Ruthless Savior - Julia Sykes Page 0,26

cavernous, empty spaces. I hadn’t noticed a single trace of a soft, feminine touch.

I’d never wondered about Raúl’s relationship status before, but a strange sense of calm blanketed my frayed nerves at the confirmation that another woman hadn’t left her mark on his personal space. My fierce protector was focused solely on me.

The warm glow at my core should’ve disturbed me, but I was too tired to worry over it. I had a safe place to sleep tonight. That was all that mattered.

Even when I’d been held hostage in Stefano Duarte’s building, Raúl hadn’t been close enough to defend me if someone had chosen to attack me in the night. I’d lived in the staff quarters, surrounded by strangers who had no moral issue with working for a dangerous drug lord. I hadn’t experienced a peaceful night’s sleep since I’d fled from my family home.

But tonight, Raúl was the only person nearby, and I had no doubt that he’d destroy anyone who might dare to threaten me. The promise of deep, restful sleep was a lifeline I badly needed.

I tugged Raúl’s shirt over my head, loving the simple luxury of the soft material draping over my bare skin. I didn’t have any spare underwear, but the shirt that fit his massive frame swaddled me, dropping all the way to my knees. It was more comfortable that the nicest sleeping gown I’d ever owned, and it was definitely long enough to cover my most vulnerable areas.

The unfamiliar comforts provided by Raúl lulled me deeper into relaxation. I realized that his rich, earthy scent clung to the shirt, and I breathed him in greedily. My eyes slid closed on a low moan. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this secure, and the release from unrelenting, fearful vigilance was a heady rush.

A sharp knock on the bathroom door jerked me from my blissed-out state. “Marisol.” His deep voice rumbled through the wooden barrier, somehow managing to caress my skin.

I floated to the door and turned the knob as though in a dream. Even the sight of his muscular frame looming directly in front of me didn’t rouse a spark of concern.

His luminous eyes flared, and they traced the curves of my body in a slow, hungry perusal. His attention fixed on my breasts, and his jaw sharpened. I could feel my nipples peaking against the soft fabric of his deliciously scented shirt, but I couldn’t bring myself to cover myself in a shy show of modesty. I was too tired to bother, and the decadent slide of cotton over my sensitized nipples felt nice; a low, pleasurable buzz.

After several long seconds, his mesmerizing gaze lifted to my face. Whatever he saw in my eyes made his mouth drop in a small frown, puckering the scar on his upper lip.

“Let’s get you in bed.” He extended one of his huge hands, and I placed my much smaller one in his palm without hesitation. His thick fingers wrapped around mine in a firm, warm grip that reassured me. He was strong enough to protect me, but he wouldn’t turn that strength on me.

My feet dragged across the plush, cream carpet, my exhaustion wrapping leaden chains around my ankles. Dimly, I noted that his bedding was the same tone as it was in his room at Stefano’s: sleek, steel gray. I’d thought the color impersonal, but it matched the harsh masculinity of the rest of his home. As did the black iron bedposts, which were blocky and imposing. The overall effect was rigid, but the severe style suited him.

I didn’t care how imposing or potentially intimidating Raúl’s bed was; all I cared about was that soft mattress and the massive pile of plump pillows.

By the time we reached the bed, Raúl simply picked me up and placed me on the silky sheets. The thick duvet he draped over my body enfolded me like a warm cloud, and my eyes slid closed as a contented sigh hummed through my lips.

I was dimly aware of the mattress shifting beneath me, followed by Raúl’s hard chest pressing against my back. His corded arm hooked around my middle, and he nestled my body into his. The simple intimacy of human touch seeped into my skin like a calming drug, and I fell into sleep without a single niggling doubt about Raúl’s presence in bed beside me.

Chapter 10

Marisol

I watched Raúl move around his huge kitchen, while I remained cocooned in a somewhat surreal state of mind. Everything from the