Finding Chrissten: Legacy, Book 5 by N.J. Walters Page A

shoulders.
    This wasn’t going to work. Hank pushed away from the doorframe and stalked across the room. Her head jerked up, prey sensing the hunter. Her eyes flashed with fear before it turned to determination. This woman amazed him with her inner strength.
    He went down on his knees in front of her and shoved the boxes out of his way to make more room. He took her hands in his, holding them loosely. “Don’t be afraid of me.” He couldn’t bear it if she was.
    She shook her head. “I’m not.”
    “Then look at me.” Great, now he was ordering her around. Way to go, Brewer. That will reassure her and win her over.
    She met his gaze and he stared into her eyes. Damn, they were gorgeous, the blue of a summer’s sky, so soft, so pretty. He could stare at her all day.
    The corners of her lips twitched.
    He was acting like an idiot. He didn’t give a shit. He’d make an idiot of himself all day long if it would lighten her mood and possibly make her smile.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I had to see you,” he answered honestly.
    “From what I’ve heard you’ve seen me every night.”
    Busted. “Yeah. I was watching over you.” He didn’t trust anyone else to do it. Night was when Chrissten was most vulnerable, the time Brian was most likely to attack and try to take her back.
    He tightened his grip on her hands and released them when she flinched. Shit, he had to be more careful with her. He pulled his hands away and sat back on his haunches. He hoped his sitting on the floor would make him appear less threatening.
    She reached out and curled her fingers around one of his hands. He stilled, not wanting to make any kind of move that might cause her to pull away from him. The softness and heat of her hand soaked into his skin. She’d obviously bathed. Not only was she wearing a bathrobe, but her skin smelled like a field of summer flowers with a hint of vanilla. He wanted to eat her up.
    Instead, he slowly raised her hand to his mouth and kissed each finger in turn.
    She swallowed hard, watching his lips. It was a total turn on. His cock throbbed and his balls ached, urging him to take her. He continued to lightly brush his lips over her knuckles. Touching her even this little was better than sex with any other female had ever been.
    “Why did you stay away?”
    The hint of hurt in her question made his chest tighten. He hadn’t meant to make her feel bad. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured. You know, because of our kiss.”
    She lifted her free hand to her mouth and rubbed her fingers over her bottom lip. He sucked in a breath. Every muscle in his body ached to hold her. Shit, he had it bad.
    “I liked it.” She sounded breathless, like she was confessing some deep dark sin.
    The corners of his mouth drew upward. He knew he had a big shit-eating grin on his face and didn’t care. “Me too.” He rubbed his fingers over hers. “Want to try it again?” Please, please, he almost begged aloud. He managed to keep his mouth shut and give her time to consider his proposal.
    “We really shouldn’t.” She took a deep breath and released it. The motion caused the front of her robe to gape slightly. His eyes were drawn to the wide V of the robe, the soft flesh, the hint of a curve from her breasts.
    “We really should.” It would be so good. He licked his lips in anticipation.
    A light blush covered her cheeks again and it struck Hank that Chrissten was still very innocent in spite of her experience. She’d never been courted by a male, never been made to feel special. No, she’d been brutally beaten and raped.
    Fury melded with his very soul and he knew he’d never rest until Brian had paid for what he’d done to Chrissten.
    As though sensing his anger, she drew back slightly. He forced his rage back, concentrating on only Chrissten and the present. Plenty of time to deal with Brian later.
    “This is wrong. Nothing can come from this. I’m mated.” Her words were blunt, her voice toneless.