Free Trapped In Shadow (Shadow Walker Romance Series Book 4) by Caryn Moya Block Page A

the man who cleaned her and gazed at her so tenderly. He put the cloth on the nightstand before lifting her into his arms and walking around to the other side of the bed with the covers now lowered. The cool sheets felt good against her skin as he tucked her in.
    “Hugh,” she sighed.
    “I’ll just be a minute. Go back to sleep, sweetheart. You’ve had a long day.”
    She could hear him rustling around the room, but it wasn’t long before he joined her in bed and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled close, her head on his shoulder, her leg thrown over his. He ran his hand down her hair before pressing a kiss to her head.
    “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
    Stacey smiled. She had him too. Her hand rested over his beating heart. Hugh was as much hers as she was his. Peace settled over her. She’d finally found where she belonged. In this man’s arms.
     
    §
     
    Sunlight warmed her face. Stacey blinked. She gazed at the man who still held her tightly. She let her hand caress his waist and then down his hip. She paused at the ridges of skin left from the many surgeries needed to put him back together. She winced, remembering their narrow escape. Her fear for him.
    “I guess it’s kind of ugly. I’m sorry if it bothers you.”
    Stacey glanced up catching his gaze. He looked troubled, weary.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. If you hadn’t come to save me, I would have died in that warehouse. I’m the one who is sorry for almost losing your life and the pain I know you went through afterwards.”
    “How do you know what kind of pain I suffered? You left me.” Hugh’s jaw clenched. She’d hurt him.
    “I left you for your own protection. Someone must have known about that mission for us to be caught in a trap like that. I kept tabs on you, though. Even then I needed to know you were okay. I was obsessed with you.”
    “Obsessed? I didn’t see you for five years after that.” Hugh closed his eyes and a look of pain crossed his features.
    “Just because you didn’t see me, doesn’t mean I wasn’t there. I was glad when you went home, giving up our crazy lifestyle. I knew you were safe, or as safe as I could make you.” Stacey ran her finger over his eyebrows, first one and then the other.
    “Safe, but alone, Stacey,” Hugh’s hand snapped out and captured her wrist. His eyes stared into hers. “Pretending I was okay and recovering, when not having you by my side tore at me. The only reason I didn’t come after you was I thought you didn’t want me. I thought you were happy without me.” He pulled her hand down and pressed it against his heart.
    “I didn’t know what happiness was until you came into my life, Hugh.” Stacey needed to give him this, if only to help ease the torment of her previous actions. “You must have realized that much. I never laughed before you were assigned as my partner, not since my mother died. I only smiled as part of the job, until you showed me how to have fun again. No one ever teased me before you. It’s no wonder I fell completely head over heels in love with you. Then someone betrayed us. You were hurt and needed time to heal. I couldn’t live in a world without you in it. That’s why I left.”
    “You left me to protect me.”
    Stacey nodded. At least he understood. Hugh rolled on top of her, nose to nose with her. His eyes glittered with emotion. His hands gripped her shoulders. His pelvis pushed against her. She could feel how much he wanted her from the hard bulge trapped between them.
    “Don’t ever leave me again, Stacey. Do you understand me? I will hunt you down and tie you to my bed. I will love you until you can’t think to breathe without me. You promised to marry me, not to run anymore. I will hold you to your promise.”
    “I hear you, tȟogktékA - warrior. You didn’t think I’d take the time to learn words from your language. I know what tehila means too. You called me that once upon a time. Kind of pretentious to call me wife before you asked