Page 145 of My Damaged Protector

“I love you, Ian. And I don't care if you're a thousand years older than me. I never have. I never will.”

I laugh. “Well, as good as that sounds, I'm still glad I'm only a decade and a half older than you. Let's not start making me feel too old.”

“Too old? I don't know many young men who look half as handsome as you.”

And now she's just pulling my leg.

“I'm serious, Ian.”

I nod, not wanting to drag the conversation any longer and do the very thing I've been wanting to since I saw her in that hospital room. It was so hard to act so mean toward her and to do it successfully.

The recollection of the look on her face when I threatened to take her alongside Peter makes me laugh.

“What's funny?” she asks.

“The look on your face at the hospital.”

“There was no look on my face,” she denies. It makes me laugh more.

Taking my hand to the back of her head, I let our faces come close. Her breath fans against my lips, and I imagine mine do the same to hers.

We remain like this for a while, our eyes searching through the soul of the other. When I feel like I'm going to combust from the many emotions swirling in her orbs, I sigh.

“I love you, Sarah.”

She smiles against my lips. “Say it again.”

It's my turn to smile. “How about I just show you instead?”

She nods, and then lets our lips brush ever so slightly, yet so beautifully.

I shiver, surprising both of us. She grows bold. Peeking her tongue out, she swirls it over my lips, and I let her have her fun long enough before I snatch her pink flesh and suck it into my mouth.

Soon my hands are roaming over her body, our needs fueling our actions. It isn't until she starts to pull at my shirt that I realize how intense things have become.

Breaking the kiss, I put some space between us.

“I need to go,” I say.

“What? Why? To where?”

I smile.

It's expected that she's asking this many questions. But a lot has happened in the past few hours, and I just need time to process.

“I'll be back before you sleep, I promise. I just need to take this all in.”

The happiness on her face is now gone. Pulling her back to me, I reassure her.

“Sarah, I am not running away, I promise. I just need to process this. Give me an hour, tops, and I'll be back.”

She nods. From her demeanor, I can tell she's not satisfied.

“Tell me what to get for you when I come back. Food?”

“Yes.” She smiles.

“Alright, tell the little angel in there that Daddy's going to feed her and Mommy the best dinner ever tonight,” I say and then kiss her.

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