WalkingSin Read Online Free PDF Page A

she heard Dax say her name softly. Now that her initial terror
had subsided, embarrassment welled up inside her. Dax would probably get away
from her as quickly as all the other men she’d tried to sleep with.
    “Kelcey,” he said, his tone still gentle,
“please look at me.”
    Several more seconds passed before she
forced herself to lift her head. Dax squatted before her, a towel wrapped
around his waist. Instead of seeing disgust in his eyes, she saw tenderness.
    “Want to talk about it?”
    His obvious concern brought more tears to
her eyes. How she’d love to tell him the agony she’d gone through at the hands
of two men who were supposed to love and protect her. She’d told therapists
what happened, hoping for relief from the horrible dreams, but had never shared
her experience with anyone close to her.
    She shook her head. “It isn’t important.”
    “I’d argue that point since you’re so
upset. Sometimes it helps to talk.”
    “I can’t, Dax. Please don’t ask me.”
    He looked like he might argue anyway, but
then he nodded. “Okay. No talking. Would you like to go in the living room with
me and watch some TV?”
    She thought it sweet of him to offer when
she had no doubt he’d rather get away from her. “No. I think I want to go back
to bed.”
    “Okay.”
    He reached out as if to touch her face.
Kelcey flinched, not yet ready for any physical contact. He dropped his hand
back to his side.
    “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    She nodded. Dax rose and walked to the
door. Once there, he looked at her again over his shoulder. The sympathy in his
eyes made fresh tears pool in hers.
    He closed the door behind him. Kelcey
covered her face with her hands. She hated that the past still haunted her. She
longed to share her life with someone, to find a man who loved her as much as
she loved him. She couldn’t do that when even a hint of closeness made the
disgusting memories flare up in her mind.
    She heard a soft whine before a cold nose
bumped her hands. Moving them away from her face, she saw Walker sitting next
to her. He leaned against her leg and touched her arm with his paw. More tears
fell as she hugged the dog’s neck.
    “Oh, Walker, what am I going to do?”
    * * * * *
    Dax had been angry many times in his life,
but never enough to seriously think about hurting someone. That changed last
night when he witnessed Kelcey’s pain.
    A woman didn’t fall apart so completely
because of a bad dream. She’d enjoyed his kisses and caresses. He didn’t doubt
that. Her response had been real and very hot. Yet she’d gone crazy as soon as
he lay on top of her.
    Some asshole had raped her.
    He watched the slow drip of coffee into the
glass carafe. He’d never understand why a man did that, why he would want to
hurt a woman so much. Especially a woman as sweet as Kelcey.
    Rage boiled up inside him again. Oh yeah,
he could definitely hurt the man who had hurt Kelcey.
    Movement in the doorway drew his attention.
Kelcey stepped into the room, looking pale and uncertain. He decided he
wouldn’t mention last night since he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
“Good morning.”
    “Good morning,” she said in barely above a
whisper.
    “Coffee’s almost done. Are you hungry?”
    “Not really.” He saw her hands flex on the
handles of her tote. He hadn’t noticed it on her shoulder until now. “I think
I’ll walk back to Alaina’s.”
    “You don’t have to walk. I’ll be happy to
drive you.”
    “I know you will, but I’d rather walk.”
    “Sure. I have some to-go cups. I’ll fill a
couple with coffee and we’ll walk.”
    He saw her chest rise and fall with a sigh.
“Dax, I’d…rather be alone. Okay?”
    No, it wasn’t okay. He didn’t like the idea
of her being alone. The urge to protect her had him struggling not to take her
in his arms and hold her.
    Walker chose that moment to come in the
kitchen. He stopped next to Kelcey and leaned against her leg. Even his dog
wanted to