Tonight hands down was the worst night of her life.

 

Trapped in an elevator, forced to trek through the snow, chased by a rapist, and now this—forced to stay in some strange man's house. Yep, definitely one for the books.

 

Furtively she watched as one of Dorian's large hands reached for the radio knob. The old truck he stole still had a turn style knob radio and a barely functioning heater. Tuning the scratchy frequency, he flipped past a few stations before settling on a new station. The professional voices of a man and woman informed them that the outage was all over Denver affecting various grids and that the storm was expected to last until tomorrow morning.

 

Oh God, she could not last until tomorrow morning with this man.

 

"Umm I appreciate you extending the courtesy of your home to me," Lasette struggled for the right words. "I don't want to be a burden, and I know I can get pretty annoying since I talk a lot. So if you can just drop me off at the nearest hotel that would be fine with me."

 

Steadily guiding the pickup through the slippery streets, Dorian didn't respond immediately. Turning the vehicle down another dark neighborhood, he turned his head from the road giving her a piercing stare. "Look, I was an asshole back there at the station I know that, and I apologize." The wolf gray stare of his seemed to pin her to her seat. "I shouldn't have snapped at you earlier. I messed up and let my frustration get the better of me when I should've been focused on getting us out of there."

 

Without thinking her heart reacted to the man's self-anger, scooting over on the bench seat, she rubbed his shoulder and sympathetic support. "But you did get us out," she gave him a soft smile as she continued to rub his shoulder. "I most likely would still be crying in a dark elevator if I didn't already suffocate."

 

Laughing at her own morbid joke Lasette was a little taken aback to see him give her sharp look at her attempted humor. In this position he was too close, she realized, but she could not move away the intensity of those gray eyes felt like a cobra staring down a rabbit. Giving her a knowing smirk, as if reading her mind on how defenses he made her feel, he leaned back in the seat with one hand casually resting on the wheel.

 

"You won't find a hotel room tonight," It really annoyed her how he said everything with such confidence as if he knew he was always correct, but it really annoyed her how the deep velvety depth of his voice seemed to draw her in like a magnetic pull. "Everyone will have the same idea. So not only would you have a difficult time driving from one hotel to the next looking for vacancies, if you do happen to find one I can guarantee you will be paying top shelf price for a low-budget accommodation."

 

Sighing she wrapped her coat around herself tighter from the brisk wind seeping in from the window behind her as she contemplated her next move. "Do you ever get tired of being right?"

 

Dorian laughed, the rare smile looked so good on his normally stern face Lasette didn't trust herself to speak, afraid she'll somehow ruin it.

 

Of course, the smile didn’t last long.

 

Cursing under his breath, Dorian slowed down as he gently rolled the big truck through the quiet pitch black neighborhood. Pulling into the driveway at the last house on the dead-end street he parked the vehicle leaving it running.

 

They both stared at the dark house.

 

"Well that figures," Dorian grumbled. "Wait here."

 

Taking his gun from his lap, Dorian got out of the vehicle and made his way inside by the light of his flashlight. Silently she watched the glare of his bouncing light pass by the windows as he walked throughout the house. Minutes later he came back outside waving through the blizzard winds for her to get out. Following him inside the dark house Lasette blinked a few times as her vision adjusted to the new darkness. The entrance seemed to open up to a large A-frame room that consisted of the living room and kitchen. The only shred of light entering the cavernous room was the nocturnal light from the large set of windows along the far wall.

 

A thought struck her suddenly, she didn't really know anything about this man. Here she was standing defenseless, cold, and scared in some man's empty dark house. She wasn't even sure exactly how they got there, all she knew was that he lived south of downtown. Lost in her escalating thoughts, she nervously stood by the door as he moved off into the darkness.

 

"I have a generator in the garage," she could hear his deep voice clearly through the quiet darkness. "It won't power the whole house but we can at least power the fridge and other essentials."

 

Hearing a door open in the distance she listened to his footsteps leave the room as he retrieved the generator. Taking a deep breath, Lasette tried to reason with her thoughts. Dorian wouldn't hurt her; why would he save her life twice only to hurt her now? Although he was a large man, immediately the stray thought ignited her imagination and pictured him attacking her. Her hands went clammy at the thought. The storm gray eyes filled with lust and hate, she wouldn't stand a chance.

 

No dammit, this was ridiculous she never would've thought of such a terrible thing if it hadn't been for those two guys chasing her earlier.

