Page 158 of Damaged Protector

But I didn’t. I gave him a brief, platonic hug, and then we stood on his lawn and talked for almost an hour before I had to leave to get to a review session at school. It hurt to see him, but I’m glad I did.

We were still friends, and we texted almost every day, mostly chatting about his work or my classes and sending each other stupid Chuck Norris memes.

Turning down the now-familiar street, I arrived at his house just as Lyric and her mom were pulling up. I put on a smile I didn’t feel and led her inside. After her lesson, I had Tiffany, who was a thirteen-year-old ballerina I’d been working with.

Even though those were the only two lessons I had this afternoon, when we were done, I was damn exhausted. I hadn’t slept a wink last night. Every time I began to doze off, Donner and Starla started fucking, and at one point they both chanted my name while they were fucking. I knew they were messing with me on purpose, but it was the weirdest damn thing I’d ever heard.

I’m not sure I could have slept after that, even if they didn’t turn the TV on to watch reruns of Full House. During the four hours I listened to the show, I decided Uncle Joey was the most annoying character ever written, and I would like to punch him in the damn face.

But maybe that was just the exhaustion talking.

Sitting on the floor to remove my shoes and put them in my dance bag, all the bones in my body seemed to turn to mush, and I found myself physically unable to get up.

Sighing, I laid back on the floor and closed my eyes.

Just for a second, and then I’ll get up and go back to the dormitory of hell.

Chapter 46

One month. One long, tortuous, fucking month.

That was how long it had been since Mallori had moved out. I’d seen her last week, and hearing her sweet voice, seeing that gorgeous face, made me itch to invite her inside.

But I didn’t. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her if we were alone, and it wouldn’t even have to be sexual—though that desire was there in spades. No, I simply wanted to cuddle up with her on the couch and watch movies. I wanted her to tilt her head over onto my shoulder so I could feel her soft hair drifting down my arm.

Was she missing me as much as I missed her? I secretly hoped she would use the house key to sneak in and climb into my bed one night.

Okay, maybe I’d fantasized about that a time or ten.

The day after that sensual night where Mal and I had watched our video, I’d been about to destroy the memory card, but she stopped me. Told me she wanted to watch it again and asked if I could put it back in my safe.

But then the tornado had happened, we’d gone to my cabin, and time had run out before we’d had a chance to view it again.

So, last night I went into the Den for the first time since she’d left. Alone. I popped in the video and watched it. It made me equal parts sad and ecstatic when I saw us together on the screen.

My cock though? He was very happy to see her again, weeping at her very first moan. I’d wrapped my big fist around myself and came twice while watching it, and then I put the card back into my wall safe.

Did I feel guilty about that? Maybe a little, but I couldn’t bring myself to destroy it. It was too special to me.

And what did it say about me that a sex tape was something special? Fuck it. I didn’t care if it made me a prick. I needed it.

Pulling down my street, I felt my dick swelling behind my zipper. Maybe I’d watch it again tonight and then get rid of it.

Then again, probably not.

My lips curved up into a smile when I saw Mallori’s little Honda parked in front of my house. I’d taken off work an hour early today, faking a headache in the hopes of seeing her before she left. Then I’d gotten stuck in traffic and was afraid I’d totally miss her, but she was still here.

I was as giddy as a six-foot-five-inch grump could be. And I had been a grump these past few weeks, much more irritable than usual.

Pulling into the garage, I got out of my car and managed not to sprint inside the house. I did walk really fast though.

Listening at the closed door of the studio, I didn’t hear any music, so I tapped lightly on the door. “Mal?” There was no answer, so I called her name a little louder, and this time, I heard a whimper.

Fuck, what if she was dancing and hurt herself? I pushed open the door and peeked my head inside to find Mal lying spread eagle on the hardwood floor. My heart practically fell out of my chest, and I ran over, skidding the last few feet on my knees.

“Mal, are you okay?” I cradled her face in my hands.

She made a frustrated noise, and I looked her over, searching for any injuries and checking her pulse. Nothing seemed to be wrong, so I carefully lifted her into my arms.

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