Page 45 of Courting Danger

“This isn’t a good idea. We fought the last time we spoke. Then all this happened. We just... We should talk before anything else.”

Right. Our fight.

I had almost forgotten.

I grasped Garrison’s collar so tight some of the stitches popped. “I’m sorry. It was my fault. I should have told you the truth about my family sooner. And I promise we will talk about everything. Just... please.” I pressed my forehead against Garrison’s chest, feeling the rise and fall of the man’s breathing. “I thought I was going to die. It still feels like that. Like part of me is still buried. I just need you to help me feel alive again. Then we’ll talk about anything you want.”

Even without looking up, I could feel the weight of Garrison’s gaze on me. Silence persisted between us. It lasted so long, I was certain Garrison would reject me. The part of my brain that wasn’t flooded with need and arousal wondered if it would be better for both of us if Garrison turned away from me right now.

However, that was a very small part. Mostly I just wanted to scream.

Still without saying a word, Garrison ran both hands down my side. Heat flushed through my system, making me moan, then gasp when those hands gripped my hips. I knew I wasn’t a light person. Yet, Garrison barely seemed to struggle as he picked me up, guided my legs around his waist, and walked off toward one of the bedrooms.

To be carried so easily, it made me feel small in the very best way. Like I was something tender and precious, and I had the strongest protector shielding me from the rest of the world.

Muscles shifted and Garrison’s body rubbed up against mine with each step that Garrison took. Arousal buried its roots in my gut, and I let myself be carried, clinging to the other man as I pressed kisses to whatever path of skin I could find.

We barely made it into the bedroom. As soon as the door closed behind us, Garrison pressed me against the wall. Our hips ground together, creating more pleasant friction that sent shivers through both of us.

Garrison stopped for a moment, a serious look on his face. “We’re talking after this.”

I nodded eagerly. At this point, I probably would have agreed to anything Garrison said.

Yet, Garrison said nothing else. His mouth was too occupied, kissing me again and letting the long lines of our bodies drag against each other.

I kicked my feet in midair as I squeezed Garrison’s hips with my thighs. This position should have left me feeling powerless. I couldn’t do anything but let Garrison hold me up and trust that the other man wouldn’t drop me.

Instead, it brought a sense of safety. Nothing could touch me when such a strong wall of muscle and bone surrounded me.

I suddenly snapped back to reality when Garrison set me down on my own feet.

“This house is pretty well stocked. The bathroom should have something. Get undressed while I fetch what we need.”

He left before I could ask what he meant.

Still lost in a haze of arousal, and other less pleasant emotions, I didn’t want to think about, my legs shook with the effort of holding myself up. I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the carpet. It wasn’t as cold on the floor as it was standing by myself, and I curled my knees closer to my chest as I waited for Garrison to return.

It wasn’t a long wait, but every second that passed left me feeling a little colder. I sighed in relief when Garrison stepped into view. Even just the sight of the man returned some warmth to my bones.

Garrison stood over him, arms crossed. “You’re still dressed.”

Oh, right. That’s what I was supposed to do.

Unable to explain myself, I just shrugged.

Even without words, understanding seemed to dawn on Garrison. He knelt on the floor, running one hand up my leg to settle on his knee.

“Want me to do it?”

“Yes.” I closed my eyes and let my head knock against the wall. “I just... don’t want to think right now.”

A rare smirk spread across Garrison’s face as his hands inched farther up my legs “I can help with that.”

Taking control, he yanked both of their clothes free, tossing everything aside into a forgotten pile on the floor.

I let myself be manhandled, not even caring when I heard the sound of ripping fabric. Between each article of clothing removed, we stopped to kiss again. The pleasure of tangling tongues and warm lips distracted me to the point that I didn’t even realize when all my clothing was gone.

My nakedness didn’t register until strong hands suddenly flipped me around, so I knelt with my back to Garrison and my forearms braced against the wall.

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