His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series by Sandra Antoni (the reading list TXT) 📗

Get some sleep,” I told her gently. Then I walked to the door and shut the light off, closing the door behind me.

Walking into the living room, I pulled out my cellphone and called Brady. He answered on the second ring. After explaining what had happened this evening, I told him I needed his help getting Chelsea’s car. We arranged a time to meet in the morning, and then I headed up the stairs, once again using one of the spare rooms.

Chapter 5

Chelsea

I watched Ezekiel step out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Then I let my mind drift back to the events of the evening. I had crawled for hours, and when night fell, I had wanted so badly to just give up.

With the cold temperatures at night, I knew that I could freeze overnight. All I had was my sweatshirt, but when I had left the resort that morning, I had not intended on being on the mountain after dark. Then I had seen the wolf.

I immediately froze at the sight of the enormous animal. I had never seen a wolf so large, but perhaps it was the distance that made it seem larger. It seemed like the wolf was watching me, and I knew that it knew I was there.

I pushed back away from it, forgetting about my ankle and trying to put more distance between us. But when the pain shot up my leg, I collapsed on the ground. It was useless, and I was going to become some wild animal’s prey. Being torn apart by the creature’s teeth seemed a horrible way to go.

I waited for a long time with my eyes closed tightly, but nothing happened. When I finally opened my eyes again and looked back to where I had seen the wolf, it was gone. That made me wonder if I had actually seen it after all. Perhaps the pain, and the anxiety of being lost and alone and hungry and cold, was making my mind play tricks on me.

Searching the distance with what little light was coming from the moon, I knew that I was all alone. Rolling back to my hands and knees, I continued working my way slowly down the mountain. It was about an hour later that Ezekiel had shown up, and now I was lying in what was obviously his bedroom.

He had been my hero, even carrying me for over a half hour. I could still remember the feel of the muscles in his arms and chest against me, and his face should have been among the demigods. And wow did he smell like a man! When I had buried my face in his shirt, it was his scent that distracted me from the pain and nausea…and then he had cared for me.

He had washed the blood from my scrapes and cuts, wrapped my ankle, fed me, and gave me his bed. He didn’t have to do any of that. Then he had listened to me talk about my parents. I had never intended to reveal so much of myself to a complete stranger, but for some reason, I had a feeling that I could trust him.

He had listened to me, and from the expression on his face, I could tell that he was really listening. He had wanted me to open up to him, and it had just felt right to do so. It still surprised me that he had been so easy to talk to, even on a subject that was particularly touchy for me to talk about.

Then I realized that he also made me feel safe. Not even my ex had ever made me feel like that. None of my exes had for that matter. There was something about Zeke that just pulled at me. It was like I had known him for years instead of just a few hours. That thought scared me just a bit, but I still believed that I could trust him.

On the mountain, he had told me that he would not hurt me, and for some reason, I had instantly believed him. Somehow, I just knew that it was true. There was no way that I could describe what I was feeling right now, but maybe I just needed to sleep on it. Things would be better in the morning.

Closing my eyes, I pictured Zeke’s face. His dark hair was slightly longer than a business professional’s style, and the ends curled up just a bit in a wave. His firm jaw had made him seem even more masculine, if that were even possible. His broad shoulders and muscular build were all male, and he had to be well over six foot as well.

His eyes were a brilliant blue. I had never seen eyes so blue and bright. I could easily stare into those eyes for hours. They made me feel like I was swimming in a pool of blue, and when his gaze met mine, I had felt like I was lost again. But in a good way this time.

His lips had been in a tight line while he carried me, but when he was sitting beside me on the bed, the tension was gone from his face and he was relaxed. When he smiled, I felt flutters in my chest and even my pussy had responded to him.

I had never had such a reaction to a man before, especially not a complete stranger, and maybe it was just because he had rescued me. Hopefully, I would feel more normal in the morning, but for now, I was exhausted.

When I woke the next morning, sunlight was already coming in the windows of the room. It took me a few moments to remember where I was, and then the events of the previous evening came flooding back.

I closed my eyes again and relaxed against the amazingly soft bed. It was even more comfortable than the bed in my room at the resort, and I knew that