Page 57 of Protecting Hailey

He gulped in a huge breath, and then another. “You’re a fucking psycho, you know that?!”

“Get out, Trey,” Hailey said and pushed him towards the front door. “Get out and never come back.”

“You’re kicking me out? He’s the one with the anger issues.”

Trey’s words hit harder than any punch he could have landed. I’d never lost control like that before.

Trey left, and Hailey slammed the door behind him.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Am I okay?” I repeated. “Hailey, I’m so sorry. But when he came after you, I reacted. It was instinct to protect you. I’m not a violent person.”

She caressed my cheek. “I know. I know, baby. He tried to blame it on you when he was the one who would have hurt me if you hadn’t stepped in.”

She rubbed my arm, and I inhaled sharply. This woman understood me better than I understood myself. I thought it was over. I thought after nearly killing her ex-boyfriend, as shitty as he was, I would have scared her off for good.

“I don’t deserve you,” I said, “but I will earn you.”

Picking her up, she held onto my neck. I kissed her until she moaned into my mouth. “I will fly you to every single Disneyland in the world if that makes you happy.”

She laughed. “What will make you happy?”

I didn’t hesitate. “You. You make me happy, Hailey. You are my world. You are my happiness.”

She pressed her lips onto mine, and I was lost in her kiss.

16

Hailey

My stomach growled, and Christian wrapped his arm around my waist. His body spooned mine in bed, and he whispered in my ear, “I guess it’s time for breakfast.”

I smiled. Despite the tumultuous weeks prior, the last few days had been incredible. Being with Christian felt like visiting an amusement park every day. I smiled, I laughed, I ate, and he gave me the wildest rides of my life.

I turned over in his arms. “Yes, I think I need some sustenance.”

Kissing my lips gently, he said. “I’ve been slacking on my duties.”

“Maybe. But only because your new ones have taken up so much of our time.”

He squeezed my ass, and I giggled underneath his neck. “I can’t say I regret that,” he said.

“But… we should get up and have something to eat.”

I stretched in bed, nearly naked except for a thin white T-shirt and panties. “All right. I’m getting up.” But I didn’t make any attempt to sit up.

“Come on, sleepyhead,” Christian teased and scooped me up from the crumpled sheets. I squealed when he threw me over his shoulder and carried me across the house.

After I slapped his bottom, he finally set me down on the white countertop. I leaned down and kissed him. Leisurely, I nipped at his bottom lip and shamelessly ran my hands over his sculpted chest and arms. “How are you so cut when I’ve never seen you work out?”

He laughed. “Because I’ve usually finished my workout by the time you get up from bed, my auburn sleeping beauty,” he said with a smile and kissed me again.

I groaned. “I’ve never been a morning person.”

“That’s okay. I love you for it.”

“You do?”

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