Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

KENNEDYWOKEFEELINGwarm and comfortable in Madison’s T-shirt and pajama pants. Beside her, Reyes sat against the headboard and perused his phone, the home screen reflecting in his hazel eyes.

She was snuggled against his side, part of the reason the chills had finally left her. A slight headache remained, but she could deal with that.

Loving him wouldn’t be easy, not with the work he did. Valuable work, she realized, because without him Jodi wouldn’t stand a chance. The police could only do so much when the law forced them to abide by a certain standard.

A standard Golly and his sick brother didn’t deserve.

Suddenly Reyes looked down at her, said, “Hey,” and set his phone aside. He smoothed back her hair, tipped up her chin and studied her face. “Your eyes aren’t dilated anymore. That’s a good sign.”

“My headache is better, too.” She struggled to sit up. “What time is it?”

“Almost seven.”

“What?”She’d slept that long? She’d only meant to take a brief nap, not conk out for hours.

“You needed the rest, babe.”

“Have you been here the entire time?”

“Did you think I’d budge?” He leaned forward to press a soft kiss to her lips, then an even softer kiss to her temple where Delbert had hit her. “You don’t remember me waking you, to make sure you were okay?”

“No.” She remembered crawling into his bed, but not much after that. She must have nodded off right away once she’d gotten warm.

“Are you hungry?” Reyes asked. “Bernard held dinner for us.”

“Oh, no.” The thought of his family waiting on her made her want to crawl back under the covers.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s only been half an hour. The food will be fine and no one is starving.”

Using both hands, she shoved back her hair. “Is it okay for me to eat like this?” She held out the hem of Madison’s shirt. “Delbert bled on my clothes.”

“Bernard washed them, but yeah, they’re stained. What you have on is fine. Cade and I will be in jeans. No biggie.” He helped her out of the bed, then framed her face in his hands. “I found one of my flannel shirts for you to help keep you warm.”

So considerate. Kennedy wrapped her arms around him and rested her face against his chest. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

Tension stiffened his body. “If I’d taken better care of you, none of this would have happened.”

“Even you can’t predict every moment of every day.”

He changed the subject, saying, “I’m so damn proud of you.”

“Proud?” She leaned back to see him. “Why?”

“Why?” His expression was serious enough that it looked severe. “Damn, Kennedy. You were hurt and afraid, and still you kept your head and fought hard. Of course I’m proud.”

“I caused a wreck.” She still had the aches and pains to prove it.

“You disabled your kidnapper. That took a lot of guts. Most wrecks aren’t fatal, especially when there’s little traffic. It was a reasonable risk to take considering the alternative.”

He made it sound premediated and deliberate, but she knew the truth. “I wasn’t thinking clearly at all. I just...reacted.”

“Instincts,” he agreed, holding her closer, his heart beating a little harder. “You knew he couldn’t get you alone.”

She shivered, and it wasn’t from cold. It was knowing what Delbert would have done to her if he’d succeeded.

So far she’d managed to keep those thoughts at bay.

“I’m sorry.” He cupped a hand around her neck and gently rocked her side to side. “So damned sorry.”

Kennedy wasn’t entirely sure about his mood, and she didn’t want to add to his burdens or put him on the spot, but the words just sort of slipped out, maybe because they needed to be said. Or because she needed to say them. “I’m here with you and we’re both safe. I don’t have to sleep alone, and I don’t have to fear anyone.” She knew Reyes wouldn’t let her be hurt. “You’re my own personal hero, Reyes.”

“God love you, girl, you turn me inside out.”

Her lips parted. What did that mean?

Before she could work up the courage to ask, he stepped back, grabbed the flannel shirt and helped her into it.

“Okay?”

The material was soft, and the shirt smelled like him. “Yes.” Better than okay.

“I hope you’re hungry.”

She gave that quick thought and nodded. “Starved.”

Smiling, he said, “Come on. Bernard loves nothing more than an enthusiastic eater.”

She realized that was true when Bernard joined them for the meal in the formal dining room. Parrish sat at one end of the table, with Bernard at the other, and the siblings with Kennedy and Sterling on either side.

In deference to her injuries, the lights were kept low and everyone spoke in modulated, even tones.

It gave her the warm fuzzies to be treated so kindly. Not only that, they acted as if she were one of them. Not because she’d fended off Delbert, but because of Reyes. They saw her as his significant other.

And he wasn’t objecting.

If anything, he’d doubled up on the attention he gave her, often reaching over to touch her, constantly watching her. She knew she must look wretched with the bruises and her mismatched, borrowed clothes, but clearly he didn’t mind—and that made her not care, either.

