Page 57 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

She knows how I feel, too, hence those face shadows, but I try to stick to logic as I cup her cheek and rub it with my thumb.

“You’re right. But I’m going to keep track of him. And I’m pressing charges even if you aren’t when my colleagues catch him. He invaded my home.”

“That’s your right, but…I don’t want to talk about it right now. I want you here, present with me.”

It’s a soft, vulnerable plea, one that I can’t help giving in to. Hell, I’ll give her the world if she asks for it, and it’s a revelation that stuns me. But when I notice the conflicted look on her face, I sharply shake my head.

“No. Please don’t blame yourself.”

Raven blinks, astonished.

“For?”

“For answering the door. For doing what you needed to do to stall him. You were supposed to be safe here and you couldn’t have known he’d find you. Don’t blame yourself for any of this or your decisions, just like you did when you panicked in the town fair crowd. Everything’s on him, not you.”

She doesn’t deny it, the guilt of her thoughts vivid on her features.

“But I should have acted faster. Been smarter.”

“You did act smart. And you’re only human.”

I rub her cheek again, an offer of comfort while she leans in against my hand. She steps closer until we’re in a light hug, then looks up.

“You kept me safe.”

My jaw clenches, the memory of what I witnessed still haunting my mind.

“I wish I’d come sooner.”

“You came just when you needed to. You always find the right timing, Christian, and I’m grateful.”

She tiptoes to press her mouth against mine, showing her gratitude. Perhaps it’s also to comfort me, as she can probably read me as well as I can read her—that I’m shaken by the incident, too, and how close I might have been to losing her. I reciprocate the kiss, her warmth another quiet assurance that she’s here, safe with me.

Her ex didn’t get to her, so in a twisted way, she’s right. We were at the right place at the right time.

I don’t know at what point our kiss morphs into something else, but it does. I deepen the contact, my tongue sliding in to find hers and basking in how her tongue fits in just right. When her breath hitches, I devour her, drowning in her taste.

A second later, she’s gasping when I reach for her butt. But she’s ready, too, her legs wrapping around me as soon as I lift her. We’re pressed so tightly against each other that I know there’s no hiding my cock, already so hard for her since that first kiss.

“We shouldn’t be doing this, baby. I shouldn’t be doing this. You just had a traumatic experience. You need to rest. You need?—”

She kisses the next words out of me and grinds wildly until my blood is roaring in my system. Then she whispers in my ear.

“I need you. I need you, Christian.”

My God. How can anyone expect me to back off now?

It’s like every resolve I have to end this turns into water trickling out of my palm. The thing is, maybe I need her, too, as much as she needs me at this moment. I’m convinced of it when I lower her to the bed, my mouth trailing down every bare inch I can find until I remove her dress and expose even more skin.

It’s delicious. She’s delicious, the only thing I want in my mouth and against my body.

Raven gasps, moans, and cries out her pleasure, throwing all uncertainty out the window that she wants nothing but this. When she arches against me and her fingers run all over my abs, I groan in response, my cock so hard and throbbing.

“Christian, you’re wearing too many clothes.”

I chuckle at her complaint, then drown in more kisses that have turned desperate. She gets my clothes off in no time and is holding onto my cock, which turns me into a mess of pleas and more groans of her name. Needing to anchor myself first, I lower my head in between her legs and let my lips and tongue do their work.

She’s delicious here, too, heaven on earth in a pink package. She’s perfection with every sound she makes as I lick and suck, then use my fingers inside her while she grips my hair. Then she tugs harder.

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