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CHAPTER FIVE

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Jenn sank down against the front door as soon as it was closed, neglecting to lock it in her haste and sliding to the floor. She drew her knees to her chest as the enormity of the situation she had been in finally hit her.That bear had been huge. Bigger than any she'd seen at a zoo, that was for sure. He was huge, and he was fat. He knew how to get food, he knew how to kill. And she had definitely been in his territory.

“Holy fuck...” she breathed, watching as Kylie emerged from the bedroom, clearly just waking from a nap. The cat shook herself and trotted over, cooing a greeting and rubbing against Jenn's legs.

She reached out, stroking her fingers over her soft fur and trying to ground herself even as she felt the panic attack she'd held at bay in the forest beginning to kick into gear.

Jenn swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her forehead on her knees and trying to focus on slow and measured breathing, mind racing a million miles an hour as she kept replaying the moment the bear had stood up, staring her down over and over. All she could hear was his grunts and groans, the thick musky smell choking her as if the bear was there with her at that moment.

She surged to her feet, rushing to the bathroom and flinging open the mirror, grabbing the prescription bottle and shaking out a small circular tablet, nearly spilling the entire bottle down the sink from her shaking.

She swallowed it down dry, sucking breaths greedily through her parted lips, the constricted feeling in her chest worsening as she moved to the bedroom and crawled into her bed, pulling the blankets over her head and curling into a small ball. She shook with her muffled sobs as the anxiety and panic took hold. She could do nothing but go along for the ride and wait for the Xanax to take effect.

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After giving Jenn ample time to gather herself - or so he assumed - Karl ventured to her cabin to offer his assistance in a way that didn't overstep the boundaries that he must maintain. As he approached her door, his hand hovered over the handle before finally settling on a light knock.

“Jenn?” he called, his voice gruff yet concerned. “You okay?”

He listened intently for any sound from within, his senses honed to detect the subtle cues of distress or panic that humans often failed to recognize. When the only reply was the muted sound of fabric rustling and what could have been muffled crying, Karl steeled himself and let himself in without waiting for an invitation.

He found Jenn cocooned under a mountain of blankets, her trembling form barely discernible in the dimly lit room. His first impulse was to charge in and wrap his arms around her, but he held back, reminding himself of the need for distance, to protect them both. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and speaking softly.

“Hey, you need anything?” he asked, the gruffness of his voice tempered by the genuine worry etched into his words.

She hadn't heard him enter, so inwardly focused, and she jumped when he touched her, pushing the blankets down to peek out, eyes wild with fear and face wet with tears.

Upon seeing Karl another choked sob escaped her, relief flooding her entire body at his familiar face and the almost kind expression he wore. Half out of her mind with the panic still surging through her, acting fully on instinct, her body knew what she needed even if her mind couldn't form the thoughts.

She flung herself forward, latching onto him desperately, winding her arms around his waist and nearly bowling him over with the force as her face buried itself into his chest and she clung for dear life, continuing to sob softly even as the warmth from his body began to soothe her.

His body went still instantly, and he looked down at the tiny woman, her desperation palpable as she clung to him, her body trembling violently against his own. His mind reeled at the unfamiliar sensation of someone clinging to him so tightly, his usual detachment crumbling beneath the weight of her distress. Despite his best intentions, his arms automatically encircled her slender form, attempting to offer some semblance of comfort as he supported her frail body.

His initial instinct was to stiffen, to push her away and assert his personal space, but the raw emotion emanating from her quashed his defenses. A part of him realized she wasn't asking for pity or coddling - just a fleeting moment of humanity amid chaos. He held her securely, his palms spreading wide over her back as he absorbed the force of her panic.

“It's alright,” he murmured, trying to imbue a reassuring quality into his rough voice, “you're safe.” The words came naturally, his instincts taking over as he rocked her gently, his body reacting to her vulnerability with an uncharacteristic display of compassion. He attempted to shield her from the turbulent storm raging through her mind, letting her tears soak into the fabric of his shirt as he bore the brunt of her emotional turmoil.

