Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
“I’m staying until I know you’re safe, Maya.”
Sitting this close to him is just too much, and I can’t think straight. There’s a part of me that wants to lean into him and just let him hold me. Before I give in to it, I stand up and walk across the room to put some distance between us. I throw my hands up in the air. “I can’t do this, Legend. I’m trying to hold myself together, and I can’t do that with you here telling me that I can depend on you.”
He stands up and shoves his hands in the front of his jean pockets. “Why not? What’s so bad about depending on me?”
There’s no way I’m going to get into this with him. “I just can’t.”
He takes a step toward me, and I suck in a breath. He doesn’t realize that I’m barely hanging on here. The stress of knowing I have a book I have to finish, the stalker and the lack of sleep is getting to me. “Legend….” I start and then let my voice trail off.
He takes another step toward me and holds his hands out, palms up. He’s moving really slowly, as if he’s approaching a wounded animal or something. Is this how I present myself? I don’t want to be treated like I’m weak and can’t take care of myself. “Stop. It’s okay… I’m okay. I don’t need help from anyone.”
He doesn’t stop though. He keeps coming toward me, talking real low and softly. “I know it’s hard. I know you’re on your own and you’re used to taking care of yourself, but honey, this is different. Whoever this guy is, he’s dangerous, and he’s only going to get worse.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You think I don’t know that? I know he’s going to get worse.”
He takes another step toward me. “Yeah, and you don’t have to do this alone.”
My body starts to tremble because the thought of depending on him shakes me to my core. The physical reaction surprises me, and he takes another step toward me and then surprises me when he holds his arms open wide.
I look from his large, muscular hands, along his muscled arms, across his chest and then up to his face. “What are you doing?”
“Let me hold you.”
I put my hands on my hips and try to seem as if I’m still in control here even though I can tell I’m losing it inch by inch. Before I can tell him no, he takes another step toward me, and he’s so close I can feel the heat from his body. “I know you don’t need anyone, Maya, but maybe I need you… maybe I need to do this for you. Maybe there’s something inside me that will be unsettled until I can assure your safety.”
“But…” I start, and he smiles softly.
“Come here. Let me hold you.”
I should tell him no. I should stand my ground and refuse to give in, but the idea of leaning into him is too much to resist.
Slowly I move into him. First, I let my hands slide around his waist, but I’m about to pull back because it feels so awkward. I don’t get the chance because he wraps his arms around my back and pulls me to him. He doesn’t just hug me. It feels like he’s taken up all the space around me, and all I can feel or think about is Legend.
His body is hard compared to my soft one. He’s hot, but it feels so good that I burrow into him. I lay my cheek against his chest, and as he takes a deep breath, I notice that my breathing joins in unison with his.
I never would have thought that I would feel comfortable in his arms, but the way he’s holding me, running his hand up and down my back is so soothing that I start to melt into him.
He settles his chin on the top of my head. “Talk to me, Maya. Let it out. Scream, cry, hit me… quit holding it all in.”
“How did you know?” I ask him, stunned. I just met this man, and somehow he seems to know me better than anyone.
“No one is going to hurt you, Maya. I promise that I’m not going to leave your side until I know you’re safe.”
And just like that, the floodgates have opened. It begins with a lone tear that travels down my cheek, and before I know it, I’m crying and unable to stop. I try to do it silently, but then the sobs start to wrack through my body. He holds me tighter, running his hand along my hair and whispering to me softly. “That’s it, baby girl. Let it go. I got you.”
I don’t know if it’s his attentiveness, the sweet way he talks to me, or the way I feel in his arms, but I don’t want it to end. Even when the tears have stopped flowing, I don’t move.