Page 160 of Protective Heroes

She broke their kiss, straightened to take in his full length and rode him, faster. Harder.

Head thrown back, she lost any sliver of control she held on to, only able to focus on their joined bodies.

Taut muscles rippled beneath her hands as she braced herself on his chest. She loved the banked power he exuded. His expression of wild abandon for her sent another pulse of desire through her core. She moved her hands to cover his where they gripped her thighs, and rocked. With one last thrust he claimed her, releasing hot jets of cum into her now claimed pussy.

Images of a family life with Nathan tickled the back of her mind. She could see little brown-haired green-eyed babies in their future. Maybe even sooner than they both expected.

Time stood still, marked only by the chimes of the old grandfather clock signaling the early morning hour.

Spent, Willa soaked in the small aftershocks pulsing through her body. Weak from her release, she rested her head on his chest. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart, her own beating just as hard.

Nathan turned his head toward the big bay window flanking the fireplace. She followed his gaze to see the dawn tinge the night sky with hues of orange and indigo. All signs of any storm long gone.

She reached out and fingered the dark lines of his tattoo inked across the width of his right arm. A wicked skull backed by two crossbones and encompassed by three words.

Swift. Silent. Deadly.

A symbol that marked him a warrior. Her warrior. He’d gone into war against himself for her—for them—and came out on top.

She smiled. Happiness never felt so damn good and soul deep.

Everything felt right. She released a sigh as she watched him rise from their love nest. Which reminded her, someone had planned tonight, at least the love nest part.

She watched him stride across the room to where the Christmas tree stood opposite the crackling fire. Each step marked with confidence. She drank in the view of his wide shoulders that tapered down to a well-chiseled waist.

All mine.

A flicker of light caught her attention as he reached for one ornament that dangled mid-tree. Colorful lights danced off the faceted glass globe as if it were touched by magic.

“Close your eyes, baby. I have something for you.”

Seven

Nathan lowered himself in front of Willa. He reached for her hand and rested it in his bigger one. So delicate. How could he ever manage to let such a flower walk away from him? Just the thought sent him over the edge with so much fear he damn near choked.

Parched after the self-imposed drought, he drank in every inch of her bared skin. Just so fucking beautiful with her hair ruffled and her lips swollen from his kisses.

He brushed a finger against the smooth skin of her stomach, eliciting a gasp. The mixture of heritage in her family gifted her with the most exotic of combinations. Emerald eyes, silky brown hair and milk chocolate skin that glowed from their lovemaking.

Made his mouth water for a taste.

A smile erupted across her face when she heard him growl his appreciation. “No peeking.”

She raised her hands. With her eyes still closed, she ran her fingers along his face slowly as if memorizing every inch. She moved her hands up to bury her fingers in his hair, tugging just enough to get his attention. She gifted him with the mischievous laugh of hers he loved so much.

“Be careful, baby. You push me too far, too fast, and I’ll have you turned around and wrapped around my cock again.” His words sent a pretty flush of pink up her body and across her breasts. Plum-colored nipples jutted out, begging for his attention.

His stubbornness had almost cost him this moment, this chance. Before his father died, he had tried to tell him there was only one life to live, but he’d refused to listen.

Like an idiot he was. Look what happened to her brother, his own best friend.

If he could get his head out of his ass long enough, he might stand a chance at a life worth living.

No balls, no glory.

“A lifetime without you truly scares the shit out of me, Willa.” His words opened her eyes so her gaze landed on his. “When I saw your resignation, and that new work contract…” His words stuck in his throat. Too damn hard to swallow, so he spit them out. “When I saw you were leaving, I panicked. For too long, I’ve played the protector while keeping you at a distance. It’s all I allowed myself, afraid of moving on from the past.” He shrugged, unable to put into words just how fucked up in the head he was.

He placed his hands on her shoulders to help her sit up and recline against the sofa behind her. He waited as she gathered a soft blanket around her before continuing. “You’ve held my heart in your hands from the moment I met you. Too young for me and way too innocent at barely seventeen when you first walked into my life. I had to wait until you were even of age, but then I’d made my promise to keep my distance. But it didn’t matter. Your big green eyes pulled me in and haven’t let me go since. It was only a matter of time before our hearts won.”

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