Page 32 of Vengeful Guard

This is so wrong.

And I refuse to give into the instinct of reaching for my cock and stroking myself to completion. Not when Paige is in my head, rent free.

When my body finally calms down enough, I turn off the water and get out of the shower, toweling myself dry.

I put on some boxer briefs and lie down.

The bed in the guestroom is huge and extremely comfortable.

I push all thoughts of Paige out of my mind. Paige and my bed are two ships that will never cross in the same ocean.

Closing my eyes, I decide to meditate to calm myself enough to fall asleep.

Next thing I know, a high-pitched scream forces my eyes open as my brain tries to wake up from sleep.

When did I even fall asleep?

Acting on instinct alone, I bound up the stairs after grabbing my gun from the nightstand.

I come around the corner of the hallway with my gun drawn and pointing forward as Paige walks out into the hallway.

She screeches and backtracks, almost falling on her ass. “What is it with you and your habit of pointing a fucking gun at me?”

I lower it, all the breath going out of my body in a rush. “Are you okay? You screamed.”

“No, I didn't.” Her eyes go to the wall behind me.

I glare at her.

“Yes, you fecking did. You screamed, so I came running. That’s what I’m here for.”

She hugs herself, her hands on her arms, rubbing up and down as if to warm herself. “I… I had a nightmare, okay?”

I frown. “You’re still having nightmares about?—”

“Yeah, so? Go ahead, call me a weak little princess if you want.”

“I would never call you weak.” My eyes are laser-focused on her, my fists clenched. “You were attacked. Of course, you’re going to feel a certain way about it.”

She blinks at me, and her green eyes fill with tears.

Her mouth opens and closes a few times, but nothing comes out. Not even a sigh.

Is she even breathing?

“It's all right," I murmur. "Just take a few deep breaths. Keep your chin up, little princess.”

Her lip trembles slightly.

Only the slight movement of her hair lets me know she nodded.

She keeps her eyes on me as her chest goes up with a deep breath.

“Let it out slowly, and then do it again.”

A stronger nod this time, as she slowly releases the air, and her chest comes down before she inhales again.

We do this a few more times before her chin stops shaking.

---