Page 71 of Sinful Lies

“I’m not a child.” Zara huffs.

“No, but it turns out I like taking care of you.” I tuck her under my arm as I lead her back into her room. All the blinds are up giving us the perfect view of the city at night.

She doesn’t object as I guide her over to the bed.

I eye the messed up sheets. “Shit, did I wake you?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I couldn’t sleep. I was too worried about you...” She climbs onto the bed and switches on the bedside light.

Under the soft orange glow, I notice a blush start to creep up her neck.

“You were worried about me?” I perch on the edge of the mattress. I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face at the thought.

“I was… but then Mikhail said he was going to help, which made me feel much better.” Her lips twitching.

I scowl.

“I’m a lot tougher than Mikhail. Don’t let all the tattoos fool you.”

She tucks her knees up to her chin. She’s wearing those cute checked pjs again.

I touch her sleeve. “I like these.”

“They were in my closet when I moved in.”

“Well, I clearly have great taste.”

She rolls her eyes but then she looks at me, her expression softening.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “For…everything.

“You don’t need to thank me, Zara. I will always protect you.”

She nods, turning to look out the windows as she lets out a breath.

I can tell she’s about to get lost in her head again, so I move to stretch out on the bed, leaning back against the mountain of pillows. “Come here.”

Zara glances at me and lets out a shaky laugh as I pat the bed beside me. For a moment, I fear she’s going to say no, but then she scoots across the bed and tucks herselfagainst my side, her fingers sinking into the soft fabric of my T-shirt.

I wrap my arm around her, pulling her even tighter against me.

She’s so small and warm against me, and I’m reminded of our wedding night.

What it felt like to hold her naked body as we slept…

“Will you stay until I fall asleep?”

I blink away the memory before my cock has a chance to harden. The last thing Zara needs right now is to think that I only did this to get her into bed.

“Of course.”

She looks at her hands. “It might take a while.”

I squeeze her tighter. “I’ve got all the time in the world, And if you want to stay up and talk all night, that’s cool with me too.”

“Like a slumber party?” She chuckles.

“Except without the naked pillow fights.” I wink at her.

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