The Heiress and Her Bodyguard novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Hands

The man hit the floor beside my bed with a sound.

I rolled away and ended up on my knees on the far side of the mattress, the sheet wound around my legs.

"Jonas!"

"Stay there."

Fists landed on something solid.

A chair went over.

The man grunted, and then I heard a thin, dry ripping, my curtain tearing off its rod.

Cold air poured in from the window.

"Get him," I said.

"I have him."

"Then get him!"

There was a scrape, a heavy thud against the wall, and the quick sound of shoes on the porch roof outside.

Jonas swore.

He took two steps toward the window, and stopped.

I heard him turn back.

"He's down the trellis," he said, breathing hard.

"I can catch him."

"No."

I did not know why I said it.

I only knew that my hands were shaking, and I could not stand to have him leave.

"Stay here."

The window banged shut.

The latch clicked, and I heard him drag the dresser across it.

Then he came around the bed and stood over me, and I smelled blood.

"You're hurt."

"My lip."

"It's nothing."

"Give me your hand."

He put it in mine.

His knuckles were split and wet.

"He was in a gray coat," Jonas said.

"Same man."

"I smelled the wool."

"Same man who was in the study?"

"Yes."

"Then he's coming back."

"Yes."

"Then you're not leaving this room tonight."

I stood up.

My knees were not quite working, and he caught my elbow, and for one second we stood in the dark with his hand around my arm and my heart going.

I found his shirt with my free hand, and gripped the cloth.

It was damp with sweat.

His chest underneath was hard and rising fast.

"Linnea."

"I almost died."

"You didn't."

"My father did."

My voice cracked on the word.

"I walked into that room."

"I put my hands in it."

"I've been standing up all day so nobody could see me fall."

"I've got you."

"I know you do."

"I don't know why you do."

I pulled his shirt toward me.

"Show me you're real."

He did not move.

"You don't mean it."

"Don't tell me what I mean."

I let go of his shirt and put my hand flat on his belt buckle.

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