 

Noise from across the room startled her back from her thoughts.

 

The light of the flashlight appeared again this time settling on her. "Lasette, while you still standing in there?" She was still standing stone still by the doorway. "Here," he pointed the light stream to the far side of the room illuminating a large brown sectional. "There is the couch. There won't be anything in your way so you can…"

 

The tears started before she could suppress them, releasing a torrent of pent-up stress. "I'm so scared," Lasette could hear the sound of her voice thick and constrained from her tears, breathing deeply, she tried to stop them. Nervously trying to compose herself she accidentally took a step backward bumping into the front door behind her. "I've never been this scared before Dorian. I keep telling myself I can trust you." She could see the light from his flashlight bob up and down as he walked closer, the extreme darkness making him just the outline in the shadows. "I know you have only looked out for me, but I can't stop thinking… I'm so sorry Dorian."

 

The shadowy figure stopped directly in front of her, the light from his flashlight lit up their feet. The gentle pressure of his hand on her shoulder tempted her body to fold into his, to lean into his strength.

 

"It's okay. I understand," his normally rough baritone voice felt like warm silk surrounding her in its dark confines pulling her closer. "It's only natural to feel that way after tonight." She wasn't sure if it was the grip on her shoulder or her seeking need for comfort that Lasette found herself leaning into his powerful frame. His hand slid to the center of her back slowly rubbing soothing strokes pressing her closer. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious."

 

"But that is just it, it isn't caution it’s fear. I feel like I've been running scared all night," she looked up at him but could only see the faintest outline of his face. Not sure she was making any sense she stepped back from his warmth. "I don't know… I can’t explain it… Maybe am just tired."

 

Though she stepped back, Dorian still maintained contact between them. Sliding his hand from her shoulder and down her arm he wrapped his hand around hers.

 

"I won't hurt you Lasette," his voice lowered impossibly so. "The very opposite in fact, I only want to keep you safe."

 

With her throat tight with suppressed tears all she could do was nod. She felt terrible that she doubted him.

 

"Here," he reached in his back pocket taking out his wallet. "Give me your phone."

 

Not really sure what he was going to do Lasette pulled her phone from her bag and handed it over.

 

"You said one of your Navy SEAL brothers is named Corey right?"

 

Thoroughly confused she nodded. Leaning over she watched him scroll down her list of contacts until he reached her brother's name. Using her camera, he flashed a picture of his driver’s license and sent it to her brother.

 

"There," he handed her back her phone before tugging her by the hand towards the couch. "When you get your signal back the message will go through, and you will have someone you know and trust know where you are."

 

Guilt lanced through her. "You didn't have to do that. I'm sorry…"

 

"You don't have to apologize. I told you I understand." Leaving her near the sofa Lasette watched him walk back to the far side of the room.

 

"Can I at least help? She asked, wanting desperately to make some sort of amends.

 

"Sure."

 

"Okay, what can I do?" Stepping forward prepared to help with whatever.

 

"Sit and relax," he replied simply.

 

Deflated she slowly walked around the large sectional and sat down. The sound of his movements began to wash over her in a lull as the soft cushions beneath her reminded her body of its long stressful day.

 

 

 

Yanking the ripcord Dorian was relieved to hear the generators motor roar to life. Hooking up the extension cable he ran the cable from the patio to the kitchen. Plugging in the fridge, he ran another cable to a simple floor lamp he took from his bedroom. Soft yellow light poured from the kitchen and softly touched the darkness of living area.

 

There was no response to the faint light.

 

Turning back towards the couch Dorian frowned at the silence, he was quickly learning to be alarmed when she was quiet.

 

Only seeing the top of her head against the sofa, Dorian quickly leaned over the back to get a better look. Tucked against the corner of the couch Lasette was fast asleep still bundled in her hat, gloves, and coat. She looked so soft and fragile. She reminded him of one of those tiny birds that hopped delicately around picking up food; energetic, beautiful, and sweet. She was everything he didn't deserve but everything he craved. Her personality crashed against the rocks of his with an almighty force letting him savor the cool refreshing spray against his face. Not for the first time that night he found himself mesmerized by her. Though he damn near blew it earlier. Studying her sleeping face, he remembered watching her angrily argue with him at the station. Regret never hit him so fast like it did tonight after seeing her hurt face at his anger, he was just so focused on getting her warm and dry he lost his patience.

