❦ ❦

It was a sudden kiss that caught me off guard with its intensity. His lips possessed mine, crushing and desperate. My body reacted to him instantly, waves of heat flashing through me. The torrent of need he awakened in me had me arching against him with my arms wound around his neck tightly. When he broke the kiss as suddenly as he had started, I whimpered in startled protest.

Jason rested his forehead against mine as he tried to catch his breath. "You had me so worried, baby. I'm so glad you're okay."

I was still feeling the staggering effect of the kiss and it took a few seconds for his words to sink in. "Worried? What are you talking about?"

Not letting go of me, he sat down on the couch and pulled me down on his lap sideways. My confusion gave way to stunned horror as he explained to me what had happened. How could someone have followed me taking pictures without my knowledge?

Jason had warned me about the dangers of going out alone but I had gotten too careless about my own safety. I hadn't bothered to call Alex because I had thought I would be safe in my own neighborhood.

Jason saw the fear and anxiousness etched on my face and pulled me against his chest. His arms went around me tightly. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, baby. He won't get anywhere near you. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

He made no promises about the future of our relationship but I knew he cared about me. I knew he would do everything in his power to keep me safe. I felt protected and cherished in his arms.

Lifting my head off his shoulder I met his gaze. "I'm sorry about today. I really didn't mean to make you worry. I went to the Sferra to check the linen shipment and thought I would come here and wait for you. And just as I reached here my phone died."

"It's okay. But you're not going anywhere alone again. Promise me that."

"I promise."

He looked relieved and I felt the tension in him ease. Brushing the hair away from my face, he kissed my forehead and my heart melted at the aching tenderness on his face. "Nik is waiting upstairs in my office. He has some questions he wants to ask you."

❦❦❦

"Did you notice anyone following you or anything suspicious when you left home yesterday?" Nik asked me as we sat on the L-shape couch in Jason's office.

"No. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."

"Okay. What about when you were in the bookstore? Did you see anyone looking at you?"

I raked my mind, trying to remember. "Um, no."

"So no one approached you while you were in there?"

"Yeah. I just paid for my purchases and left."

"My team has already gone through the profiles of everyone who was on the cruise liner during the days that you both were on it. None of their pictures matched the man in the sketch." Nick got up from the couch and started pacing. "But now we know, he was following you today. That's a lead. I'll circulate his sketch in the neighborhood. Someone must have noticed him."

"What if he didn't take the photos personally?" Jason asked. "It might be someone working for him."

"That's possible. But these photos were taken from a DSLR camera, not from a phone. So there's a chance someone must have seen a guy carrying around a camera."

As Jason and Nik discussed the investigation, I excused myself and went downstairs to use the bathroom. When I came back ten minutes later there was no sign of Nik. Jason stood facing the floor to ceiling glass windows of his office, which looked over LA's skyline.

Even though the spectacular view of the city lights were spread before him I knew he wasn't enjoying it. His hands were shoved in his pockets and even from where I stood I could see the tenseness of his shoulders and the rigidness of his body.

Walking over to him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his back. He brought one of his hands out of his pockets and covered my hand which was pressed against his chest. And then I felt the tension leave his body as he relaxed.

He turned around slowly and cupped my face in his palm. "If anything had happened to you tonight I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself. I'm so sorry I got you involved in this mess."

"Don't blame yourself. I don't regret anything." I told him honestly.

He was silent for a moment, his thumb tracing my cheekbone slowly. "Move in with me." He said softly.

"What?" I stared at him in shock not sure if I had heard him right.

"I want you to move in with me." He repeated.

My eyes went wide and I could feel my heart beating rapidly. A flutter of hope formed in my chest. Did that mean he felt something more for me? I knew he had never asked any woman to move in with him before. "Why?" I swallowed hard.

"If you live here with me I'll be able to keep an eye on you. And make sure you're safe."

And just like that the tiny bit of hope dancing inside me burned out. He blamed himself for getting me into danger and now he was feeling guilty about it. I felt stupid for thinking even for a moment that he would want something permanent from me. I couldn't move in with him knowing it was just a temporary thing. Living with him would make me fall for him even more than I already had and I couldn't allow that.

"No." I said carefully hiding the array of emotions I felt.

"No?"

"I feel perfectly safe in my apartment. I don't see any point in moving here."

"That apartment building doesn't even have security cameras installed. There's no security guard. I don't want you staying there until the investigation is over." He ran a hand through his hair impatiently. "Can't you just, for once, do as I say without putting up a fight? The night you found out about Alex you were ready to claw my eyes out. I'm trying to protect you. Don't make this difficult for me."

