He glanced down at his hands and saw Shayne’s blood covering his fingers.

* * *

SHE HURT. THE PAIN rolled through Jennifer in waves that just wouldn’t stop. She could see Stephen, coming right at her with his knife. He’d put the blade to her face and—

Her scream woke her.

“Easy.”

And he was there, catching her hand. Bringing it to his lips and kissing her fingers.

“You’re safe, sweetheart,” Brodie told her softly. “I’ve got you. No one can hurt you. Not ever again.”

The machines around her beeped frantically, a loud chorus that made her head ache. “My face...”

Brodie frowned at her.

“He was cutting me...to match his wounds.”

His jaw hardened.

“He was cutting my face... He was going to kill me.”

He caught her chin and stared deeply into her eyes. “He’s dead. You don’t have to worry about him ever again.”

She swallowed and tried to calm her racing heartbeat. Despite the frantic drumming of her heart, Jennifer’s body felt sluggish. She felt the pull of an IV on her wrist. “You killed him?”

He nodded. It was wrong to be glad a man was dead. Wasn’t it? But she didn’t feel bad. She just felt relief. She wasn’t being hunted by him. She was free.

The pain medicine they’d given her was pulling Jennifer under, but she managed to ask, “Shayne?”

“He’s dead.”

She swallowed. “Saved me...not all bad.” She felt Brodie brush back her hair. “Sorry...you lost him...”

Her eyes closed. He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“I wouldn’t have made it,” he whispered, his words following her, “if I’d lost you.”

Chapter Twelve

She was finally out of the hospital. No more miserable hospital food and people poking at her all during the day and night.

Jennifer stood on the bluff at the McGuire ranch. The lake was still and beautiful. Perfect. She pulled in a deep gulp of fresh air as she tried to calm her nerves.

The doctors had told her that she was free to go, and Jennifer knew that it was, indeed, time for her to go...time to leave Austin. Time to leave Brodie.

Stephen found me. He tracked me down. Hurt so many people.

But Stephen wasn’t the only man she’d helped to put away. What if others came after her? What if they did something to hurt Brodie? His family?

No, she couldn’t take that risk.

It’s time to say goodbye.

“Beautiful,” Brodie murmured from beside her.

She nodded, still staring at the lake and trying to gather her courage for what she had to say. “It is.”

“I’m not talking about the lake.”

Her gaze flew toward him, and she found Brodie staring right at her. With his eyes on her, he closed the distance between them. His hand slipped beneath her chin, and he kissed her. Softly. Sensually.

Jennifer leaned into him. He’d been at the hospital with her, nearly every single moment. But he’d been so careful with her there. Every touch had seemed restrained even as every glance he’d sent her way had been filled with a desperate need.

She could feel the power in his body. Taste the desire in his kiss.

“Davis isn’t here,” Brodie told her. “It’s just you and me.” He stepped back. “Come inside with me?”

She should tell him goodbye now. Walk away even as she shattered on the inside, but Jennifer nodded. I can’t leave him, not yet. Their hands entwined as they went back to the ranch house.

Then they were inside his bedroom. Her clothes fell to the floor. His hand slid over her, learning every inch of her body once more.

He was still dressed. Still wearing his shirt and his jeans, and that just wasn’t going to do for her.

She pushed up his shirt. Her fingers slid along the hard, muscled expanse of his abs. Seconds later, Brodie’s shirt went sailing through the air, and she kissed his chest, loving the power that he held so easily. Her fingers pulled on his belt. Unhooked the snap of his jeans. His aroused length pressed against her. Hot and hard. Her fingers curled around him, and she stroked him, pumping his flesh. She loved the way he responded to her. Loved the hard growl that broke from him and the way his body tensed beneath her touch.

When he tried to take control, she pushed him back onto the bed, and Jennifer slowly crawled on top of him. Her knees pressed into the mattress as her hips pressed down on him. They were flesh to flesh, just the way she wanted him, but she wasn’t taking him into her body. Not yet.

She wanted to enjoy him more.

Jennifer wanted this moment to last as long as possible because this would be their final time together. I don’t want to leave Brodie. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Jennifer bent toward him, and her hair swept down, falling around them. She pressed a kiss to his neck. Her tongue licked his skin. His hands were around her, sliding down her back, urging her closer. So close.

She kissed her way down his chest. Licked his nipples and heard the reward of his ragged groan.

Down, down she went as she learned every inch of his body, just as he’d learned hers before. There were no secrets between them. Only pleasure.

Her mouth pressed to his aroused flesh. She—

Was on her back. He’d rolled her in a lightning-fast move, and he had her carefully pinned beneath him.

“Sweetheart, you’re driving me out of my mind.”

Then his hand was between her legs. She arched toward him because his touch felt so good. He was stroking her, moving those wicked fingers against the center of her need, and her release rushed up, strong and hot just as he pulled his hand back and drove into her.

Time seemed to stop right in that moment. She was on the precipice of pleasure but trapped by his gaze. Then he kissed her, and the world exploded as his hips pushed hard against her. Again and again, he thrust into her, and the climax surged through her. So strong, so powerful, that Jennifer lost her breath. Her nails dug into his back, and she locked her legs around him.

He kept thrusting. Kept driving toward release.

And when she was sure her body couldn’t take any more, when she was limp and trembling and sweat coated his body...

Then the desire grew again. He withdrew and drove deep.

And she held tightly to him.

I don’t want to leave. I want to stay with Brodie...forever.

* * *

EVEN THOUGH THE lamp spilled light into the room, Jennifer knew it was dark outside. The sun had set long ago. She’d lost herself to hours of pleasure with Brodie.

She could slip away in the darkness. She should slip away.

But Jennifer couldn’t take her gaze off him. They were tangled together in bed. His arm was over her stomach, her leg over his. The sheet had fallen to his waist.

As she stared at him, she thought, as she had so long before...

Sleep makes him look innocent. Sleep took away the hard intensity of his eyes. Sleep softened the warrior.

Almost helplessly, her hand rose and her fingers smoothed over the dark stubble that lined his jaw. At her touch, his eyes opened, and that green stare wasn’t the least bit foggy. He was 100 percent awake and aware.

And it’s time for me to leave.

“Thank you,” Jennifer whispered, and it was as if she were trapped back in the past. Saying goodbye to him all over again at that little safe house. “Thank you for saving me.” I thought I was going to die. Just like before. Her chest ached.

He didn’t say a word, just stared at her as the lamp’s light fell onto the bed.

Being with him then...it was so much like before, when they’d been in the Middle East. She hadn’t wanted to leave him then.

Will I ever see you again? Years ago, that question had been pulled from her.

But then, he’d told her...Hopefully, you won’t need to see me.