Meadow's Keep (The Gatekeepers Series) (19 page)

“Eryk,” her voice wavered.
She bolted upright. “Oh, God, Eryk!” She reached a hand toward him and stopped, drawing it back. “Did I hurt you?”

“I’m okay,” he
lied and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up.

Jasmine
touched his side and he winced. She reached around him and turned on the light. His shirtless chest looked as though he’d been stung by a hundred jellyfish.

She tentatively reached out
and tenderly touched a welt. “Oh, Eryk. I’m so sorry.”

He took a deep breath. “I said I
’m okay. I’ll be fine. Are you all right?”

She took a deep breath and released it, also releasing the last bit of tension. “I’m
think so. I don’t know what happened.”

He was trying not to look at her breasts, the
wet T-shirt plastered against perfect mounds. “I think you somehow got your arm caught under you. When I came in, you were flailing.” He looked away.

She rubbed
the arm that tingled from the lack of blood flow and tried to put order to her world. Realizing how she was dressed—or wasn’t—she grabbed at the sheet.

He shook his head and chuckled
, but shifted so she could cover up. “I do believe that particular horse has left the barn.”

Chapter Nine

As Jasmine let the hot spray of the shower pound on her back, she wondered if it had been just a nightmare. Or, had she suffered a flashback to what had happened in that mine a year ago. No matter what it was, she wondered how long it would have gone on had Eryk not intervened. Unknown triggers kept propelling her back into that hell without warning. At the moment, Jasmine wasn’t as confident of her recovery as she had been a few weeks ago. Her fingers trembled with that realization.

The
short shower and fresh clothes helped chase away the vestiges of what remained of the trauma. However, she still needed to face Eryk.

Jasmine emerged from the bedroom running her fing
ers through her still damp hair into a light-flooded living room. He’d turned on every available lamp for her. The aroma of hot coffee led her to the kitchen. As she passed the front door, it clicked and Eryk stepped in, his dark green sweater enhancing the emerald green color of his eyes. Her reaction was animalistic. She tried to smile and felt embarrassment heat her face.

“Coffee?” she asked and turned to the kitchen hoping he hadn’t cau
ght the lust shining in her eyes, particularly right after the horrid scene in the bedroom.

“Sure.” He followed her and let the newspaper drop on the table as he passed.

She handed him a mug of black coffee, stirred sugar into her own, and watched the swirls. The sugar was another recent change. Now, she liked the sweet offsetting the bite of the coffee. In the last year, it seemed she’d wanted everything to be softer, smoother, or sweeter. Was it her compensating or was it physiological changes in her? She took a sip and embraced the hot and sweet flavor running down her throat.

Without looking at him directly, she murmured over the coffee, “About the damages…
.”

“Already taken care of,” he said and
followed her over to the table. “I told them you found a wasp in your room last night and, being allergic, went a little crazy.”

Remembering how she’d
shot Morgan in the face with wasp spray, she commented, “You aren’t far wrong.”

He saw the blush move up
the slender neck emerging from the black angora sweater and followed the soft drapes as it flowed over even softer curves. He swallowed and looked away, moving the chair to sit down at the table.

“
The hotel is extremely sorry and hopes you’re okay,” he explained. “There will be no charges to our room and they asked if you wanted them to change our accommodations. I assured them that the beast had been dealt with and you are fine. They will send someone up today while we’re gone to straighten the room.” He smiled at her. “I set the pieces of the broken lamp in the front closet.”

Her face reddened
. Eryk reached out and laid his hand over hers. She felt the tingle, almost imperceptible now.

“Want to talk about it?”
he asked.

At first, Jasmine
shook her head, then changed her mind. She leaned back in her chair, pulling her hand from under his. “Being raised in Ruthorford gives one a great sense of security. It’s a small town and most of the people in town and on the farms surrounding the town have known each other all of their lives. Yes, we have some odd happenstances, but for us, it’s all normal.”

A tap on the door halted her next words. Eryk went to answer it and returned with a platter of piping hot pastries, compliments of the house. “They really
hope you are okay.”

At the smell of the pastry, Jasmine realized she was ravenous and thought back to what Morgan had said. She
grabbed a bear claw and bit into it and, wiping the sugar from her lips and looked at the platter. “Good thing I’m not a diabetic,” she said.