With each shudder that racked her body, Karl's grip on her tightened incrementally, becoming more secure without growing overly constrictive. It was a delicate balance he walked, aware that he risked driving her further into despair should he hold her too tightly. So, he simply held, waiting for her body to relax, for the storm to pass, and for her rational mind to regain control. As her breathing gradually slowed, Karl loosened his hold slightly, angling himself to ease her down onto the bed without relinquishing his grasp.

“I'm here,” he whispered as he smoothed his hand over her hair with a gentleness that belied his gruff exterior. “I've got you.”

The statement slipped out unplanned, a testament to the depth of Jenn's distress and the uncharted territory Karl had wandered into by allowing himself to become emotionally invested. The realization sent a jolt of unease through him, but he refused to retreat from this unexpected position, instead opting to follow through with the promise and see things through.

Slowly her sobs began to subside, face nuzzling against his chest slightly, unconsciously, soaking up the comfort he offered without any words. When was the last time someone had held her like this, with compassion, not to manipulate her or to get something from her in return, but just to comfort her? She'd been alone in her suffering for so long - when she'd been in the hospital, during her recovery, the difficult time in court. She'd dealt with it all on her own. There had been no one to lean on, no one she could trust.

Her arms tightened their grip on Karl even as her breathing began to calm and slow, the Xanax coupled with his embrace bringing the panic and anxiety under control. She didn't want to move, she was so tired, her side ached so badly from her violent sobbing, and his hold on her made everything feel okay, made her feel safe in a way she hadn't known since she'd been a child.

“A bear,” she finally got out, voice muffled against him. “Not hurt, just...” she shivered, pressing even closer to him, “...scared me.” she finished weakly.

Scared her was an understatement. Triggered her was more like it, the panic at the bear a startling likeness to the terror she'd felt when the gun had gone off and she'd realized her ex hadn't been hit, she had. Those moments after, the way her eyes had met those of his supposed friend, the shock - he hadn't meant to, she'd surprised him, she wasn't supposed to be there, wasn't supposed to know about any of it-

Shuddering, she fisted her hands in his shirt at his back, clinging hard and feeling the wave of fear fall back.

As Jenn's sobs gradually subsided, Karl's brow creased with concern at the residual tremors coursing through her body. Clearly, this was now about more than just the bear. A protective instinct was building within him, fueling a simmering rage at the world for inflicting such trauma upon her gentle spirit.

“Shh, I know,” he soothed, his gruff voice a stark contrast to the tender strokes he brushed across her damp cheek. “It's okay to be scared.”

He guided her down onto the bed, his large frame hovering above her own before he settled to lay on his side, cradling her trembling body close to his chest. The scent of her hair filled his nostrils, mingling with the musk of her sweat-soaked skin and the faint medicinal aroma of the Xanax she'd taken. It was a peculiar mix, but it suited her somehow - the fragility of a wounded soul seeking shelter in the strong embrace of a protector.

Karl knew better than most the depths of trauma, the insidious ways it could seep into every corner of a person's psyche, corrupting and consuming until there was nothing left. He'd witnessed it firsthand, seen his closest allies reduced to shells of their former selves by the horrors they'd endured. And now, he saw it reflected in the broken gaze of the woman in his arms, a haunting reminder of his own failures.

But this time, he wouldn't fail. He'd be damned if he allowed her pain to fester and consume her like it had so many others. No matter how much it cost him, no matter how much it tested his resolve, he would be her anchor in the storm.

“Just breathe,” he instructed softly, his fingertips tracing calming patterns along her spine as he cradled her to him, chest to chest. “Focus on my heartbeat, feel how steady it is. You're safe here.”

As the minutes ticked by and her breathing evened out, Karl knew he'd have to address the elephant in the room - their current compromising position. But for now, he contented himself with simply holding her, allowing her to draw strength from his presence as she navigated the treacherous waters of her own mind.

Stolen novel; please report.

