Page 56 of Love Him Like Water

Then another.

And another.

Ten grand? Twenty? I didn’t know.

“This is your money,” I told her, watching as her brows furrowed as she looked at the cash, then at me. “You use it, I replace it. No questions asked. No one will ever take all of your money,” I said. “Ever,” I added. “We’re not getting upset over money,” I said, watching as her lips twitched ever so slightly. Relief? No. It seemed like something sweeter than that, but I couldn’t place it. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“I mean it,” I said, not quite believing her yet. “Spend what you want. As much as you want.”

To that, her lips curved just a little bit more. I had a feeling, if she wasn’t being mindful of her cut, she would be giving me a real smile. Something it seemed like she fucking never shot at me.

“I can spend all that on books?” she asked, a playful edge in her voice.

“You could buy an entire fucking bookstore for all I care. It’s your money,” I added. “All of this,” I said, waving at the apartment in general, “is yours. Got that?”

To that, she nodded.

Though I had a feeling she would still be fretting over each dollar she spent.

“Yeah,” she agreed, a soft look in her eyes.

I moved away from the dresser, reaching toward her jacket, trying to un-snag the fabric, before having to give up and just pull the thing up over her head.

I went for her shoes next, undoing her laces, and pulling her feet free.

“No, mouse,” I said, shaking my head at the heated look growing in her eyes. “You’re hurt,” I added, thinking of her hands and the way she grabbed me when I was inside of her. “What do you want?” I asked. “Instead of that,” I clarified.

Her gaze dropped to her lap. So fucking shy. And I both loved and hated that in equal measure.

“Will you… just sit with me?” she asked, voice such a whisper that I barely made the words out.

“Sit with you?” I asked, confused. “Yeah,” I agreed, not knowing what the fuck she wanted from me, but willing to give it to her.

She scooted up the bed, and I kicked out of my shoes before following her toward the headboard.

Feeling awkward as fuck, like a teenager sitting side-by-side with a chick I had a thing for for the first time, I slid an arm around the back of her shoulders.

I didn’t need to know what to do after that.

Because she curled toward me, curled into me, her head in my neck, her arm resting over my chest.

Fuck, but she was small.

Who the fuck saw someone as tiny as her and decided to hurt them?

Someone who’d be eating through a fucking straw and pissing blood for the next few weeks, that’s who.

“This is never gonna happen again, mouse,” I vowed as my hands slid up and down her spine, then sifted up into her hair, knowing how she made those soft, sweet kitten noises when I lightly ran my fingers over her scalp. “I mean it,” I said.

“Okay,” she said, already starting to sound drowsy from the pain meds.

“No one puts their hands on what’s mine,” I added, hearing a little whimper move through her.

Half an hour later, she was out fucking cold, so I carefully slid out from under her, tucking her into my side of the bed, then making my way out of the bedroom.

Rico and Elian were already inside the apartment, waiting for me, for an update on Lore, for a plan of action.

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