Eryk brought the coffee pot over
, filled her cup, and topped his off. “Go on,” he encouraged.

“Needless to say, I grew up trusting just about—no,
not just about—everyone, with no exceptions. I knew a dating line when I heard one, of course. But, when I ran into Rob while I was on vacation, I thought nothing of it, other than coincidence. When he drugged me, I didn’t understand. I was chained to a timber, lying on the cold ground. He was ranting and raving. He would unhook me, drag me down the shaft of the mine and demand that I tell him where the veins were. At first, I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about. He’d hit me, drag me back up, chain me back to the timber and rant and rave some more. I tried reasoning with him.”

She shuddered at the memory. “The look in his eyes told me he
didn’t believe me. I think he was delusional. He thought all women in Ruthorford were like Morgan.” She looked into Eryk’s eyes. “Or you. At first, I was ashamed that I wasn’t. When I finally told him I didn’t have any abilities, he beat me up, yelling at me that I was lying. Then something happened. I’ll never forget the look on his face. It was like he’d gone completely crazy.” Her brow furrowed as she thought back. “Suddenly, he started talking about going to get Morgan. I panicked. I didn’t want him to do to her what he was doing to me. I tried to make him think that it was him, not me, who was the problem.” She stopped to compose herself.

Eryk took her hand. “You don’t have to go on.”

“You asked. After last night, you deserve—” she stopped when his hand tightened on hers and amended her statement. “I want you to know…everything,” she stared into her cup.

“I’m not sure what happened at that point. He drugged me again. When I came to, my clothes were torn. I told him the drug was having a dampening effect and I couldn’t do anything with my arms tied. So
, he unchained me and dragged me to the cavern, saying he remembered that we had to have sex to make it happen. He tore off the rest of my clothes. I fought like a banshee. I kicked him in the groin. He threw the chain around my neck and yanked me to the ground. I lost consciousness. When I came to he was raping me. Then, he beat me again. This went on over and over. I passed out. Or, I think I did. When I came to, he was on me. Spittle was dripping from his mouth, like a rabid dog. He seemed disoriented, like he was trying to remember what to do. He seemed almost shocked to see me underneath him. That’s when he dragged me back up and chained me to the timber. At some point, he dislocated my arm and I passed out again. When I regained consciousness, he was gone. Dorian almost didn’t find me because I was afraid it was Rob returning.” Tears fell onto the table.

Eryk didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. Every fiber of his being wanted to kill the man that
had done that to her. He could feel the energy pulsing through his body. He got up and walked to the window, looking out across the cityscape, willing himself to calm down. He felt her hand on his back.

“Eryk,” she said, he
r voice trembling. “I’d understand if—”

He spun around so fast she jumped
, stumbling. He grabbed her arms. “Don’t you even say….” He looked into her shadowed black eyes. “Jasmine,” his voice softened and he eased her forward, bringing her as close as possible, until his arms enfolded her. “I moved away because I didn’t want to frighten you, not because I’m repulsed.” Eryk stroked her soft hair until her head rested against his chest. He felt her arms go around him, tentatively at first, then tightening, until she was holding him as tightly as he was her. They stood there, holding on. He felt their heartbeats catch and hold and he felt himself reacting to her in a way he couldn’t help, silently cursing the “match-mate” thing happening between them.

Eryk eased away from her, putting her at
arm’s length. As he stepped back, he saw the tears shimmering in her eyes. He kissed her forehead, took her hand, and led her back to the table. “It’s a good thing I don’t know where this Rob is,” he muttered, more to himself than her and held her chair as she sat.

“He’s in a rehabilitation facility
,” she offered, she voice soft, but still throaty from their closeness. “He has no memory of what happened. He doesn’t even know who I am.” She took his hand across the table. “I was pretty messed up when I arrived at Safe Harbor. However, I healed quickly and, as I healed, I changed. The thing is, I did heal. He hasn’t.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get
…,” his words faltered.

“Pregnant?
Or worse?” she asked, tilting her head. “I’m lucky I was given the morning after pill at the hospital. I don’t know how I would have handled that, to be honest with you.”

