Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,7

closer, the lips enlarging.

Tory shot up in bed, her mouth open as though she was going to scream. The soft light of dawn filtered through the open drapes, pooling across the bed. Her chest felt like it would explode from the pounding of her heart. She sucked in deep breaths over and over until her heartbeat calmed and the pain eased. She glanced at the clock on her bedstand.

She’d slept fifteen hours!

Rubbing her hands over her face, she perused her clothes, wrinkled and sweat-drenched from her ordeal and a night of tossing and turning. She felt soiled, used as if those two men yesterday had defiled her physically. She needed a shower.

In the bathroom, Tory quickly stripped and turned the water on as hot as she could stand it. She scrubbed herself raw, desperate to wash those men's handprints from her body. By the time she finished, her skin was red, but she felt clean, almost her old self again.

Stepping out of the tub, she dried herself off, and then donned a terry cloth robe. She headed toward the closet, coming to an abrupt halt two feet into the bedroom when she sensed something wasn't right. She started to scream and whirl about when two arms locked about her, pinning her against a rock-hard body.

Chapter Two

To Tory it seemed that her heart stopped beating for a few seconds. Then it began to slam against her chest with a dizzying speed. Scenes of the day before flashed across her mind as quickly as her heart was pumping the blood through her body. She wouldn't be a victim. Kicking back, she struck the man's shin. At the same time, she twisted and bucked, trying to wiggle free.

"Lady, I'm not here to hurt you."

Relief washed over her like a downpour in the rainforest. She went slack in the man's arms while Guerrero loosened his hold. The moment she was free, she pivoted, the beating of her heart still erratically quick. "And I'm supposed to know that by the way you grabbed me."

He grinned, an almost sheepish look on his face. "I didn't want you to scream and bring unwanted guests."

"Have you ever heard of knocking on a person's door and waiting to be let in?"

"I didn't come through the door."

"You didn't?"

Guerrero pointed to the one that led into the hallway. "Well, at least not that door. I used the balcony."

Tory shook her head. "I'm beginning to wonder about Juan's taste in friends. Should I even bother to ask why you used the balcony?"

His grin reached his dark eyes, making them sparkle in the dim light of dawn. "Depends?"

"Okay. I bite. What does it depend on?"

"If you really want to know why?"

It was too early in the morning to play word games. Exasperated, she asked, "Why?"

"Someone's watching the lobby. It may have nothing to do with you. Then, again, it may have everything to do with you."

"So, you climbed three stories up to my balcony. Or do you leap tall buildings in a single bound?"

He chuckled. "No. I came down from above. I wanted to see if someone could get in from the balcony."

"In other words, I'm not safe."

He nodded.

"Great." She glanced down. For the first time since he grabbed her, she realized she only had on a terry cloth robe. Blushing, she crossed her arms over her chest. Her heart began to beat fast again.

The room was too hot and definitely too small for the both of them. She needed fresh air. Quickly she moved to the balcony and slid open the door. Cool morning air rushed inside, a breeze catching the wet strands of her hair and making them dance about her face.

"I wouldn't stand there too long."

Tory jumped at the nearness of him, his soft tone flowing over her. She wanted to lean back into his strength and relish the protection he offered if only for a little while. The lure of being held by a man strong enough and tough enough to protect her enticed her. She wanted to forget for a few minutes that someone was after her, that safety was only a word in the dictionary and held little meaning in her life at the moment. Taking a deep breath, she smelled his scent of the outdoors mingling with the sweet fragrance of the flowers wafting on the breeze. Lord, what do I do? Are people after me? I’ve led a quiet, academic life. I can’t do this without You.

"Tory?"

"Uh-huh," she murmured as she began to relax and