He held her, feeling her body relax in the shelter of his, her breathing slow and rhythmic. Jess buried his chin in the mass of silky raven corkscrews, enjoying the feeling of just lying next to her, of being close to her.
Sometime later he must have drifted off, his dreams mildly erotic, not the usual flaming fantasies Saber aroused in him. The first sign of her distress awakened him, a soft little whimper, her body jerking convulsively.
She rolled suddenly, her hand coming up and toward him, a knife slicing fast toward his jugular with deadly accuracy. The movement was smooth and practiced. He caught her arm, slammed it down to the mattress, twisting almost to the point of breaking her wrist, his thumb finding a pressure point to force release. She never made a sound. Didn’t cry out in pain, even when he dug his fingers in hard enough to bruise.
Jess was enormously strong, genetically enhanced, and worked out daily in order to lift his own body weight all the time, yet it was difficult to subdue her. “Wake up, Saber,” he hissed, giving her a little shake.
The knife dropped from her hand and slid off the bed, but she rolled, ramming her elbow toward his jaw. He took the blow on his shoulder and caught her by the throat, slamming her down to the mattress.
Saber fought back, her eyes wild, haunted, his name on her lips. “Jesse!” She called for him again, the sound so filled with pain, so raw with terror, he felt actual tears stinging his eyes.
“For God’s sake, Saber, wake up. I’m here. I’m here.” He pinned her wrists, holding her down so she couldn’t continue the attack. “You’re having a nightmare. That’s all it is, just a bad dream.”
He knew the exact moment she became aware. Her body stilled, stiffened. Her gaze jumped to his face, examined every inch of his features, searching his expression for reassurance. He slowly released her and lay back beside her, turning so his body curled protectively around hers.
“Someone’s in the house, Jesse, I heard a noise.” She shuddered and leaned her burning forehead against the coolness of his.
“It was a nightmare, baby, nothing more.”
“No, someone’s in the house. Downstairs.” She clutched at his shoulders. “Lock my door. Is my door locked?”
He smoothed back her hair with gentle fingers. “No one can get in, you’re safe with me.”
“Turn on the light, we have to turn it on. No one will come in if the light’s on,” Saber insisted desperately.
“Shh.” He pulled her into his arms, burying her small, delicate face against his chest. She was trembling, burning hot against his skin. Tenderly he rocked her back and forth. “Nothing is wrong, Saber. I would never let anything happen to you.”
Her heart slammed hard against his chest, her pulse racing so frantically, Jess tightened his hold.
“It wasn’t a dream. I know I heard a noise, I know I did.” One hand curled into a fist, beating a tattoo against his shoulder. The other stroked the bulging line of his biceps in agitation.
There was something intensely intimate about the feel of her fingers tracing his muscles, despite the circumstances. His body stirred in response, painfully tight, urgently demanding. He ignored it, imposing the strict discipline that had kept him alive for years. He simply held her, rocking her gently, stroking her hair soothingly, not answering her wild imaginings.
It was some time before her body ceased trembling and she lay quietly in his arms.
Jess brushed a feather light kiss over her silky curls. “Feeling better?”
“I think I’m making a fool of myself,” she replied in a small voice.
“Never that, honey,” he murmured with gentle amusement. “You had a bad dream. Probably that rotten music you listen to.”
She nuzzled his chest, liking the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. “Country music is good music.”
“After the other night I decided I could get to like it. What in the world were you playing, anyway?”
“You don’t like rap?” Her laughter was muffled. “How did I know you wouldn’t like that particular group?”
He tugged a curl a little bit too hard in punishment, then rubbed the spot soothingly when she squealed. “Because I write number one hits all the time and not one of them has ever been rap.”
“Egotistical maniac,” she accused. “Not everyone has to listen to your music.”
“That’s true, baby, I don’t care if the entire world stops listening.” His lips brushed her hair again. “Except for you. Not only are you required to listen, but you’re required to like it.” He gave the order gruffly.
She laughed softly, relaxing against him. “So sing to me.”
There was a long silence. Jess cleared his throat. “Say, what?”
“Sing. You know. Ooh baby, baby, dum de dum. Sing.”