That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

Her survival instinct, telling her to run, is one she has been surviving on for years now.

“No, wait, hear me out, please. And then if you still want to leave, I won’t stop you. Just give me a chance to explain. I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.”

Stopping her struggle, she looks me straight in the eye. “You didn’t tell me the truth.” The trust she had in me, it’s ready to leave her body in the way of tears building in her eyes.

“And neither did you, so I think we’re even,” I reply, and her body softens a little, but I can see she is still on high alert. “But there is a good reason we both had to keep secrets and that is purely to keep you safe.” Taking her chin in my hand and lifting, I press my lips gently to hers, softly, to tell her so she really understands where I stand on all this.

“I didn’t need to keep me safe, but you. It’s you who is the precious jewel.” I need her to understand that my life is far less important.

I’m not sure she totally believes me yet.

Her eyes stare at me, trying to process my words. “Just like you can’t tell me who you are, I couldn’t tell you, either. Not until I knew I could trust you, but more importantly, that you felt you could trust me.”

Trust that I think has just taken a massive hit.

I sigh. “Which, admittedly, I thought would take longer than this, but you won me over that first night in the storm. You didn’t know who I was, but subconsciously you trusted me with your life. It would have been drummed into you a million times, never let anyone near you, yet you let me into your home and then into your bed. Even though I was telling myself to walk away… you didn’t need me in your life, because we both know it’s complicated enough.”

She’s nodding slowly, and I hope she can see that I may understand her life more than she knew.

“But there is something about you,” I tell her firmly. “The more I talked to you and spent time with you, the more I couldn’t keep away from you. There’s something about you that my soul is drawn to, and I know you are meant to be mine. I know that sounds crazy, but this whole thing is illogical.”

I kiss her on her forehead so I can keep a connection with her.

Continuing on, I try to get everything I need to say out. “You trust me, Asha. I know you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here, and I know what you wanted to talk about right now, is who you are and why you are here. I could see it in your eyes, the moment I stepped out on to the deck with Davina and Scott. Tell me I’m wrong.” I wait for her to open her mouth, but instead I just get a little head nod. Which is enough for me to continue.

“Okay, let’s get one thing sorted now before you tell me anything. I don’t want to know your real name or why you are here. Not until it’s safe for me to know. I don’t need it, and I’ve lived this life long enough to know that the fewer people that know any details the better. But what I will tell you is that Davina and Scott know who I am. I have worked with them for years on jobs. Hence the weirdness between us, which I’m sure you have already picked up on. So, when this conversation is all said and done, if you need to check on anything that I’ve told you, then you can ask them.”

Finally, her body sags back into mine and my heart slows slightly.

“Things are starting to make a bit of sense,” she says. “But I’m so confused. Why do you hate Scott and why the hell was Davina so adamant in getting rid of you?”

“Scott and I don’t see eye to eye, let’s just leave it at that, and as for Davina, I’m a complication for her. The more people that are around you, the harder their job is. Plus, it’s pretty hard for them to guard you when you’re here naked in my bed.”

The sweetest sound echoes in my room: Asha’s giggle. Hopefully it’s a sign to tell me everything is going to be okay and we can work through this.

“True. I didn’t think of that.”

“I’m glad about that. I would hope you’re thinking more about my super dick when I have you naked under me.”

“Really, you had to go there?”

“Correction, I’ve already been there today, and don’t worry, I fully intend to go there again before we leave this bed this morning.”

“Hmm, that’s debatable. There are a lot of words still unsaid.” Her face becomes a little serious again.

“You’re right, but we have plenty of time to talk until we are both satisfied.” She glances at me, eyebrow raised. “I meant satisfied with the words and conversation. Wow, you have such a dirty mind, Asha.”

“Like you didn’t mean to throw that in there.”

“Of course not… although…”

I can see there are so many thoughts going around her head.

“I know you have questions, but there is one more thing I want to tell you. I’m here to protect you. No matter who or what the danger is out there, I promise to keep you safe. My life for years was to protect the innocent, but protecting you, I have so much more at stake. Now that I’ve found you… I know I can’t bear to lose you.”

“I’m petrified and feel so alone.” Her voice is so soft I almost missed it.

“You’re safe with me, and you’ll never be alone again. That’s more than a promise, it’s my guarantee to you.”

“You can’t say that. These people are really bad, and I’m in a lot of danger.” It looks as if