Irresistible Desire

You trust me?

Trembling, she closed her door and
immediately called Simon's camp
counselor. After waking her from a
deep sleep, she made the poor
woman do a bed check on her
brother and then swear that she'd
ensure that no one but Grace was
allowed to pick him up, during or
after camp. She wanted to go get him
right now, but Simon had been so
excited about the camp, she couldn't
bear to cut it short.

Calmer now that she knew he was
safe, she got out of the robe and into
the shirt. It came almost to her
knees and she had to fold back thecuffs several times before her hands
poked through the sleeves. But, for
some reason she didn't want to face,
it comforted her to be
wearing Jacob's shirt.

She crawled
into bed, craving sleep.
Instead, fear hammered at her
temples, creating an excruciating
headache. Whimpering in pain, she
sat up, aware that her suffering was
stress induced. She wanted to ask
Jacob for help. Out of the grip of the
illogical terror that had bewildered
her after the call, she knew that her
fears that he'd take Kenny's side
were groundless.Jacob Wolfe might be dictatorial and dominating, but
unlike her tormentor, he had honor.

Life had forced her to be strong, but
this time there were so many
burdens on her that she felt as if she
would collapse. Despite that, her
heart rebelled against asking Jacob.
But she'd do anything to protect
Simon. Including asking the help of
a man who made her wish for
impossible things.

Afraid that her courage would desert
her if she delayed, she jumped out of
bed. It was only when she was standing before Jacob's bedroom
door that she remembered her only
clothing was his shirt. Her knuckles
had hit the wood by then and it was
too late. The door swung open
before she could retreat.

Jacob stood in front of her, wearing
just a pair of white boxer shorts.

Captivated by the view, she lost her
train of thought. His thickly muscled
wall of a chest, covered with a
sprinkling of black hair, was only
the start. His thighs looked like tree
trunks.

She'd been right the man was
muscled everywhere.
He shifted and she jerked her head
up, aware that she'd been staring.
She expected to see amusement in
those dark eyes, but something else
awaited her.

Desire.

Hot, rippling desire.

Scorching desire.

His blue eyes were hooded, heavy
lids lowered, making them appear
even more impossibly dark. She
could feel their weight resting
heavily on hers and she suddenly felt
very small. A tremor shook her body
and she realized that she was
breathing hard.
"You're here," he rasped, his tone
harsh, rough.
Her fingers flexed around the fabric
of her shirt, her palms itching to
touch him. She swallowed and tried
not to stare.
"Yes. I'm sorry to wake you. I'll
leave...
She started away, hoping that he
wouldn't stop her.

"Grace."Jackson's husky whisper
sent shivers racing through her, but
she couldn't move away.

He tipped up her face with a finger
under her chin and then bent down
to press his lips gently against hers.
Instinctive defense mechanisms
kicked into place and she stood still,
not fighting but not responding
either.

He broke the kiss. "My apologies. I
did not realize that you did not
accept my kiss."

So formal, she thought, so icy, when
his lips had been warm and soft. She
felt suddenly bereft but knew it was
her own fault. "I accepted."

He braced his right hand on the
doorjamb, his face expressionless in
a way she hated. "Like a statue. I
won't touch you again if that is what
you prefer."

That option didn't sound good to
her. Nibbling on her lower lip, she
looked down at the lush grey carpet
and then backup. "I don't deal well with men wanting me." While she
didn't trust Jacob's desire, she
trusted his intellect. He would never
judge her for her fear,. "I... had some
bad experiences when I was
younger."

She hadn't meant to admit
that much but couldn't bring herself
to regret the confidence.

Jacob's brow furrowed, and for the
first time since they met his voice
held concern. "Did someone hurt
you?"

Closing the distance between them,
he put one hand on her hip. He'd
expected her to recoil but to his
pleased shock, one fine-boned hand
fluttered to rest on his bare chest.

Heat engulfed his body but he
ruthlessly caged the fire, aware of
the fragility of her faith in his
goodness.

"I don't want to talk about that right
now. Her answer didn't satisfy him,
but then she said, "I wanted to talk to
you about the phone call."

He was placated by that evidence of
her trust. For this night, it was
enough. "Who was on the other
end?"

"Why didn't you press for more
information before?"

"I figured I had no right to know."
Her face was so solemn, so lovely in
the frame of midnight-dark hair.

Dreams of the silky strands spread
over his arm as she slept beside him
had tormented him since their first
meeting. "Do I?"

Grace knew what he was really
asking. "I don't know if I'm ready to
let you into my world."

He was silent for a moment. "Why?"

"You're..." How could she admit that
she was scared of what he made her
feel, what he made her ache for?

"You trust me, don't you?"

The answer came easily because he'd
always been far more than just her
boss, no matter what she'd tried to
convince herself. "I'm here." And she
wouldn't be if she didn't trust him on
a deep, unshakable level.

That trust was rooted in the
knowledge that he'd never coerce
her to do anything against her will.

Jacob was her protector. And she
needed his protection from Kenny.
More importantly, Simon needed his
protection. "Simon is the most
precious part of my world," she
whispered, making a decision.

"I know".

"He's returning from camp ina
couple of days, she told him. "Do you want to come pick him up with me?"

"Yes."

Grace felt something change in their
relationship at that moment. With
her invitation, she'd accepted
Jacob's claim over her and made a
claim of her own.

"You only ever speak of Simon."One
big hand stroked her hair. Instead of
fear at the intimacy, she felt a shy
sense of pleasure because this was
annoyingly protective Jacob.
" Do you have no other family?"

"Not in truth."

Tell me what that means, Grace." It
was a masculine demand disguised
as a request.

Grace found that she wanted to tell
him. He'd never been given any
privacy with his life and it seemed
only fair that be should know
something of her as well. And the
truth was, she needed to tell
someone and aside from Jacob, who
was there?

The first words took time, but he
didn't hurry her. Standing in the
hallway with her toes digging into
the carpet and Jacob's heat
surrounding her, she'd never felt
safer. He might want her, but he
would never force her she'd stake
her life on that.

"My mother brought
us up, well, she brought me up
anyway. She died when Simon was
six." Keeping her voice steady was an
effort. "I was twenty and her death
wasn't a surprise. She was an
alcoholic."