Jasmine
absently picked up a pastry, broke off a piece, and took a bite before continuing “What I’ve seen at Safe Harbor shows me every day how lucky I was…and am. Believe me when I tell you, this was nothing compared to what others have been through—for years. Both adults and children. Not just physically, but mentally. And then, in order to be safe, they have to give up everything they have and everything they were.” She let out a sound. “It’s a shame we can’t remove the offender—permanently—and give them some semblance of normalcy. We can’t. Therefore, we do the best we can. You don’t know how often I’ve wished I could give them just a little of the power I now have. Just enough so that they’d feel less afraid. Like I do.” She raised her hand, flattened it, and a ball of energy danced on her palm, before vanishing into thin air.

“Well, you weren’t helpless last night, that’s for sure. I’m just sorry you
went through that.” He tried to smile, rubbing his jaw. “At least I know you can take care of yourself.”

“John Davis, who takes care of the security at Safe Harbor and happens to be a descendant of Ruthorford—a Native American descendant—is teaching
self-defense to Safe Harbor’s residents, adults and children alike. I’ve taken several of his classes, myself. If nothing else, it helps rebuild confidence.”

The sun broke over the tops of the buildings, sending a pink glow into the living
room. “I think I’ll take some coffee out on the balcony, if you don’t mind. You’re welcome to join me.” Jasmine’s voice was soft, her mind far away.

Wanting to give her some time, he picked up the plate of remaining pastries. “If you’re done with these, I think I’ll finish them off while I
get some work done before we have to go. I need to rearrange a few things on my schedule.” He saw her smile as he took a big bite. “I’m famished.”

Jasmine rose and
, topping off the mug, went out on the balcony and sat at the table nestled in the corner, away from the wind and, for her, the height. She set her mug on the table, enjoying the early morning.

She’d done it. She’d share
d what had happened to her. Of course, Eryk Vreeland couldn’t be counted as just anyone. As to what happened the night before, it was as though he’d absorbed her energy and fed it back to her in a different form, a form so warm and loving, Jasmine knew it would be a long time before that memory dimmed, if ever.

A
shadow swept over the edge of the balcony. She held her breath. As it passed once more, she got the oddest sensation. She gripped the edge of the chair until the slight wave of nausea passed. She squinted and saw the wind catch a leaf in the
gutter
on the road below, sending it dancing along, until it disappeared into the storm grate. How was that possible? She blinked, realized she was still in the chair, gripping its arms, and tried to steady her nerves. In front of her, sitting on the balcony rail, watching the street below, was a large falcon. Jasmine had no idea how long she sat there, studying the gray-brown feathers ruffling in the cool breeze, afraid to move or even breathe, not wanting it to leave. Its head twisted and it looked her in the eye, gave a screech, and took off, its wings spreading to catch an updraft.

J
asmine leapt from the chair, grabbed the door and ran straight into Eryk. She squeaked, “Did you see?”

“I’ve been standing back a little, so I wouldn’t disturb it. I was afraid it might…no, that’s not right…you were so motionless…just staring
.” He pulled her away from the door and closed it. “Just in case it comes back.” He chuckled. “A wasp is one thing, a hawk another.”

“Oh, Eryk. It was amazing.” She ran her hands through her short hair. “I think I’ve figured it out.”
Jasmine started pacing and looked at her watch. Too early to leave. “I’ve got to talk to Bask.”

“Give me a minute
and we’ll go. I have a strange feeling that man is already there, if he doesn’t live there.”

“He doesn’t,” she called to Eryk’s back as he disappeared into his room. “But he lives damn close
,” she added to the closed door.

****

The drive to Abbott House took closer to forty minutes than ten, after “Mildred,” as they began calling the vehicle’s GPS, wound them in and around town and got them stuck in two traffic jams. Fortunately, at the last intersection—where they’d been sitting for damn near five minutes—Jasmine recognized a side street and had Eryk cut across three lanes of traffic onto the narrow street, which wasn’t as harrowing as it could have been since the oncoming traffic was also at a stand-still. Eryk shut down “Mildred” after her fourth “make a U-turn.”

Eryk asked question after question about Abbott House and Bask.
Still not knowing exactly how vetted he was, Jasmine fed him the media version. The Ruthorford version she decided to leave to Bask. Eryk already knew more than most; plus, he
was
Dorian’s twin. But, she hadn’t been cleared on what she could and couldn’t tell him so, until then, she decided to play it safe.