Panting, Andria looked behind her. She could not see him, but he was there, closing in on her. She ran harder. Her lungs burned, her feet stung, and the air around her felt too thin. The mountains were in her peripheral vision. Colorado. She knew this much. She ran harder, pushing herself.

He’s going to catch me if I slow down or fall, she thought to herself. She chanced looking back again and this time, Draven was closing in. She panicked. The ground felt as if it were on fire and she screamed. Something sharp caught the ball of her foot and tripped her. She fell forward and quickly turned over, looking up to a heavy breathing Draven. He was a sadist, pure and simple. He grinned and the evil in him oozed.

He made a sudden move for her and she screamed.

Andria sat up in bed and looked around her room. A bead of sweat ran down her back and the adrenaline began to subside.

“It was only a dream,” she whispered. She laid back in her bed with a huff and closed her eyes. She could still see his face, that evil asshole.

Andria kicked her covers off and sat up. Might as well get some water and walk off this damn nightmare. Asshole.

She wore a spaghetti strap nightgown that ended at her mid-thigh. Just in case Jax was up, she did not want to expose too much of herself. She pulled on a white silky robe and tied it around her waist. Opening her door, she walked out toward the kitchen. She made it as far as the hallway and heard a creek on the floor a few feet away.

Her dream came back to her and panic set in. She pressed her back against the wall and her heartbeat sped up. Her mouth went dry and fear spiked in her gut. She wanted to cry, wanted to run; she needed Jax.

Jax. Maybe it was him.

“Jax?” she whispered into the dark hallway. “Is…” she swallowed, “is that you?”

No answer came to her and the panic rose. She slid down toward the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. She wanted to cry out, but if Draven was here, he would find her.

Oh God, what if he found Jax first and killed him? How do I get away?

The self-defense would do her no good if she continued to sit on the floor. She squeezed her eyes closed and a sob escaped. She could not keep it quiet, as much as she tried.

Someone switched the light on in the kitchen. She cried out in response to the eruption of light in the dark.

“Andria?”

“Don’t hurt me! Oh my God, don’t hurt me!” she screamed and covered her head. She sat in a ball against the wall and sobbed.

“Jesus, Andria, it’s me, Jax!”

She felt large hands on her shoulders and she slapped the hands away. “Don’t touch me!”

“Andria! Open your eyes, it’s me!”

She shook. She sobbed. She wanted to open her eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She shook her head no.

“Andria, it’s okay. It’s just me, it’s Jax. Trust me, it’s okay. It’s just me.”

She heard Jax’s voice, but still had a fear it was Draven in front of her. Fear clenched inside her. If she opened her eyes, it would be Draven’s fist meeting her socket. She swallowed hard and pushed through her fear.

If you allow him to put fear in you, he’s still in control.

Suzy’s words rang in her mind and she knew her sister was right. Andria took a deep breath and upon the exhale, she opened her eyes.

Jax. She sobbed and lunged for the man. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck and knocked him back. She cried into his shoulder, her body shaking from the adrenaline. “I heard,” she started and sobbed into his neck. “Jax, I thought he was here.”

She felt his body next to hers. He was warm, large, an amazing creature. He was her security, her guard, her protector.

Then his large, thick arms wrapped around her slender frame. He pulled her closer to him and shifted her body onto his lap. She sat in the open V his legs made when he crossed them.

“Andria,” he started, his voice deep, low, and growling. “No one will get in or out of this house without me knowing. Please, trust me on that.”

She kept hold of his neck and felt like a small person folded into the side of mountain. She felt so tiny compared to his massive size. It was what she needed.

She pulled her arms down and nodded at his statement. “Old habits, I guess. Even after being comfortable for a few years, he managed to get right back into my head. He’s a textbook mind fuck.”

“I have you. He can’t get to you while we’re together. I guarantee you that. He would severely pay the price for trying to come near you.”

She looked up in his blue eyes. It was as if looking into the depths of an ocean–beautiful. She blinked and looked to his lips. They were parted and he had the shadow of beard growth on his lips, chin, and cheeks. It was as dark as the hair on his head. His tongue darted out and licked his lips.

She gasped and shifted her gaze to his eyes. Her heartbeat picked up once more, but for a different reason. She sat in his lap as he held onto her. They were so close, so close. His scent invaded her like an invite to claim what he offered.

Andria leaned in and kissed Jax. A moment passed before Jax kissed her back. She felt his hands pull her body closer to his own. She opened her mouth and accepted his tongue as his hand moved to the base of her head, cupping it.

She gasped against his lips and Jax pulled away as quickly as the kiss started. She panted and his breaths managed to meet hers. “Why did you stop?” she heard herself ask. Her lips stung in the best possible way. A pleasant throb between her legs reminded her she enjoyed sex and this kiss woke something inside her long since buried away. She needed more. She reached up and touched his cheek.

Jax took her hand and held it, then met her gaze. “Andria, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t.”

She shook her head and smiled. “But I kissed you, and correct me if I’m wrong, but you kissed me back.”

He nodded and Andria lifted a brow. “I want you to kiss me again.”

He closed his eyes and his head rested on the wall behind him. “I would love to do just that, but,” he lifted his head and opened his eyes. “Let me walk you to your room. It’s been a long day and an even longer night.”

How did they end up here? She woke from a dream and it stayed with her, enough to scare her half to death at the smallest of noises. Then Jax held onto her as if she were his.

She wanted to be his, but was this a reaction to his being her protector? Was this moment driven by passion? Probably yes, most likely.

She removed her other arm from his shoulder and moved from his lap. Jax stood and offered his hand to her. She looked at it for a moment then slipped her hand into his. After he pulled her to her feet, he motioned for her to lead the way.

“I came out for a drink of water,” she whispered. Once she reached the door, she turned back to Jax. He stared at the floor and took a step back.

“Are you good?” He looked up at her with concern on his features.

She nodded. “Yes, and no. Yes, I’m fine, but no, well, because I feel a bit rejected.”

“Andria, it’s not…”

“Stop,” she interrupted him. “Please, before I make an even bigger ass of myself. “Goodnight, Jax. I’ll see you in the morning.” She closed the door and leaned against it. Her chest stung from his rejection of her. But was it a rejection of her, or of the situation? She guessed it didn’t matter. He’d turned her away.

“Well, I guess it’s me and you tonight, BOB.” She walked to her bed and opened the nightstand. She remembered the conversation about the equipment being installed in her room and she shook her head. It would serve him right to be forced to watch it. She smirked and pulled the vibrator from her drawer and laid down. She spread her legs and when she turned on the wand, she pictured Jax in her mind touching her, licking her, thrusting inside her.

Her back arched at the sensation and she gasped. She needed Jax and in time, she knew she would have him. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.