 

Silently he walked around the sofa. Just a few hours ago she had stared daggers at him with those gentle honey colored eyes before stomping away from him to make her own way to the police station. It was absurd, never in his life did he feel like shaking someone as much as he wanted to pin her against a nearby wall and see what else her sweet plump lips could do besides talk.

 

The muscles in his jaw clenched when he thought of her scared face tonight. When he followed her back, he planned on grabbing the truck and quickly scooping her up, but the little songbird seemed to attract trouble much faster than he anticipated and certainly faster than he could hotwire a car. When he heard the men’s voices echo off the walls, Dorian could still feel the adrenaline slam through him as he ran through the snow in their direction. Dorian would have given any amount to follow those two pieces of shit down a dark alley, but he couldn't take that risk with Lasette. He let them live, but he remembered their faces.

 

Quietly he stepped away.

 

Using his flashlight, he gathered some items from his bedroom.

 

"Dorian?" The soft call of his name echoed throughout the empty living room.

 

"I'm here." Walking from the bedroom, he stopped next to the couch.

 

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep," she laughed, her tired eyes looked around embarrassed, avoiding his gaze.

 

He was more focused on her shivering. Though the house was nowhere near as cold as it was outside it was still dangerously cold especially considering her thin wet clothes she had on underneath her large fur coat.

 

"You need to get warm," motioning her to follow him, Lasette followed him to what she figured was the master bedroom.

 

Just like the living room the large master suite was virtually empty except for a large four-poster bed in the middle of the large room and a tall chest of drawers to the side. The dark spartan room looked haunting and somehow lonely with its high ceilings and double French doors that looked over a large frosty pond. From what little she could see out the dark windows the wind was still blowing millions of white flurries dangerously strong all but covering the patio deck in a huge pile of snow.

 

"I just checked there is plenty of hot water, and I set a change of clothes out for you in the bathroom along with a small lantern."

 

Her immediate thought was to politely decline, but she was so cold it hurt to even move and she also knew that the domineering man would shut down any argument she presented.

 

Nodding she stepped forward and stopped. The bathroom had no door. Turning back to face him she was just about to comment as he spoke.

 

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." He gave her an apologetic half smile that did nothing to soften his naturally stern face. Lasette found herself wishing to see his real smile again. "I took the door off when I moved in because it would stick and the other bathrooms are under construction as well."

 

Ah, so that explained it. That must be why there was so little furniture in the large house. "When did you move in?" She asked.

 

Walking to the bedroom door, he put his hand on the doorknob as he answered. "About six months ago." He paused giving her a waiting look, but she was too stunned by his answer to say anything. "I'll be in the living room." Closing the door behind him.

 

Lasette stood alone in the pitch black room for a moment before following the faint yellow glow from the bathroom. The bathroom like the other rooms in the house was just as plane and empty. Smiling she thought of his reaction if he saw her apartment. Colorful accent walls, tons of plants, and bright accent rugs might make him run for the hills.

 

Eyeing the doorless doorway that opened to the dark void of his bedroom she reminded herself that she had nothing to fear from Dorian. Setting her gym bag on the counter she said a prayer of thanks when she found her clean, spare underwear tucked in a side pocket. Starting the water, she stripped and stepped into the shower. The hot water hit her frigid skin like needles, but it felt glorious. Using some of the body wash she had in her gym bag her fingers slipped against the slick bottle dropping it to the tiled floor with a loud bang. Hoping Dorian didn't hear she quickly resumed lathering herself.

 

 

Putting another log on the fire, Dorian heard the clashing sound come from the bedroom. His mind didn't take the time to rationalize the sound, he wasn't trained for that. Reaction, quick and decisive that was the key to staying alive. Mass outages, severe weather, riots all were the breeding ground for the criminal opportunist. Breaking into a big house on a night like this while the police were stretched thin wouldn't be unheard of.

 

Quietly he slipped into the room.

 

Only the sound of the shower running disturbed the silent darkness of the room. Nothing was out of order. Scanning the room again he let his gaze fall into the dimly lit bathroom. The shower was directly ahead of the bathroom doorway allowing him a full undisturbed view of its occupant. The dim yellow glow from the lantern was a godsend. The weak light illuminated the tiny space just enough while leaving the darkness of the bedroom untouched.

 

Dorian could feel his pulse quicken as he watched her through the glass shower door. He should be feeling guilt, he wasn't. He should be turning away, he didn't.

 

He told her she could trust him—he should not have.