Nate took another cautious step closer, not wanting to push Macy over the edge she tilted on. “You’re not a murderer, you’re a victim. You were protecting yourself and no one blames you for that.”
“Yes, they do. You saw the news. They’re going to hunt me down and take me back.” Her voice had risen to panicked levels.
Another step. “I promise that isn’t going to happen.”
“How do you know that? I committed a crime, I deserve to be punished.”
“No, you didn’t and no, you don’t. Don’t you think you’ve been enough already?”
She shook her head. “I’m home. How is that being punished?”
The edge she tottered on crumbled a little more beneath her feet. He hated seeing her like this, but knew this had to happen in order for her to move on.
“Oh, God.” She whispered, her eyes distant, seeing things he couldn’t. Experiencing the horrors she’d suffered all over again as her mind let go of the trauma. “Oh, God.”
Her legs buckled and he swept her up before she hit the floor. Her whole body trembled against his, her breath coming in pants. She fisted her hands in his shirt. “What’s happening?”
Nate held her close, wanting more than anything to take her pain away, to bear her burdens for her. “Let it go, sweetie.” He said.
Macy fought against him, her small fists pounding his chest. “No! I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I can’t let them win.”
Nate tightened his arms around her, stopping her fighting. Anger rode him hard. He hated what Diakameli had done to his family and the pain he continued to inflict.
“They didn’t win.” He reassured her. “You survived, Macy. You beat them.”
She wilted against him, her face buried in his chest. “No, I didn’t. I can’t forget what they did. I dream about it. I remember it when I don’t want to.”
“That’s normal, sweetie. Once you let it go, they will no longer have power over you. Tell me what they did to you.”
The wall crumbled and she fell. Her words came in a rush, tripping over one another as she purged the horrors she’d endured. Nate dropped to his knees, the burden more than he’d expected, then to the floor and cradled her in his arms, rocking back and forth in comfort.
Macy cried for the first time since he’d met her. She screamed. She fought. And all the while he held her, listening and hurting for her.
By time she finished, night had fallen and they sat in the dark, with only the gentle lap of water against the boat and Macy’s uneven breathing filling the room.
When she relaxed against him, as if the energy drained out of her, he rose to his feet and carried her to the bedroom. He lay her down on the bed and climbed in beside her. With his arms wrapped around her, he let her sleep, her words tormenting him. It was a miracle she’d survived. By avoiding she’d been able to survive. But now that the dam had broken she was in for a long journey to wellbeing.
And he planned to be at her side every step of the way. He could no longer deny it. He’d fallen for her and he didn’t want to let her go.
Ever.
****
Macy opened her eyes to warm morning sunlight shining through the bedroom window. Next to her, Nate slept soundly, his arm around her waist. Everything from last night came rushing back and she squeezed her eyes shut. She’d told Nate everything. Like floodgates being opened; she’d purged everything she’d worked so hard to forget. Things she thought she’d had under control. Obviously, she’d been delusional because it all came pouring out and she hadn’t been able to stop it.
Now, she felt wrung out and renewed all at the same time. Nate had held her, rocked her, and listened while she told him her secrets. He didn’t judge, nor try to fix it. He’d done exactly what she needed him to do and fortified her feelings for him. He was like no man she’d ever known. He seemed to know what she needed even before she did. He knew her. Inside and out. In almost every way a man could a woman. There was only one place he hadn’t reached and she wanted to let him in. Completely.
Before she left.
Rolling over, she pressed a kiss to his lips. Before she knew it, he had awoken and rolled her beneath him, taking possession of the kiss. Hungry, their hands roamed each other’s body, removing the barrier of clothes and all that gorgeous, tanned, muscled body covered hers. He traced a fiery path down her neck to her breasts. When he took a nipple into his mouth her back arched in pleasure.
Her body was ready for him. More than she’d ever wanted anyone in her life. This felt different. It wasn’t just sex.
They were making love and it nearly brought tears to her eyes. She’d found the man for her and she could never have him.
Nate rose over her, spread her legs with his and slid inside her. Slow. Languid. Pleasure exploded through her. He felt so good. So right. She never wanted this to end. But then he began moving inside her and all thought fled. All she could focus on was this moment, how he made her feel. And right now, she felt like coming apart.
His pace increased. Her fingers scraped over his shoulders, pulling him closer.
“Please, Nate.” She murmured.
