He leaned down and brushed his mouth lightly over the bandage on her face. “The team has the house surrounded. We have two men on the roof. Drake’s in the house. So is Joshua. Jake’s men are patrolling along his fence line, and Eli has men doing the same. No one is going to get through, baby. All of them are leopards, experienced in security work.”

She swallowed. Nodded. “Intellectually, I know that, Elijah, but I can’t seem to get my emotions to believe it.” Her voice came out in a whisper. The attack felt too close. She didn’t want to let go of him. She didn’t know how it happened, but somehow, Elijah had become her anchor. She knew she would have to stand on her own feet soon, but for right now, she was going to set everything aside and just let him take over.

“You’re shaking, Siena. Take a breath and let me hold you for a minute. Then I’ll brush your hair for you.”

Instantly she touched the wild mass tumbling everywhere. She’d always wanted board-straight hair, so at least it would look sleek and shiny. No, she had gotten thick waves. Big hair. Lots of it. The waves only added to the volume, and when she slept on it, the mass just got bigger. “It drives me nuts,” she admitted.

“I love your hair,” Elijah said, transferring his hold to her hips so he could scoot her forward in the bed. He got behind her, his back to the headboard, wedging her in between his thighs, but very careful of her back. “I could play in your hair for hours.”

The way he said play sent a shiver through her body. She was instantly aware of his dark sensuality. Of the ruthless set of his mouth. His dark, hooded eyes. The way his gaze drifted over her. Brooding. Possessive. Hungry.

He took the brush from the nightstand and began to tug the bristles through the length of her hair. She twisted her fingers in her lap and bowed her head while the brush moved against her scalp.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said, not moving. Not wanting him to stop. Still, his sweetness was disarming and she didn’t dare fall under his spell.

“I enjoy it, mi corazon.” There was a smile in his voice. “We have company. We can’t have you looking like I took advantage of you.”