Page 48 of Scarred Hearts

“Excuse me,” she mocked with a playful eye roll, “that’s overstepping into territory that’s not us just fucking each other’s brains out and making each other cum repeatedly for hours and hours whenever we want?—”

“Shut the fuck up.” Dropping my cigarette on the porch, I crashed my lips into hers, causing her to drop hers too. Cupping the back of her neck, I held her against me, tasting the lingering smoke.

She moaned into the kiss, her arms wrapping around my neck as she pulled me closer. The kiss was desperate and passionate, as if we were trying to consume each other.

I pulled back, my chest heaving, and she was panting just as hard. Her eyes were dilated, and her lips swollen. I didn’t know what was happening between us, but it was undeniable and all-consuming.

“Fuck,” I whispered, “I can’t keep my hands off you.”

She smirked, running her fingers through my hair. “Well, I can’t complain either.”

I chuckled and pulled her close again, deepening the kiss. The night air was cool against our skin, but the heat between us was overwhelming. It was evident we were both aware of the dynamic shifting with us. We couldn’t deny the chemistry, but I still stood firm on not wanting to ever be in a relationship to protect her.

She pulled away, her breathing ragged. “We should probably get back inside,” she said, trying to sound innocent, but the lust in her eyes betrayed her. “I know us being out here would stress out your brother-in-law.”

Reality hit me again like a ton of bricks. Stress was the last thing I wanted to cause anyone. I needed to try my best to emotionally distance myself from her. By now, the Russians were probably looking for her, and it wasn’t safe to be anywhere, including my house. I wasn’t about to add to the danger by getting too attached to her, and my number one priority tonight was to keep her safe from any harm.

As we stepped back inside, I picked up her belongings off the island, leading her upstairs. I refrained from touching her at all. We passed by family photos in the wide hallway and a small accent table before climbing a narrow set of stairs to the third floor.

“You’ll be safe up here, and your safety is all I care about tonight.” I lifted my chin toward a single door. “The bathroom’s in there. Linens are in the closet. Make yourself at home. Text or call if you need me.”

Setting her belongings on the white chair in the corner of the room, I almost changed my mind. I wanted to grab her and take her to my bed, knowing I’d be able to protect her more if I had an eye on her, but I also needed us to get through the night alive. Hiding her away was the best option. If the drama with the Mussolini family taught me anything, it was to hope no one showed up at my house but to prepare for the unexpected.

When I turned to see her staring at me, I could tell something was on her mind, but I knew I needed to get out of the room as soon as possible.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked, stroking the tattoo that stretched down her arm.

“Yeah, because I’m not taking any chances when it comes to you.” Reaching behind me, I pulled out my gun, laying it on the nightstand. “This’ll keep you safe. If anything happens, please use it.”

She let out a breathless laugh, plodding over to her bag. She unzipped it, stuck both her hands in, and extracted two guns: a pink and silver revolver and a pink and black pistol. “You forgetting who my fam is?”

“Pink,” I snorted, amused at the color and proud of her for making sure she’d been looking after herself, “of course.”

She snickered. “Of course.”

“Right,” I sighed, picking up my gun, placing it back in the holster, and then walking toward the door. “Get some sleep. God only knows what’ll go down tomorrow.”

I didn’t give her the luxury of replying. If I didn’t leave the room, I would’ve fucked her again. She was a drug, and I was an addict. It was the reason I waited around for her after the first night and forced myself to put my job before a random woman I’d just met. Right now, I had to stay focused.

Security and I checked in one final time for the night before I showered and got in bed. Seventeen cameras were situated around the perimeter of the half-acre property on the brick privacy wall. Another ten were on the exterior of the eight thousand square-foot home. Every door and window contained an armed alarm that would trigger any glass breaking or opening in the slightest. No one was getting in or out unless I allowed them. The only people with a key besides me were Ian, Jenna, and my oldest son, Jackson.

After showering and getting in bed, I stared at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity. I couldn’t get the way she looked at me when I barged into that room at Luxe, out of my head. She was prepared, with a killer instinct she’d been born with. Still, I wanted to protect her, to be close to her.

Since Mila passed, sleep didn’t come easy for me. I often stayed awake at night. Now, I couldn’t sleep because the woman I wanted to be with for so long was under my roof and I couldn’t allow myself to fully give in. I kept telling myself it was for her safety.

We’d continued to have sex against my better judgement and using her for sex seemed so heartless compared to the way I felt about her, but if it was all I could have, I couldn’t deny it.

CRASH!

A loud noise came from outside my bedroom window. Leaping out of bed, I threw on the black sweatpants on the chair, then grabbed my gun off the nightstand. My phone buzzed on the table, and I bent over, picking it up and placing it to my ear.

What the fuck was that? I hissed in a low voice to security.

Sorry if we woke you. Jason tripped over an uneven brick on the patio and hit the table.

You guys need to be more careful out there! I’m already on edge tonight.

Sorry again. I’ll make sure we don’t bother you for the rest of the night but just a head’s up, we’ve seen a few of the same cars driving by multiple times so we’ll keep an eye out and let you know if it’s cause for concern.

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