Over a rib eye roast with buttery mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed vegetables, everyone caught her up on what had unfolded while she slept.

Reyes said, “I spoke with Crosby. He’s pushy—”

“Like most cops,” Cade added.

“—but he’s all right.” Reyes glanced at her. “He was real concerned for you. Wanted me to tell you he hopes you’re okay, and if you need him for anything, just call.”

“Why would I need him?”

Reyes, Cade and Madison all smiled.

“My thoughts exactly,” Sterling said.

Parrish explained, “To his mind, the only real assistance, the best assistance, is an officer of the law. Dedicated cops have a difficult time accepting that their way isn’t always the best way.”

“He wanted to know where Golly is holed up,” Madison added, keeping her gaze on her plate. “Reyes didn’t tell him.”

“Neither did you,” Cade said. “I’m curious what the two of you discussed when you met at the park.”

Parrish looked up. “You did what?”

Reyes scowled.

Sterling, who’d been mostly silent while she ate, looked up with a grin. “Sneaking out from under their eagle eyes, huh? Go you.”

“My eagle eyes,” Cade pointed out, “didn’t miss it.”

Madison affected a casual shrug. “I met with him, explained a few things, and got his number for Reyes to call. That’s it.” She quickly shifted the topic by saying to Kennedy, “By the way, we have everything worked out if you want to visit Jodi.”

“I do.” They’d already explained where Jodi was. Trying to imagine her friend in a fancy hotel left Kennedy boggled. Jodi couldn’t like it. Still, according to Reyes, he’d spoken with her and she’d promised to stay put this time.

He claimed Jodi had agreed because she didn’t want Kennedy stressed over it.

Kennedy didn’t think that was the whole reason. The near miss had likely rattled her, too.

“When can we go?” she asked Reyes, knowing without asking that he’d accompany her there.

“Tomorrow is soon enough,” Parrish answered before Reyes could. “I want you to continue resting tonight, and through the morning tomorrow. We’ll reassess then.”

She’d never before had such close medical care. She didn’t mind being treated by Reyes’s father—as long as the medical issues weren’t anything embarrassing. “I feel much better, but thank you.”

“Tomorrow,” Parrish reiterated.

“In the meantime,” Reyes said, “I don’t want you to worry about Jodi. We have guards at the hotel.” He reached over to cover her hand. “Even if she wanted to take off, they’d stall her long enough for us to get there.”

They’d thought of everything, and it truly overwhelmed her with gratitude. Done eating, Kennedy addressed the table. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.” She smiled at Reyes, Cade and Sterling. “You’ve kept Jodi and me safe, and of course that’s the biggie.” Next she turned to Madison. “I’m in awe of your research ability, but your hospitality and kindness is appreciated, too. Thank you for loaning me your clothes.”

Madison returned her smile. “My pleasure.”

“And Bernard, the food. You are a man of many talents. I’ve never eaten so well.”

“Hear! Hear!” Parrish said, lifting his glass of wine.

Bernard nodded regally as they all toasted him.

“Parrish.” Kennedy had saved him for last, because for some reason her heart ached as she looked at him. This man had lost the woman he loved, and, instead of retreating from the world, he’d built something incredible to help others. “I owe you the most appreciation. This is all because of you. Because you cared enough to make helping others a priority.” Her eyes grew damp, and for once she didn’t care. She knew Parrish’s relationship with his children was sometimes strained; she also knew he was the most amazing man she’d ever met. “Without you and all you’ve set up, I’d have no one to turn to. Jodi would be lost. We’d have had little hope at all. For us, the world would be a much uglier place.”

Reyes pushed back his chair, and tugged her out of hers and over into his lap, where he hugged her. “She’s right.” He looked at his father, who appeared speechless. “I don’t know any other man who could have accomplished what you have.” He cupped Kennedy’s bruised cheek. “Now more than ever, I appreciate what you’ve taught me.”

“Agreed.” With his arm around Sterling, Cade said, “If you hadn’t groomed me for this job, I wouldn’t have found Sterling. Thank you, Dad.”

Madison grinned happily. “Here’s to an amazing man who reared incredible children.”

This time it was Bernard who cheered, “Hear! Hear!”

Parrish still looked flabbergasted, but he slowly smiled. “To family.”

That earned another chorus of agreement. This time, Kennedy kept silent. Already, she loved this family so much. Pretty sure she always would.

Even if she wasn’t a real part of it.

Not yet anyway, though she held out hope. Once they took care of Golly and she helped get Jodi settled, then she could figure out if she had a future with Reyes.

Anything less than a lifetime was unthinkable.