The Xanax fully kicking in, Jenn felt the tension in her body begin to ease, replaced by a soft warmth, a pleasant lightness to her limbs. Her fingers released their handfuls of his shirt, aching from the force with which she'd clutched him, but her hands remained pressed against him, the heat of his skin under her touch grounding her in reality.

The smell of him was intoxicating, she realized with a fuzzy mind. He smelled like wood smoke, fresh grass, and something a little spicy and musky, very masculine and very comforting. Something about his scent was infinitely soothing, it felt like home in a way she couldn't begin to understand. She took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with him, and gave a happy little sleepy murmur. He smelled... perfect.

She was vaguely aware that she was lying on her side now, and that he was beside her, holding her close. He was squeezing her tightly, and she knew that the firmness of his grasp had gone a long way in chasing off her panic.

“Please don't move yet...” she breathed, pressing her cheek into his chest and cautiously rubbing her fingertips against his back just a little bit, feeling his muscles move beneath her touch. She was afraid if he broke the contact, everything would flood back again. She'd never felt so comforted and so cared for by another person in her adult life. She never wanted to move again.

Karl found himself ensnared within her plight far more deeply than he had anticipated. Her request resonated with a part of him that yearned to protect, to be needed - a part he believed he had long since abandoned in favor of self-preservation and detachment from the humanity around him. The desperation in her plea tugged at something primal within him, compelling him to remain, despite all logical arguments to the contrary. She needed him. That was everything.

He settled himself more comfortably beside her, adjusting their position so that she remained securely folded in his embrace while also ensuring neither would grow uncomfortable from the awkward position. His muscles relaxed slowly under her tentative exploration, betraying precisely how accustomed he had become to maintaining constant vigilance and control over his body's responses.

With her, though, he found that relaxation was not so elusive a concept; maybe it was the scent of her hair wafting up to him, reminiscent of fresh lavender, the sweetness he identified earlier revealing itself to be some sort of berry, or maybe the rhythmic cadence of her breathing as it gradually became deeper and more steady. Whatever the reason, Karl indulged in the rare luxury of allowing his guard to drop slightly, relishing the chance to simply be without fear or suspicion clouding his thoughts.

As Jenn drifted closer toward slumber, influenced by both the Xanax and his soothing presence, Karl could feel the subtle shift in her demeanor, the way the tension melted away to leave in its wake a sense of serene repose. He marveled at how such a seemingly trivial gesture - cradling another human being during a moment of vulnerability - could possess the power to bestow peace upon both giver and receiver alike. It was an experience he had denied himself for far too long, prioritizing survival above any sort of connection with another.

“Shh, I'm not going anywhere,” Karl assured her softly, pressing a chaste but firm kiss to the top of her head as he pulled out her ponytail and set about combing his fingers through her hair in slow, soothing strokes. “Close your eyes. Rest.”

Jenn curled into him, scooting her body up against his for maximum contact as exhaustion began to set in. She could feel sleep beckoning, the high dose of Xanax taking its toll, and as she started to drift off she pressed a single, sleepy kiss against his chest where her face rested, near his heart, hardly aware of what she was doing.

Karl's pulse quickened perceptibly, and he stifled the urge to pull her closer, to feel more of her warmth against his skin. Her innocent gesture stirred something deep within him - a mixture of affection and profound sadness making his chest ache.

Her efforts to press closer to him had caused her shirt to ride up a little bit, her belly button and the bare flesh of her tummy exposed, the yellow and green of the bruises on her right side just visible, the scar from where the bullet had entered her body barely obscured by the fabric.

Karl's breath hitched in his throat. Up close, the vibrant hues of her bruising were much clearer than they'd been when he'd seen them in the forest from a distance and served as a stark reminder of the violence she had survived. He reached out, pressing her shirt up a bit further carefully to see the injury better. The mere sight of the wound she bore sent a fresh wave of rage surging through his veins. How could he protect her, truly safeguard her against the demons that pursued her? The thought plagued him, refusing to yield, as he traced his fingertips reverently over the mottled patches of flesh, his touch feather-light in deference to her fragile condition. What had caused this?

