Alex woke in an instant, though out of a habit ingrained of necessity, he didn’t move, not even a twitch. Something was different and until he knew what, it was safer to let anyone who might be watching think he was still asleep. A weight on his chest, warmth against his side. It only took a moment for him to shake off the last of his dream and remember the night before. The way the woman now sleeping on his chest had responded to him and how he’d lost his battle to keep his hands off her.

Opening his eyes, he looked down at her. The lace of her lashes delicate against the pale pink glow of her cheek. He had to shove away the urge to lift her face, wake her with a kiss and have a repeat of the night before. No. She would be sore. Now wasn’t the time. Instead he eased out from underneath her, forcing himself to turn away as she reached for him in her sleep, despite the desire to climb back in and pull her into his arms.

A glance at the clock told him what he suspected. Three A.M. Just like always. There would be no going back to sleep, not for a while at least. Careful to keep from waking Janie, he slipped into the closet, tugged on a pair of sweat pants and headed down to his sanctuary. Now was the perfect time to do that research he didn’t want her to catch him doing.

An hour later Alex sat in front of the wall of screens in what he called his security room seething. It hadn’t taken him long to find Janie online, especially when he had access to some of the most secure databases in the country.

In the time since, he’d read everything he could find on the cult she’d come from, her father’s trial and Janie’s part in it. His heart broke as he read the reports of what she’d been through and witnessed. His admiration for her had grown a hundred times in the last hour. He’d found a couple of photos of her in the file, doing the math she had to have been about fifteen, but she looked maybe twelve, and terrified. Yet she’d stood up to everyone she’d ever known to do what she had known was right. He shook his head and locked the computer. Thinking back over all the odd things she’d done, it made him realized how far she’d come. He knew now why she didn’t seem to mind his scars. She had her own. Hers were just on the inside.

Silently he padded back up to the bedroom. Janie had rolled over. Her nose was crinkled where her face was burrowed against the pillow. He stared down at her a moment, wondering how this beautiful, innocent woman had found the strength to go through everything she’d survived. He shoved his sweats off and slid back between the sheets, pulling her against him. She wouldn’t have to go through it alone anymore. He would be there to protect her. She wiggled her ass as she snuggled into his arms and sighed with contentment in her sleep. His dick started to harden and he had to move away slightly. It was too soon. She’d been through enough, his endless lust for her wasn’t going to be another thing she had to survive. At least not for another few hours.

A faint click woke him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood. Alex remained motionless, at least until he could identify the threat. A faint squeak told him it was the bedroom door. He’d deliberately not had that hinge oiled when it had started making noise. This was why. One more breath and he burst into motion. He reached around, picked up the loaded Detonics 45 off the nightstand and had it pointed at the door in under two seconds. His heart was thundering in his ears when his eyes focused on the figure standing in the doorway.

Dave.

What the hell was he doing home? His brother stood in the doorway, still in his uniform, hands up.

“Dude, when did you start bringing chicks home?” Other than keeping his hands in sight, Dave ignored the pistol aimed in his direction.

Alex shook his head, put the pistol back on the nightstand and looked at Janie to make sure she was covered. She lay still, her eyes wide as she clutched the sheets under her chin.

“She’s not a chick and you scared her,” Alex growled. He reached over and laid one hand on her, on top of the covers, to assure her everything was okay. “Go away, I’ll be down in a few.”

“I’m gonna drop my bag off in my room then head to the kitchen for some chow. I’m starving.” Dave left, closing the door on his way out.

Alex turned to Janie.

“Sorry, that was my brother. I wasn’t expecting him.” He laid down beside her and pulled her back into his arms. “I had different plans for this morning.” He covered her mouth in a soft kiss filled with longing, then pulled away. If he took too long, Dave would come looking for him again. Alex didn’t want to do that to Janie. “Go back to sleep if you want or come down and meet him. I’d like you to meet him, but there will be time. He’s usually around for a few days when he comes home.”

“All right. I think I’ll take a shower and come down.”

“Whatever you want, sweetness.” He kissed the tip of her nose then covered her mouth in a lingering kiss before forcing himself out of bed. Picking up the sweats he’d dropped a few hours earlier he pulled them on before leaving her to her morning routine.

Alex ran his hand through his hair and shuffled into the kitchen where Dave stood in front of the open fridge while Maggie bustled around fussing over him.

“Bro, by now I’d think you’d know how dangerous it can be to try to sneak into my room,” Alex gave his brother a hug. This wasn’t the first time Dave had tried to sneak in on Alex, nor had it been the first time Alex reacted with a drawn pistol, but it had been the first time Alex wasn’t alone.

“It’s good to see your reflexes haven’t slowed, but who’s the piece of ass, did you send her home?”

Alex clenched his teeth. Calling Janie a piece of ass was worse than calling her a chick. “She’s not a piece of ass and no she’s in the shower.”

“That’s Mrs. Fortenberry,” Maggie said as she crossed the room to get something for whatever treat she was making for Dave.

“Mrs. Fortenberry? You got married and didn’t tell me?” Dave pinned him with a suspicious look.

“It was going to be a surprise.”

“I’m surprised all right.”

“You’re not the only one.” Alex tried to turn things on his brother. “You weren’t supposed to be here for another couple weeks.”

“Job got done. We got sent home and released for some R&R early.” Dave shrugged.

“Let me grab some coffee and we can go sit down. Maggie will bring this to us when it’s ready.” Alex snagged a cup from the cabinet and filled it, glancing over at his brother. “Want some?”

“Sure, why not?”

Alex filled a second cup, handed it to his brother then headed for the breakfast nook. “Come on.” They sat, setting their mugs on the table as they got comfortable. “What have you been up to?”

“Same as ever.” Dave leaned back in his chair and eyed Alex for a moment. “You on the other hand have been up to something different. Where did you meet her?”

“Online.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. He’d found the agency online, and they’d sent her to him.

“You did online dating?”

“I didn’t say that. I said I met her online.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Long enough.”

“How can you be sure she’s not after your money?”

“I just know.” The agency had assured him that none of their ladies were gold-diggers. They didn’t know what kind of men they were being set up with, only that they were being sent to someone who would marry them. For some, that’s all it took. He wondered, not for the first time, what had prompted Janie to sign up, to look for someone else to find a husband for her, especially after the horrors she’d seen growing up with arranged marriages.

“I’m not so sure.” Dave looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“She’s never, ever asked me to buy her anything. Anything.” He turned and looked out the glass that surrounded half the table. “She makes me feel whole again, Dave. When she looks at me I don’t feel scarred anymore.” He turned back to his brother. “I don’t feel like the monster I was afraid I’d become.”

Dave sighed and watched him for several seconds. “How can you be sure it’s not an act to get to your money?”

“She’s got scars of her own. Not physical like mine, but they run just as deep.” She hadn’t told him, at least not with words but he’d seen it in her actions the day before.

“From what?” His brother scowled.

“That’s her story. I’m not telling it for her.” Alex shook his head. “Tell me about your latest assignment.”

“It was shit. Then the shit hit the fan.”

The brothers talked and caught up while they sipped their coffee and waited for breakfast. Alex couldn’t help but wonder when Janie would get there.