He gave her what she wanted, thrusting deep, hitting just the right spot to make her come apart in a shatter of waves that never seemed to stop.
And afterwards, he held her close while she cried in his arms. Not because that had been the single most incredible experience of her life, but because it would never happen again.
****
Nate opened his eyes to bright sunlight shining through the window. He felt sated and rested. Better than he’d felt in a long time.
And he owed it to the beautiful, strong woman next to him. He hadn’t been able to stop himself last night. He’d wanted her for so long. To say he’d had the best sex of his life was an understatement. Part of him didn’t want to admit he’d fallen for his charge, the other part wanted to celebrate. Now, he knew what Quinn had gone through with Avery. Understood the difficulty his brother had experienced trying to avoid his feelings. Like it or not, he’d done the exact same thing and damn if he didn’t care. All he wanted was Macy. Forever.
He rolled over to wake her in the best way possible, only to find her side of the bed empty. With a frown, he sat up and reached for his clothes. He wandered through the house in search of her, but she was nowhere to be found. Then he discovered the note on the kitchen counter.
Dearest Nate,
By time you wake and find this, I’ll have gone. I love you and I won’t put your family in jeopardy because of what I did. I have to keep them safe. I must save you. Please, don’t come find me. This is the only way we can be free.
Thank you for everything—especially loving me. I will cherish it forever.
All my love,
Macy
Nate let the paper drop from his hand. She’d left him. Thought she was protecting him and his family by disappearing.
Shit.
Didn’t she know the only safe place for her was here with him? That only him and his brothers could protect her?
Dammit. He should have told her that Shea had taken care of the bounty on her head and faked her death. He’d wanted to tell her last night but with everything they went through there hadn’t been an opportunity. Now she was gone and he had no idea where to start looking.
But he knew one person who did. And he’d be damned if he let Macy go. Not when he’d only just found her.
****
“Damn, she ran?”
Nate nodded at his brother and Avery, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “She left me a note telling me not to look for her. She thinks she’s doing the right thing.”
Avery rubbed her forehead. “That sounds like her. She believes by leaving she’s protecting all of us from being caught in the crossfire.”
“Just tell me where to start looking.”
“She’s erratic right now. Dealing with what she’s been through. I know the feeling. It consumes you.”
Quinn put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “She couldn’t have gotten too far without a vehicle.”
Avery nodded. “Right. She would probably access her bank accounts like I did and call for a cab.” She looked at Quinn. “I only made it to the end of the road.”
“I’ll be back.” Nate said, sprinting from the room. He jumped in his Jeep and tore off down the road.
His cell rang and he answered with a clipped, “Wolff.”
“It’s done. Macy is officially deceased. I faxed the paperwork to your office.”
“Thanks, Shea.”
“Anytime. Nate?”
“Yeah?”
“Is Kell doing okay?”
“I’m not getting in the middle of that. I appreciate the help but I’m not trading my brother for information.”
“I understand.”
The line went dead and he tossed the phone on the seat. Kell really needed to get shit straight with Shae. They needed closure. Hell, they all did.
Macy wasn’t at the end of the road so he turned towards town and gunned it. About a mile down he saw her limping on the side of the road. He sped in front of her and skidded to a stop. She froze, lips pursed.
“Don’t do this, Nate.” She said. “Please. It’s over.”
He strode toward her, seeing her eyes open wide when he didn’t stop. He bore down on her, gripped her chin in his hand and kissed her hard. When he pulled away, both of them breathless, he said, “It’ll never be over. I love you, Macy Gibbs, and I’m not letting you go.”
Her lip trembled. “But I have a bounty on my head. They aren’t going to stop looking for me. I can’t put your family in danger like that.”
“I took care of that. It’s been removed.”
Her eyes widened. “What? How?”
“With a little help from the CIA. They faked your death, forged the records and you are now believed to be deceased.”
“Are you serious?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
She shook her head. “I can’t believe you did that for me.”
“The Wolff clan sticks together. We help each other. Get used to it.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want to spend the rest of my days with you. Somewhere along the line, I fell for you and I’m not letting you go.”
A smile formed on her lips. A true, radiant one. “Are you asking me to marry you, Nate Wolff?”
“If you’ll have me.”
She threw her arms around him. “I’ve wanted you from the second I met you.”
He kissed her again, sealing the deal. Happiness he hadn’t felt in a long time filled him. Maybe, just maybe, he had begun to heal too.
The End