream?” He held her trembling body tightly.
“I think she might have been r-raped.”
“Ah, Jesus. Sarah?”
“Yes. I don’t know if she’s even alive!” She sobbed even harder.
“It’s okay, Kate. It’s going to be okay.”
Dev held her until she started to calm. A short time later, a soft knock came at the door. Dev answered. “Come in.”
“Your tea, sir.”
He nodded toward the nightstand. Leo set down the tea and quietly left the room. Dev continued to stroke her back, whispering reassuring words in her ear. “Here, love, have some tea.”
She sat back and took the cup he handed her. How did Leo know a cup of tea was just the thing she needed? He must have heard her scream.
“Thanks.”
“Tell me what you saw, Kate. Try to remember all of the details, okay?”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t think about it.”
Dev put his finger under her chin and gently lifted it so their eyes met. “Kate, I know this is hard and I’m so sorry. I wish you didn’t have to go through this. I would do anything to take it away. Anything. But you have a very special gift. One that I think will help us find Sarah. And the others. And the son-of-a-bitch that took them.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Please, tell me what you saw.”
She took a deep breath. “O-okay.” The horrible words tumbled out and she told him everything she could remember.
“Were there any other people in the room? Could you see a window or anything that would tell us where she’s being held?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t remember seeing anyone else in the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off her to see anything else. I’m sorry. I’m not much help.”
“It’s okay, love.” He took the tea and set it back down on the nightstand. He lay down on the bed and pulled her to him, settling her into his side. Her head lay in the crook of his shoulder. “Go back to sleep, love. I’ll be right here.” He kissed her temple and gently stroked her back.
As much as she didn’t want to accept his comfort, his kindness, she simply couldn’t turn it away. It felt too good. He felt too good.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For staying with me.”
“No thanks necessary, love. Honestly, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
Chapter 21
Kate
Kate woke up with a hard body spooning behind her and a steel arm around her waist. What the…? It took her a minute to clear the morning fog from her brain and remember where she was. And who shared her bed. When she did, a plethora of feelings ran through her. The fear and sadness she felt for Sarah. The comfort and safety she felt in Dev’s arms. Lust and desire for the man who held her tightly against his chest burned through every cell. She could feel the evidence of his desire for her pressing against her backside as well.
Dev nuzzled her neck and lightly bit her earlobe, letting it slip gently through his teeth. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” She looked over her shoulder to see him staring hungrily into her eyes. It was a look he had often, but she could hardly get used to the fact it was for her.
“How did you sleep after your dream?”
“Good, actually. Dreamless.”
“I’m glad.” His eyes flicked back and forth between her eyes and her lips. He closed the short distance between them to kiss her and she quickly threw her hand over her mouth to stop him. He frowned at her.
“Morning breath,” she mumbled.
He reached up and removed her hand. “I don’t give a shit about morning breath, love. I want to kiss you. Now.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He held her head in place and took her lips in a hot, heated kiss, invading her mouth with his tongue, exploring every inch of it. She moaned and turned to face him fully, bodies glued together from chest to thigh. She wound her arms around his neck and tilted her head for a better angle to attack his lips. His hard length was pressing into her stomach and she reveled in her feminine power to bring a man like Dev to such an aroused state.