REYESWATCHED KENNEDYlook around with interest. When he’d first brought her down to his suite of rooms, she’d been too zoned out to really pay attention. He’d guided her to the turned-down bed, then tucked her in. She’d given one big sigh and slowly drifted to sleep.

His heart had hurt then.

It hurt now.

Until he destroyed Golly and his entire network, he didn’t expect the ache to let up.

“This is beautiful.” Kennedy turned in a circle while looking at his living space with the couch and padded chair, a desk and PC, a bookcase and a TV on the wall. “It’s like an upscale apartment.”

“I didn’t design it,” Reyes admitted, “but I did weigh in on the choices. Same with Cade and Madison. In case of an emergency, Dad wanted us to have a place that was our own, but was also with him.”

“Your father is an astounding man.”

Seeing him through Kennedy’s eyes, Reyes realized it was true. Funny how being reared a certain way made you overlook things. Yes, his dad could be as autocratic as a general, and he wasn’t big on accepting anything less than 110 percent. But he was also supportive in ways Reyes hadn’t realized until recently.

Everything he’d orchestrated, he’d done out of love.

Loving Kennedy changed things. When Reyes thought of his mother and the tragic way she’d ended her own life, he had an inkling of what his father might have gone through. How the hell had he recovered?

Not for a single day had he neglected his children. Instead, he’d given them all a new focus for their anger and grief.

It was a new focus for Parrish, as well. Without that, he might not have survived his pain. It took a strong man to forge on as his father had done. To use his grief as an impetus for good. To effect such remarkable change.

For numerous reasons, Reyes admired him greatly—now more than ever.

He snagged Kennedy’s hand as she started toward the bedroom. Needing to hold her, he pulled her into his arms, breathing in the scent of her, absorbing her sweetness and insight. “Thank you.”

Opening her hands on his back, she stroked him. “Reyes? Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” As she’d said, she was with him. Of course he was okay. “Let me show you the rest of the place.”

Though she continued to watch him with concern, she still appropriately appreciated the masculine design of the bathroom and bedroom.

“I have a dorm-sized fridge and a microwave, but I never use them since Bernard always has something good upstairs.”

“Guess I’ll need to go upstairs for coffee.”

“Nah.” He kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose and, lastly, her mouth. “I’ll fetch it for you whenever you want.” To keep her from thanking him again, he asked, “Would you like a nice warm bath?”

Slowly she grinned. “The way you say that, I wonder if you have more than a good soak in mind.”

“You, naked? The view alone will be worth it.”

She laughed, the sound light and easy, proving she really was recovering.

“But, babe, you’re hurt, so no hanky-panky.” He lifted her bandaged wrist. “The water will sting.”

“It’ll be worth it.”

“Come on.” While she watched, he prepped the bath for her and set out fluffy towels. “What else do you need?”

“A way to put up my hair? Clothes to change into?”

“Will a rubber band do? Madison left more clothes, and Bernard washed your bra and panties, so that’s covered.”

Her face went hot, making him grin.

“What?” he teased. “I’m sure Bernard didn’t mind.”

“And if I mind?”

“Too late.” Strange that he could be so concerned for her and also so damned turned on. “Do you need help getting undressed?”

She gave him a look. “No.”

“Then I’ll get your things for you.”

When he returned a minute later, Kennedy was, indeed, naked, and Reyes began wondering if this was such a great idea after all. Just seeing her made him half-hard, but he wasn’t about to—

“Stop it,” she said, taking the band from him, flipping her hair forward and securing it.

He wouldn’t mind seeing her do that a dozen more times—when she wasn’t riddled with bruises. “Er, stop what?”

“Thinking of reasons why we can’t enjoy each other.” She sent him a look so sultry he had to lock his knees. “Just so you know, I need you.”

“Kennedy—”

Her chin lifted. “I feel safer with you. Stronger, too. Being with you is like having everything good rolled up in pleasure. I want that, Reyes. I need to feel alive, and I need you close.”

Damn, he couldn’t breathe. Trying to soothe her, he whispered, “I’m not going to budge from your side, but I don’t want to risk—”

“Did you miss the part where I said I need it?” Her lips trembled before she firmed them. “I need you.”

Yeah, that did it. Whatever control he’d had was just blown to smithereens. He watched her gingerly step into the steamy water, favoring her injured leg. He was used to seeing bruises on himself. On Cade. But on Kennedy?

A light bruise spread out over her right shoulder blade. His dad wouldn’t have seen that one, or the bruise on her left hip. Kennedy had been adamant that she only show so much, and she’d promised that nothing else was hurt.