In sleep, Jenn's fingers twitched against his back, finding the material of his flannel and grasping it lightly, as if trying to keep him close even in unconsciousness.

The soft whisper of her fingers against him tore at his heart, a poignant expression of her unspoken need for stability and security. It was a need he understood all too well, having been forged in the crucible of his own battles, both past and present.In that moment, Karl recognized that he couldn't simply extricate himself from her life; not when it seemed she had already come to depend on him so implicitly, not when the ghosts of her past continued to haunt her. And, he admitted reluctantly, something about her had captivated him. He hadn't scented someone so alluring before, every inhale of sweet lavender made the fist tightening in his chest strengthen its grip a little more.

He settled his head against hers, absorbing the weight of her trust as he drew in the smell of her hair once more. Karl knew he should be wary of getting too close, of opening himself up to the inevitable heartache that would come with caring for someone in her precarious situation. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to abandon her, not when she needed him so acutely.

As he held her close, listening to her breathing even out and watching her eyes flicker behind closed lids, Karl made an unspoken vow. He would do whatever it took to ensure her safety, even if it meant putting himself squarely in harm's way. After all, that was the code of the man he once was - and the man he seemed destined to become once again, all thanks to the sleeping woman in his arms.

Karl's warm embrace infiltrated Jenn's slumber, shaping her sleeping visions in his image. Xanax always gave her more vivid, wild dreams, and this time was no different.

As she slept, the Karl in her dream had taken his comforting to another level, trailing his lips down her neck, pausing at her pulse point to nibble there where her warm skin jumped with her beating heart.

The low growling sound he made deep in his chest against her ear had her thighs clenching, her breath gasping. His hands were at her waist, squeezing her softly, running to her hips, as his lips trailed over her collarbone now, nose nudging her cleavage and tongue snaking out to taste between her breasts, making her chest arch and a soft mewling gasp escape her lungs.

Outside of her dream, Jenn slept peacefully, a hint of color staining her cheeks as her breathing picked up just slightly.

Dream Jenn, however, was anything but peaceful. Her hands were tangled in Karl's hair, his stubble rubbed against her sensitive skin as his face trailed down, tongue swirling around one peaked nipple, drawing it into his mouth.

The moan she released in her dream came out of her sleeping lips as a soft, breathy sigh as arousal began to grow low in her belly.

Karl's ears caught the subtle change in Jenn's breathing as he held her, his keen senses attuned to her slightest shifts. Even asleep, she stirred against him, her brow furrowing and her breath catching in a way that hinted at troubled dreams rather than restful repose. He frowned, wondering if her slumber was disturbed by lingering fears from her encounter in the woods or something else entirely.

Unable to ignore the flicker of concern, he brushed a strand of golden hair from her forehead and leaned closer to study her features. The faint flush across her cheeks and the rapid flutter of her lashes against them suggested her mind had turned towards intimacy rather than peril. Karl's chest tightened, a strange mix of protectiveness and discomfort warring within him at the notion.

He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her, and observed her face more closely. Despite his reservations about forming attachments, he couldn't deny the rush of satisfaction at seeing her in his arms. Though he knew better than to entertain romantic ideas, there was no denying the comfort and security his presence seemed to afford her. Perhaps it was enough to simply be there - to offer shelter and solace, even if he knew deep down he longed for more.

Meanwhile, Dream Karl was growing bolder, and as his lips trailed down her tummy, Jenn felt like there was fire running through her veins.

This sort of thing hadn't been something she'd particularly enjoyed in the past – the only partner she'd had before had been more interested in using her body for his own ends, it had never felt like this before. Not even close.

Dream Jenn was an inferno, and sleeping Jenn was beginning to burn.

Dream Karl's fingers began pulling down her pants, dark brown eyes looking up at her with so much heat, so much need.

Outside of her dream, Jenn's lips parted, gasping softly.

“Please...” she breathed, hardly audible.