And I'm trying to protect my heart, I almost said that out aloud. "I know. But moving in with you is not a solution."

He swore softly, his jaw tightening suddenly. "I swear to god, Kate, if I have to tie you up to keep you safe here with me, I'll do it. You're moving in with me and that's it."

My mood transformed into a bloody-minded temper within seconds. My relationship with Peter had always been about what he wanted. How many times had I gone ahead and done things that I didn't want to, just because Peter asked me to? Maybe I was overreacting slightly but the tone of Jason's voice getting on my nerves.

"You don't own me." I snapped. "I'm not one of your possessions to be ordered about however you want."

"You're my girlfriend." The muscle jumping in his jaw made me realize he was furious but trying to control his temper

"And what makes you think that gives you the right to force me into doing something I don't want to do?"

"You' re testing my patience here." He warned in a low tone. "And you don't want to see me lose it. So I suggest you do as I say."

I met his gaze unflinchingly, refusing to be intimidated. "I told you how I felt when Peter tried to force me into doing things his way. And now you're acting just like him. You both are just the same."

The moment the words escaped my lips, I realized it was the wrong thing to say. Jason went very still, his face going white. His jaw was flexed tightly and there was a dangerous glint in his icy blue eyes which I recognized as cold, deadly fury.

"Watch your fucking mouth, Kate." He bit out through clenched teeth.

He looked beyond pissed. I swallowed hard, a trickle of fear going down my spine. The line of his jaw was hard as granite and his eyes were flashing with fury and some other emotion that made me go very still.

Pain.

The realization that I had caused him pain with my comments shocked me. It never occurred to me that I had the power to hurt a man like him. Guilt rolled through me in waves. I hadn't been thinking clearly when I said he was just like Peter. They were nothing alike. Jason could be controlling at times but he never dictated my life the way Peter did. I wished I could take the words back but now it was too late.

Instinctively, I reached out to touch him, to tell him I hadn't meant it but he grabbed it. "Don't." His voice was tight.

It was the first time he had rejected my touch and I felt a sudden pang. Ignoring it, I reached out with my other hand, which he also snatched before I could touch him. His body radiated anger and even in that moment, my mind registered how overwhelmingly sexy he looked, even more so when he was furious.

A smart person would have fled instead of facing him when he was that pissed off. But I didn't want to leave him, not when I was the cause of it. So instead, I leaned in and kissed him, praying he wouldn't push me away.

But just as I had feared, he tore his mouth away from mine. "You don't want to do this right now." He warned, his expression telling me to back away.

But I didn't listen. I kissed him again. He was rigid and unresponsive for the first few seconds, but then he growled into my mouth and pushed me against the wall roughly, taking over the kiss. His hands were fisted in my hair, almost painfully, and his lips were hard and brutal as if he was punishing me for what I had said.

He wasn't in control, nearly violent and it should have scared me, but instead my body welcomed his assault, need clawing through my senses. I responded with equal fervor, our teeth clashing, my fingers biting into his nape as I arched into him.

Without breaking the kiss, he ripped my shirt open in one hard tug, the buttons flying. He left it hanging open and then tugged the lacy cups of my bra down. I cried out into his mouth as his hands claimed my breasts roughly, his fingers tormenting the sensitive tips.

My back arched with a loud moan as his teeth clamped down on each of my nipples sending sharp jolts of sensation straight to my core. My breath came out in short quick gasps and I gripped his shoulders tightly.

He nudged my legs apart with his knees and slipped his hand under my skirt, his touch hot against my thigh. When his palm cupped me over the soaked panties, a strangled sound escaped my throat.

And then without warning he tore the flimsy material off me in one hard yank. The gasp that left my mouth turned into a moan when his fingers slid over my wetness. My hips bucked and I cried out at the intensity of it. I was so close to coming undone but I wanted him deep inside me when that happened.

"Please." I whimpered hoarsely, my fingers tugging at his hair.

He didn't say anything. Instead he pressed me further into the wall as he tortured my swollen clit, nothing gentle in his touch.

"Inside me. Please." The sensations he aroused in me made it difficult for me to form a coherent sentence. I was consumed with the need to be taken by him. My hands went to his jeans and I heard the sharp intake of his breath as I fumbled with the buttons. When his engorged erection sprang free from his clothing, we both groaned in unison.

I wanted to sink down on my knees and take him in my mouth but before I could act on it, he was lifting me up and shoving me up against the wall. My legs instinctively wrapped around him.

He plunged into me, filling me so thoroughly I cried out in ecstasy. He always gave me a moment to adjust to him but this time he didn't. Instead he withdrew and rammed into me again with a force that sent my head rolling back. He started to move, pounding into me harder and faster making it difficult for me to even draw in a breath. My back hit the wall with each violent thrust.