He understood what she meant. There was hurt, and then there was damaged, like with an injury. On Kennedy, he couldn’t seem to distinguish the two. Even the smallest scratch pained him.

He wanted to surround her with his strength, protect her against the world. And yeah, he wanted to hold her close, sink into her, ride her gently until they both forgot about the near miss.

Ruthlessly he blocked that thought. Just because Kennedy assumed she’d be up to sex, didn’t mean she was.

She sighed as she reclined back, but when the water hit her abraded arm, she hissed a breath.

“Is it bad?”

“No, it just smarts.” She gave him a smile. “I won’t let you slide on sex, so stop looking for a way out.”

What an incredible woman. “Now, how could I possibly deny you?”

“You can’t.” Sinking chin-deep into the water, she said, “Oh, this is nice.”

“Warm enough?” Because now that she was naked and relaxed, he was seriously sweltering. After she nodded, he stripped off his shirt and knelt by the tub.

“There’s room for two.”

True. He’d deliberately chosen a roomy tub for those rare occasions when he wanted a hot soak to relieve stiff muscles. At the moment, it wasn’t his muscles that were stiff, and he wouldn’t crowd her for fear of bumping one of her sore spots. “How about I just enjoy you, instead?”

She eyed him. “Enjoy me how?”

“You stay just like that and let me take care of everything.”

She considered that for a second, then smiled again. “Mmm, that sounds indulgent.”

“For both of us.” Reyes picked up the bar of unscented soap—the kind he used—and worked it into the washcloth until he had a nice lather. Leisurely, he bathed every inch of her, paying special attention to key places, until her breath was choppy and need left her skin rosy.

When he reached beneath the water to touch her, she groaned. Reyes couldn’t look away from her face. He loved seeing her pleasure because it spiked his own. Right now her eyes were heavy, her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly parted.

“Relax your legs, babe.”

Breathing faster, she said, “Maybe we should end the bath.”

“Not yet.” He pressed one finger into her and whispered again, “Relax your legs.”

She swallowed heavily and gradually let her thighs fall open.

“That’s it.” Gently he stroked her, loving the heat of her body, the growing slickness. Her nipples, puckered tight, tempted him until he shifted to lean over her, licking first one, then the other. With a soft sound of need, she locked her hands around his neck and urged him to linger.

While he circled that nipple, playing with her, he withdrew his finger, then pressed in two. Her hips lifted.

“Easy, babe. I don’t want to hurt you.” No matter how he burned, he wouldn’t forget that she’d been injured and was recovering. “Be as still as you can.”

She groaned out a curse, making him smile.

“That’s it,” he praised her, when she relaxed again. He rewarded her by closing his mouth around her nipple, drawing gently first, then sucking harder as he moved his fingers inside her.

He felt her rising need in the way her body trembled, the rush of slippery moisture against his fingers and the sounds she made. Ever so lightly he drifted his thumb over her clitoris, again and again.

Though she locked her fingers in his hair, disregarding his instructions, he couldn’t chide her over that—and wouldn’t have anyway. She was so close to release that he doubted either of them could remember caution.

When the climax hit her, he nearly came, too. Water sloshed out of the tub, but who cared? Her body clenched around his fingers. He lifted his head to watch her expression tighten in honest reaction. So real. So beautiful.

Such a freaking turn-on.

As soon as she quieted, Reyes eased away from her and pulled the drain on the tub. His jeans were soaked so he shucked them off in record time, tossing them over the puddle on the floor. Catching Kennedy under the arms, he lifted her from the tub, set her on her feet and wrapped the fluffy towel around her before picking her up again.

She smiled, her eyes still closed, and let him have his way.

On the way to the bed, he said, “I will not hurt you.”

“I know.” She kissed his throat, her mouth open, her tongue hot. “I trust you, Reyes.”

Lowering her to her feet, he gently dried her.

She laughed at his caution. “Take off your boxers.”

Every day, in some new way, she astounded him. “Not yet.” If he did, it’d be over.

Frowning, she poked his chest. “No more playing, Reyes.” Then in a more plaintive voice, she said, “I need you now.”

“Get in the bed.”

“Bossy much?” She crawled in as she said that, stealing his breath in the process.

“Horny much, actually.” He went to the nightstand to dig out a rubber, then sprawled out beside her. Reminding himself to use ultimate care, to utilize every ounce of gentleness he possessed, he took her mouth in a deep, wet, tongue-dueling kiss while palming her breasts. Every inch of her enticed him, her silky skin, her firm bottom, the taste of her, her scent.

He kissed her throat, down to her breasts, where he concentrated for a while on getting her back to the edge, then down to her ribs and her stomach. He kissed every bruise, every small scrape, and everywhere in between as he slowly progressed down her body.

