Page 4 of Under His Protection

“Am I ever safe with Dexter and the Raven out there?”

He leans into my touch, a sigh escaping his lips, his body relaxing slightly. Slowly, he runs his hand up my thigh, caressing my skin. My insides start burning with a violent fire. He moves closer, his lips inches from mine, his breath warm on my skin.

“Move in with me, Ava.”

What?

There’s a plea etched in his eyes. My uncertainty battles with the need that consumes me, a fierce tug-of-war within my heart. What if he leaves again? He’s hurt me before, shattered and broken me. The shards of my heart had taken three years to heal, and still, when he came back, I was his —

Time doesn’t matter now, Ava. It’s just us.

My mind races a thousand thoughts an hour. I see the vulnerability in his eyes, the desperate hope between us. I’ve never seen him so raw, so exposed.

“I—I don’t know,” I manage.

“I know it’s a big ask,” he says, his voice husky, “But I need you, Ava. We need this. It’s for your safety, Ava. I won’t let you be alone in this city.”

“We need this?” I echo, my voice sharp. “You need this? What about what I need? What about the fear this is just another one of your plans until you move again?”

He flinches at my words, his face a mask of pain. “Ava, please. You know I would never hurt you again. I’m different now.”

“How can I be sure?” I demand, my voice tight.

He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “No, don’t even try to explain. I need time to think about this.”

I can see the disappointment in his eyes, the flicker of hurt. And yet, I can’t bring myself to say yes. Not without knowing, without being sure.

Can you ever be sure, Ava?

“Okay,” he says finally, his voice flat. He pulls away, and a wall is suddenly erected between us.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready,” he says, the words barely audible. Then, he gets up and walks towards the balcony, leaving me alone with the echo of his footsteps and the weight of my decision.

“I need some air,” he says.

I watch him go, my pulse thrumming in my temples. His words are a challenge, a promise. He’s right, we need this. I need this. I need him.

“Okay,” I say. The words are a prayer, a gamble, a leap of faith. He turns back, a glint flickering in his eyes. He returns to me. My pulse is throbbing, and my hand reaches out to his.

“Yes,” I whisper.

He smiles a genuine smile that lights up his entire face. A smile that melts away the doubts that have been swirling in my mind.

“Fuck yes,” he murmurs. He pulls me in, his voice a raw, urgent plea. He’s the Alexander I fell in love with - reckless, dangerous, and absolutely irresistible.

His lips crash down on mine, and there is a hunger in his kiss that both excites and frightens me. This kiss is different, deeper, wilder, and demanding.

I pull back, my breath catching in my throat. “What did you want to tell me before about your family?”

“Fuck that,” he growls, his voice rough, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes me tremble. “I need to get inside you. Now. You’re perfection, Ava.”

As his lips claim mine again, a flicker of something dark passes across his eyes, a fleeting glimpse of a different side of him. It’s a shadow, a reminder of the secrets he’s keeping, the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of his charm. But for now, I push that thought aside. I surrender to the intoxicating heat of his touch, ignoring the warning bells ringing in my heart.

His hands are on my clavicle, making their way down between my aching breasts. The warmth of his touch, the rough texture of his calloused fingers against my skin, makes me shudder. A gasp escapes my lips. The silk of my dress rustles against his skin, a delicate, sensual sound that heightens the tension between us. He runs his hands up and down my stomach, teasing me, making me arch against him, a desperate need rising within me.

His touch is a caress, a branding, a promise. He knows exactly where to touch and how to move his hands to send waves of pleasure crashing through me. The heat in my core is building, a slow burn.

He pinches my nipples between his fingers through the dress, a sharp, unexpected pain that turns into a jolt of pleasure, and a moan escapes my lips.

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