Dream Karl's eyes never left hers, a smirk on his lips as his head dipped lower...

“Karl...” another whisper, softer than before, voice thick, drawing out the vowels of his name just slightly as she nuzzled her face into his chest and breathed him in. Her hips shifted ever so slightly as her thighs pressed together and in her dream, Karl finally reached his destination.

Karl tensed as Jenn's breathy whispers penetrated his concentration, his grip on her slackening involuntarily. The soft pleas, tinged with vulnerability and an unmistakable undercurrent of desire, jolted him from his contemplation and brought forth a rush of conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to deny the effect her words had on him, to dismiss them as nonsensical murmurs born from the haze of her medication. However, another part acknowledged the undeniable evidence her body provided – the way she pressed closer, seeking his warmth, and how her breathing betrayed the stirrings of awakening desires. Desires he was beginning to smell with his enhanced senses...

A slight movement from her slumbering form caused Karl's brow to knit with concern. Despite his usual restraint, he could not resist reaching out to trace the curve of her jawline, his calloused thumb brushing gently across her parted lips. Each ragged exhalation ghosted over his skin, stoking a smoldering heat that threatened to override his rational faculties.Forcing himself to withdraw, Karl turned his attention elsewhere, needing time to compose himself lest he further compromise the delicate line he walked regarding her welfare and his own burgeoning... affections.

Dream Jenn was a woman possessed, writhing against the unbelievable sensations she was experiencing. Nothing had felt like this before, and she clutched at Dream Karl's hair, drawing him up her body to crash their lips together.

Outside of her dream, Jenn whimpered, a soft whine of frustration and need. The flush on her cheeks had moved down to stain her chest pink, and her fingers clutched the flannel of his shirt, pulling softly, unconsciously seeking contact.

Dream Karl looked down at her, poised between her legs, and as Dream Jenn met his eyes, she saw that his once-brown gaze now glowed nearly golden, an almost supernatural look to them, something nearly feral glinting back at her. Her body flamed in response, hips bucked towards his.

“Please...!” her breath whined out of her outside of the vivid dream, hips stuttering just a little bit.

Karl's gaze darted downward, drawn inexorably to the restless movements of her hips, which only intensified his turmoil. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. He had convinced himself that his presence, however temporary, could be an innocent balm to soothe her, yet here they were, hurtling

towards an uncertain precipice.

He swallowed hard, his mind straining to reconcile this Jenn who trembled and sighed in his arms with the one he'd seen earlier, struggling to contain her panic and despair. That earlier Jenn had needed comfort and reassurance, whereas this...this...

His eyes snapped back up to her face, and for an instant, he forgot everything save for the overwhelming impulse to take her in his arms and succumb to the primal urges coursing through him.

Those soft whimpers and whispered pleas undermined his resolve, tempting him with forbidden fruit.

'No! You're not supposed to respond, not like this.' his mind hissed.

With an iron-willed determination, Karl clenched his jaw and shut his eyes, severing the link that made him want to give in and surrender to these base desires. The abrupt withdrawal left him feeling disconnected and hollow, yet he knew it was necessary given the circumstances. He couldn't permit himself to indulge in the tantalizing sensations coursing through his body, not when the line between protector and predator blurred so precipitously.

“Easy, Jenn,” Karl whispered gruffly, shifting subtly away, hoping the physical distance would serve as a bulwark against his own wavering discipline. “You're safe.” The last word hung in the air, a tangible barrier between the two of them, as he struggled to regain control of his fractured emotions.

The sound of his voice reached her in her sleeping state, the low rumble resonating deep inside and inflaming her.

In her dream, Karl had followed his words with a powerful thrust, and the intense arousal that shot through her body was enough to shake her from her dream with a jerk. She came awake and immediately felt the heavy and charged vibe of the room, aware of the pulsing between her legs, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

It took her a moment to realize what had happened - she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a dream like that, and it took just another moment to realize that Karl was still next to her, body turned away slightly but still there, and he was watching her.

Oh, God.