Probably guessing his intent, she made small, desperate sounds of need.

Carefully parting her thighs, he looked at her, seeing her pink flesh swollen and wet. She definitely wanted him. Whatever pain she felt, it wasn’t hindering her.

“Reyes?”

There were no words for all the things she made him feel. Without forewarning, he licked over her, into her, and didn’t even mind when her hips lifted. Sex had a way of obliterating aches and worries, and given how Kennedy moved now, she wasn’t feeling, either.

Lifting her thighs over his shoulders, he settled in to sate himself on her taste, licking her, prodding with his tongue, nibbling with his lips. Even when she quickly spiraled into another climax, he couldn’t get enough. He closed his mouth over her clitoris and suckled until she cried out, her entire body straining.

Seconds ticked by, maybe even a full minute, and his senses returned in a startling rush. Damn it, he shouldn’t have pushed her like that. He was supposed to be pampering her.

Dreading the discomfort he might see on her face, he rose up and found her resting boneless across his mattress, her thighs sprawled, her arms out and limp, eyes closed and cheeks damp.

“You’re mine.”

Her eyelids fluttered. “What?” she whispered.

No, he didn’t want to get into explanations right now, not when he was strung so tight. He grabbed the condom and rolled it on. “If anything bothers you, if your head hurts—”

“Reyes.” She smiled up at him. “Have you ever known me to be shy?”

“A little.”

She pressed a warm kiss to his mouth. “Not with sex.” She stroked a small, warm hand over his chest.

“The bruises—”

“What bruises?” she whispered, kissing him again, and this time her lips were open, her tongue bold.

Hell, he was a goner. Slowly he moved over her, giving her time to adjust her legs in whatever way was most comfortable for her. Gripping his shoulders, she hooked her uninjured leg over his hips.

Reyes slid one hand under her sexy behind, tilted her hips and pressed into her in one long, smooth thrust.

Heaven.

It was a good thing she’d already come twice because, after all that, he was on a hair trigger.

While he kept up an easy and steady rhythm, Kennedy seemed content to kiss him senseless while stroking his back. Just when he knew he couldn’t hold back a moment longer, he pressed his face into her neck and growled a powerful release. And even then he was aware of her, of how precious she was to him, how delicate. And how strong.

She’d fought a kidnapper from her past who’d had the vilest of intent. She’d persevered through injuries and fear. And she’d stolen his heart, irrevocably.

Plus, she gave him the best sex he’d ever had.

“Somehow,” she whispered near his ear, “it keeps getting better.”

He couldn’t yet speak, but he kissed her shoulder, then rolled to his back to relieve her of his weight. She should have been crying, or at least sleeping, after her ordeal.

Instead, Kennedy immediately snuggled into his side.

They rested like that for a bit until he thought to ask, “Did I hurt you?”

“Of course you didn’t. You never would.”

No, he wouldn’t.

She yawned. “But I am crazy tired again.”

He made himself man up, but it wasn’t easy. “Give me two minutes.” Leaving the bed, he disposed of the condom, cleaned up and found the pills his dad wanted her to take.

He carried her one with a bottle of water. At first he thought she was already asleep, until she opened her eyes. She’d removed the band from her hair and now it tumbled over the pillow. She rested one hand on her stomach and the other, palm up, by her head.

Liking the way she smiled, Reyes sat on the side of the bed and offered her the medicine. When that was done, he straightened the bedding, turned off the light and stretched out beside her. “I’ll keep you warm, okay?”

“Yes.”

Holding her close with one arm, he asked, “Why were you smiling?”

“I was just thinking how funny it was that today should have been one of the scariest since I escaped traffickers, but with you, it was also one of the nicest.”

Damn, she knew how to level him.

I love you. The words burned in his throat, but saying them aloud would be a commitment. Before he did that, they had a lot to work out, most especially his career. He wanted her to know that one day he would comfortably retire. He wouldn’t go into his old age fighting bad guys. He’d have money in the bank, a nice house... She wouldn’t have to worry about growing old with him.

Her career was another matter. He was so damned proud of her, but he knew his limitations, and he couldn’t imagine letting her go off on her own without protection. Not with her past, and not with his awareness of the dangers in the world.

Would she rebel against that?

He had dozens of concerns, but voicing them would start another long conversation when what she really needed was sleep.

When he realized her breathing had deepened, he knew she’d already nodded off.

They’d make it work, he told himself. He didn’t know if Kennedy loved him, but she cared. She liked being with him. She loved the sex.

He could start there and build on the rest.

And with that thought, he drifted off to sleep, too.