The soft knock drew his attention to the door, and Gillian jumped, even in her sleep. He held her close, tucked under his chin, her head on his chest, to let her know she was okay.
“Yeah,” he called softly.
Dee opened the door. “I see she’s got everything she needs.”
“Everything all right downstairs?”
“The sheriff took Ken a few minutes ago. In addition to the charges for hurting Gillian, he’s wanted in Texas for sexual assault and battery. Bud is downstairs in the library having a drink with Uncle Lumpy.” Dee rolled her eyes at the man’s name. It’s all he’d answer to, so they all went with it. “The sheriff wants to talk to Gillian tomorrow. He needs to know what happened to her while she was alone with Ken. He needs to know if . . .”
“He didn’t rape her.” Blake hadn’t meant to raise his voice. Gillian stirred next to him and wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him to her tighter. He didn’t deserve to have her love him so much. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d failed her. He’d promised to protect her, whether he’d spoken the promise or made it in silence. He and Bud had both promised that this was her home, and she’d be safe here. She and Justin. Today, he hadn’t kept that promise. They had hired a rapist and put Gillian in harm’s way every day that she’d been here with Ken.
Dee read his turmoil. “You couldn’t have known. The background check Bud ran was before the charges were filed. She won’t blame you for what happened, so don’t blame yourself.”
“I promised her she’d be safe here.”
“She is safe here. Ken was a problem waiting to happen. Whatever happened with her and Ken, she handled it. You got to her in time.”
“She shouldn’t have had to handle it!” Blake reined in his rage, brushing his hand down Gillian’s hair to calm her, too.
“You can’t be everywhere. Ken is in jail, where he belongs. He won’t be coming back here to cause trouble.”
“I should have fired him the first day, before he had a chance to fixate on her. He was causing trouble from day one.”
“Shoulda. Coulda. Woulda. We could do that all night. The fact of the matter is Gillian is going to be fine. Give her some credit. She’ll wake up tomorrow morning, talk to the sheriff, and put this all behind her.”
“I brought this all on her.”
“No. You didn’t. Besides, look what she’s gotten from being here. She has a family. She has you.” She waited until Blake looked at her. “She’s wrapped around you like you’re a part of her. She’s wearing your ring. You love each other. She’s happy. You’re going to have a happy life together. You belong together.
“If you want to take credit for the rest, you’ve got to take some credit for the good things that have happened to her. She’s blossomed here. And Justin is a vibrant, happy little boy.”
The words began to sink into Blake’s thick skull.
“You’ll see tomorrow. Gillian won’t blame you. She’s a fighter. If I know my girl, had she been able to fight against Ken, she’d have kicked his ass.”
“Amen to that.” He leaned down and kissed the top of Gillian’s head as her breath lightly whispered over the skin at his throat as she slept. Even in her weakened condition, she’d gotten in her licks. The door closed softly. Dee was right. Gillian wouldn’t blame him for what happened. She loved him.
Chapter 31
Gillian woke him in the predawn hour with hot, openmouthed kisses up his chest and neck to his waiting mouth. She pressed against him and pushed him to his back. She kissed his jaw and lay on top of him. His hands settled on her hips, and she whispered in his ear, “I need you wrapped around me.”
He felt the exact same way. They both needed this closeness and connection. It told him more than any reassurance she gave him last night that she was okay.
Her breasts pressed to his chest and her legs slid against his. Her soft skin felt so good against him. He ran his hands up her back and down again. His splayed fingers cupped her bottom, and he pressed her down snug against his erection. She kissed his neck, then leaned up, grabbed the condom from the side table, and tore it open. In one quick motion, she sheathed him. He slid his hands up her ribs to cover her breasts and she slid forward, then pressed down and took him into her warmth. She kept her body tightly pressed to him and rocked back and forth. That shimmer of desire he’d felt upon waking to her kissing him exploded into an all-consuming need. He liked her as the aggressor, leading him where she wanted him to go. He gripped her hips and held on for the journey.