Page 37 of Guarded from Corruption

As I’m currently running at the speed of a turtle, there’s little risk of that. My only worry is I’ll be banned from the Blade and Arrow gym for lack of physical prowess. Since I started coming to the gym with Niall, I’ve watched him and his teammates run through some of the most intense workouts I’ve ever seen.

While I putter around on the treadmill or lift the lightest free-weights they have, they run sprints and spar and practice martial arts and do dozens of repetitions with barbells I can barely lift with both hands.

And I’m not in bad shape. At least, I didn’t think I was. Before all this, I went to the local gym for barre and pilates classes. On particularly nice days when I was feeling inspired, I’d go to the closest park for a run. Plus, my job keeps me active—once I get to work, I’m on my feet almost the entire time.

Smiling, I tease, “If I went any slower, I’d be going backwards. I think I’m okay.”

“Still.” He steps away from the punching bag and pulls off his gloves as he heads in my direction. Once he gets to my side, he taps the control panel and the treadmill starts to slow to a stop. “I just want to be sure. With your—” As he cuts himself off, a slight grimace pulls at his features.

What he doesn’t say is that with the nightmares that arrive like clockwork every night, I’m always tired, no matter how early I go to sleep or late I wake up. And my stomach is constantly jittery, so it’s hard to eat as much as I should. But it could be a thousand times worse, so I’m not going to complain.

Especially not when I think about all the things I’m thankful for. Niall. His team. Blade and Arrow. Having such a nice place to stay. Feeling safe here.

And that kiss.

Well, more than one kiss, actually. More like a handful of kisses throughout the movie and one more as we said goodnight. I was in Niall’s bed, and instead of just giving me a quick hug before he took his spot on the floor, he leaned in to give me a tender kiss instead.

I almost asked him to sleep next to me—I’ve thought about it nearly every night—but my courage for the evening was all used up and I chickened out. The words were right there, but I started worrying that he’d say no for some noble reason and then the night would end on an awkward note instead of the hopeful one I was feeling.

After all this time, we’re not just friends anymore?

The man who’s held my heart for over a decade, kissing me? Saying he thought about me just like I thought about him? Telling me in this low, sexy voice that kissing me was incredible?

I can’t stop thinking about it. About Niall. About all my young hopes that stuck with me, even when there was no reason to hang on to them.

Or was there? Was it just that we had to wait for the right time?

Ironic that it’s now, when the rest of my life is so uncertain.

But Niall is solid and strong and I trust him, in truth, more than any other man I’ve known. More than my dad, who is good with words but not promises. More than the half-dozen boyfriends I’ve had who never came close to living up to the one man I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Is it any wonder I’m happy?

As I gaze at Niall, my chest expands with a warm, fizzy joy, and I impulsively fling my arms around him. Hugging him tightly, I stretch up to kiss the underside of his jaw, his stubble just a hint of rough against my lips. Then I pull back and hold his gaze. “I’m good. I didn’t work too hard, trust me. But I’m pretty hungry. Maybe we could have pancakes again?”

A pleased expression brightens his features. “That sounds like a great idea, hun.” One hand cups my cheek, the other rests at the small of my back, big and warm and searing into my sensitized skin. “Do you want chocolate chip again? Or something different?”

“Whatever you want to make.”

Niall stares at me, his gaze going dark and intense. “Jade. Have I said how beautiful you are?”

Oh. My heart explodes with happiness. “I’m not sure.”

“You are. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

OH. All my worries are a distant memory as I look up at him. “You’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.”

A satisfied smile appears. “Is that so?” Then he leans down and slowly captures my mouth with his.

It’s a gentle kiss, all light nips and soft caresses. As we keep kissing, Niall pulls me closer; close enough to feel his arousal pressing into my belly.

But it’s not scary or triggering. Not with Niall.

Not with his tongue tracing the seam of my lips, teasing them open and dipping inside.

Not with his strong arms holding me, making me feel completely safe.

I know I’m not the only one so affected, because I can feel Niall’s heart pounding in a frantic rhythm against my chest.

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