And I loved every second of it. My body shuddered violently and clamped around him and I came hard, incomprehensible cries escaping my lips.

He growled something but I couldn't hear it over the blood roaring in my ears. His strokes became more urgent and his fingers dug into my hips painfully as he supported my weight. I was sure I would have bruises but I didn't care.

Our groans filled the room and I felt my body spiraling towards another orgasm. It hit me hard seconds later and I clung to him with the force of it, screaming his name on a sob. A guttural groan ripped out of his throat as he lunged into me one last time and exploded inside me.

Jason slumped against me, his ragged breathing hot against my neck. My legs were weak around him but he held me tight and we stayed like that until the aftershocks of our climax ebbed away.

He didn't talk as he put me back on my feet and adjusted his clothing. Then he scooped me into his arms and headed to the elevator that took us down to his bedroom. With the after effects of the orgasms still tingling through me, I buried my face in his neck, glad for his strength.

In the master bathroom, he stripped away my clothes and cleaned me up, his touch so gentle, a contrast to the way he had fucked me moments ago. He still hadn't talked and his expression was impassive, making it hard for me to understand his mood.

Finally, unable to stand the silence, I opened my mouth to talk but then he swore softly under his breath. He was staring at my skin just above the hips where he had dug in his fingers as he fucked me. Faint bruises were beginning to form there in the form of his hand prints.

When he raised his gaze to mine, I saw the guilt reflected in them. "I'm so sorry." He cupped my face.

"I'm not." I gave him a quick reassuring smile.

"I shouldn't have been so rough with you. I was angry and..."

"Hey." I touched his lips, making him stop. "We've always had rough sex. This wasn't the first time." When he tried to protest, I continued quickly. "Okay, so it was a bit more intense than usual but I loved every second of it."

He relaxed but the guilt was still there. He gently traced his fingers on the bruises, a frown on his gorgeous face.

I cocked my head and gave him a teasing smile. "Want to kiss it and make it better?"

Just as I had hoped his lips twitched. I didn't think he would actually do that. But then to my surprise, he crouched down and pressed his lips softly to the bruises. My heart did crazy flips inside my chest at the tender gesture.

Since my shirt was torn, he got me one of his sweaters and helped me into it. "You hungry?" He asked, running his fingers through my hair to untangle it.

I laughed. "Even if I say no, you're going to make me eat."

Instead of making a comment, he hoisted me up so that I had to wrap my legs around him.

I threaded my fingers through the hair on his nape as he headed to the elevator. "You know, if you keep on carrying me around like this, you're going to end up breaking your back."

"You're not that heavy."

"I will be if you keep on insisting I take three full meals a day."

A faint smirk tugged his lips. "Good thing I'm strong then."

Annie was by the pool, setting up the dinner table in the outdoor dining area. She smiled when she saw us. She was used to seeing Jason carrying me around so she didn't even bat an eyelid.

Dinner was filet mignon, loaded baked potatoes, grilled tomato halves and corn on the cob. As I took a bite of my steak, I glanced at Jason, who had again gone silent. He seemed to be deep in thought as he ate. And I knew what he was thinking.

I cleared my throat. "Are we not going to talk about it?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "About what?"

"You asked me to move in with you."

"And you said no. So I don't see any point of discussing it anymore."

I didn't know how to respond to that. He continued eating but suddenly my appetite was gone.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out, breaking the silence between us. "For what I said earlier. I didn't mean it. You're nothing like Peter." When he didn't say anything, I continued. "He controlled every aspect of my life, from what I wore to what I did. I thought it was because he loved me so I let him dictate my life. You have never done that. I mean, yeah, you can be controlling at times," I smiled a little, "but you're nothing like him."

He was silent for a full minute before he spoke. "I know that, but it still fucking hurt to hear you say it."

I swallowed hard, taken off guard by the vulnerability in his eyes. "I didn't realize..."

"That your words have the power to hurt me?" He asked, correctly reading my mind. A faint smile touched his face. "Baby, you have the power to destroy me if you wish to do so."

My mouth dropped open. I stared at him, stunned, wondering if he was joking or not. His expression was serious, his eyes intense on me. Before I could snap out of my momentarily speechless state and ask him what he meant, his phone rang.

He glanced at it, then sighed. "It's Andrea. I have to take this." He gestured to my half-eaten steak. "Eat." It was a command, however softly he uttered it.

Taking my fork, I stabbed a piece of meat as he answered the call. I was still reeling from what he said. I' didn't know what to think of it.