Page 4 of Her Older Protector

I take a step back into the room. “What is it baby?”

She laughs. “This is dumb, but…would you stay in here? With me?”

In two long steps, I’m seated next to her on the bed. I pull her into my arms for a brief hug. “It’s not stupid, Leah. You’ve been through a lot. Of course I’ll stay.”

I pull the tiny closet open and retrieve a folded stack of blankets, then bend down to create a makeshift bed for myself on the floor between the door and the bed. She settles back down with the blankets over her shoulder, watching me intently as I settle into the blankets. A pillow lands with a soft thump next to me, and I look up at her and grin as I shove it under my head.

“Thanks, baby,” I say. “Sleep well, okay? I’ll keep you safe.”

After such a horrible scare today, sleep comes quickly to Leah. I wait until I hear her quick, nervous breaths slow and deepen, and then dare to sit up to steal a peek at the treasure in my guest bed.

She’s fucking stunning—her thick, dark hair spills over the pillows, and her lips part just slightly, like she’s waiting to be kissed. I look up at the pale skin of her arm flung above her head and feel a pang in my belly when I see the ugly fingerprint bruises that mar her beautiful skin.

That Patrick fucker better not come around here again, I think darkly as I settle back into my little pile of blankets. He won’t like what he comes up against.

Sleep doesn’t come to me quite as fast. I’m alert to every sound, even though my house is secured like fucking Fort Knox. After an hour or so, I finally side into a fitful doze, but a whimper jolts me awake an hour or so later.

“No no no,” she mutters in her sleep, then she cries out like she’s been struck. I sit bolt upright and look over at her. She’s having a nightmare I realize. And it’s terrible. Tears slide out of her closed eyes and she thrashes in the tangle of sheets and blankets.

I give in to my instincts and climb onto the mattress, sliding under the blankets next to her to pull her into my arms and press her back snugly to my front. She quiets almost immediately, and when she tenses just slightly, I can tell she’s awake.

“Jake?” she whispers into the darkness.

I turn to inhale the sweet fragrance of her hair. “Yeah, baby?”

She hesitates. “Will you stay?”

“Of course I will,” I tell her, my arms tightening around her. “All night, if you want.”

Leah rolls over to face me, snuggling closer to press her nose against my chest. She inhales deeply and I run a soothing hand down her back.

“Don’t let me go,” she says.

“Nothing could keep me away,” I reassure her.

She falls asleep again just seconds later, and true to my word, my arms stay firmly around her.

Right where they belong.

Chapter 3

Leah

When I open my eyes again, it’s daylight.

Early, judging by the soft glow of sunlight through the blinds. I blink sleepily and turn to look behind me to see if Jake is still asleep, but I’m alone in the bed, and the rumpled sheet next to me is cool. He’s been up for a little while, clearly.

I roll over and bury my nose in his pillow and breathe the faint remnants of his masculine smell into my lungs. Last night was—amazing. It feels like I’ve been so alone for so long, and it felt good to be cared for like that. To feel like someone was watching out for me.

I mean, I know I’m only twenty. But those couple years with Patrick felt like eternity. To feel safe with a man like Jake is probably the most arousing thing I’ve experienced in my entire life.

The t-shirt he gave me to sleep in smells like him too, and I lift it to my nose and inhale deeply as I stretch my legs as far as I can, enjoying the soft feel of the sheets against my bare skin. When was the last time I felt comfortable enough to enjoy the feel of clean sheets? Sleep in another man’s arms? A damn sexy man like Jake at that?

It’s been alongtime.

My gaze darts to the closed door as I slide a hand down my belly, past the loose waistband of the borrowed boxer briefs and into my panties. I snake a finger around my clit and sigh as I pretend that it’s Jake’s fingers sliding around my skin. His big body pressing against mine as he cups my breasts, kissing my neck while he pinches and rolls my nipples. I bite back a groan as I slide two fingers into my empty pussy, stroking my clit while I gently thrust into my wet channel.

I come with a gasp and my pussy contracts hard around my fingers. I flop back into the pillows, panting as my racing heart slows back to a normal rate. Before I have time to completely recover, two quick raps sound on the door.

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