Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

not to feel those fingers at her throat. A panic attack? She’d never had them before. Or had it been real? Had Stavros found her already? Sheena MacKenzie had ceased to exist. There was no way he should be able to trace her back to El e Drake, and certainly not that fast. It had to have been a panic attack. She rubbed her throat, feeling bruised and sore. “Maybe I’m losing my mind, Jackson.â€
    â€œAnd maybe you’re traumatized, El e.†He kicked open the door and swept his hand toward the interior, signaling the dog to enter and search.
    Even with El e in his arms, he had one hand near his weapon, tucked into his belt. The German Shepherd poked his head out a few minutes later and gave a short bark, signaling al -clear. Jackson stepped inside and put El e down in the center of the room. “It isn’t al that clean, honey. I didn’t expect to bring you home with me.â€
    El e turned in a slow circle to take in the room. It was a man’s room. High ceilings, al gleaming wood. The front of the house was a series of cathedral-like windows rising to the high beamed ceiling in panels, framed in the same polished wood. The floor matched the ceiling and wal s as if the entire long open room had been hewn from the same piece of giant redwood. She walked over to the stone fireplace, again a very impressive piece that seemed masculine.
    â€œIt’s beautiful, Jackson. And very open.â€
    â€œI don’t like to be closed in.â€
    Her gaze jumped to his. A ghost of a smile touched her mouth. “Neither do I.â€
    â€œYou’re welcome to look around, El e. Treat the house as your home. I’l run you a bath.†He kept his voice absolutely expressionless.
    â€œI’l have to look at your wounds and get them cleaned up and we need to do something with your hair.â€
    Her hair. Her crowning glory, her mother cal ed it. She hated her hair. She hated the feeling of Stavros running his fingers through it. “I think I’l cut it off. Al of it.†But he could stil do that. Stil slide his hands over her hair. Her stomach lurched and she was afraid she’d vomit.
    â€œThat’s a bit drastic, El e. I can comb out the tangles for you.â€
    But Jackson was in her head. He knew. He saw. He was always going to know that Stavros would color everything she said or did for the rest of her life.
    She met Jackson’s eyes and knew she couldn’t hide from him. She wanted to weep for being so weak, for al owing Stavros to touch her . . .
    â€œDon’t! You didn’t allow anything, El e.â€
    â€œMaybe if I’d fought harder. I don’t know. I could have jumped off the yacht before it reached the island. Why didn’t I?â€
    He crossed the room and gathered her into his arms. “You know better, baby. You’re stronger than he thinks you are. You got away.â€
    She pressed her face tightly against his heart. “I didn’t though. He’s inside of me. He’s al over me. He’s in my head.â€
    Jackson framed her face with his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “There’s no room for him in your head, El e. I’m there. I’l always be there and if he tries to come in I’l drive him out until you’re strong enough to do it yourself. And there was never room for him in your heart because I was already there. He couldn’t touch your soul. It belongs to you and no one else unless you decide to share.â€
    â€œI know you need space, Jackson, but you can’t leave me alone.â€
    It cost her to say it out loud and he never would have made her. She was trying to atone, trying to give him something back when she was putting him at risk, when she knew she was going to lash out at him.
    â€œYou never have to do that, El e, not with me,†he said, meaning it. “I don’t need that from you. I’m not going to be perfect here, we both know that. I’m mean as a snake most of the time and I like my own way. I haven’t changed just because your disappearance scared the hel out of me. Don’t worry about me.â€
    â€œI can’t,†she said. “I can barely survive right now. You’re the toughest man I know and I trust you with my sanity. I’m giving myself to you, Jackson, my soul. You said it was mine to give and you’re the only one I know that is