Page 67 of Mistle-Ho

“Good girl.” He blows warm air across my face. “And out.”

I follow along as he continues, and the dots dancing around his face start to dissipate. Unfortunately, the shaking in my limbs only intensifies. “Why can’t I hold still?”

“Probably adrenaline.” Gavin grabs my phone and shoves it into my purse before slinging the bag over one shoulder. “Keep breathing, Al.” He leans forward, and suddenly I’m off the floor, swept into his arms like a bride being carried across the threshold.

“You don’t have to carry me. I can walk.” It’s weird, but I don’t sound snarky at all. I actually sound a little wobbly.

“I’m not carrying you for you.” Gavin easily bears my weight with one hand, using the other to open the door. “I’m carrying you for me.” He pauses in the hall then swings my purse onto my lap. “Keys to lock the door.”

My fingers don’t want to work so it takes a few tries to fish them out. Once he has them, Gavin flips the deadbolt into place and then we’re moving toward the elevator. He holds me the whole ride down to the parking garage, then all the way to his Hummer. After settling me into the passenger’s seat, he buckles me in but remains close, once again checking me over. Like he needs to know I’m okay.

The tips of his fingers slide over the sensitive skin of my neck, gently inspecting the area Dillon manhandled. “I’m sorry for the way I acted, Al. When I walked in and saw his hands on you, I lost it.”

My brows pinch together in confusion. “Why would you be sorry? You protected me from him.”

Gavin’s pale brown eyes lift to mine. “I said you belonged to me.” His lips thin. “I should probably take it back, but I don’t know if I can.” His gaze falls, face tight with regret. “I knew this would happen. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it together.” He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing with the motion. “I understand if this changes shit between us.”

I mean. It kinda did. Just not in the way I think he’s expecting. “Can I ask you something?”

Gavin goes still, his whole body filled with tension as he brings his eyes to mine and offers a single nod.

I hate seeing him like this. Hate what his father’s done to him. Hate the fear he carries from all the years of manipulation and bullshit. Hopefully I can help him start to pack a little of it up and ship it off.

“Do you belong to me?”

Gavin’s eyes move over mine as he slowly says, “Every inch of me is yours, Al.”

I’m still shaking and my stomach is starting to feel a little queasy, but it’s remarkably easy to smile. “Good.” I lean into him, breathing in the smell of his skin as I tuck my face into thecrook of his neck. “Because I would probably also try to break a bitch’s arm if I saw someone grabbing you the way Dillon was grabbing me.”

Gavin seems to relax a little. “Are you calling Dill-hole a bitch?”

“Oh, for sure.” I try to wiggle even closer, but the seatbelt keeps me in place. “He’s a world class bitch.”

“He’s going to be an unemployed world class bitch once I tell Grant what happened.” Gavin sighs, leaning back. His hand slides along my hair, smoothing out the tangles I collected during my altercation with Dillon. “We should probably make a police report too.”

I groan, letting my head fall back against the seat. “Can’t we just go home and have dinner and cuddle?”

A little more of the tension bleeds from Gavin’s body as he continues petting me. “We can absolutely go home and eat and cuddle.” But his expression turns serious. “As soon as we go to the station and report that fucker.”

30

The Good, the Bad, and the Speedy

Gavin

I’M STILL STRUGGLING when Alexis and I walk into my condo two hours later. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to get over the sight of that bastard threatening her, but it’s going to be more than one evening.

If ever.

“It smells really good in here.” Alexis pauses just inside the door to slip off her heels, the change immediately bringing her down to my mid chest, and reminding me how much worse tonight could have been.

She’s so small. Yeah, she’s fierce as hell, but it’s hard to overcome size and strength with attitude and sass. What if I hadn’t walked right out the door when she called? What if I hadn’t rushed to the building? What if I’d had to wait on the elevator? There’s no telling how far that piece of shit could have taken things in a few extra seconds.

There’s also no telling what I would have done to him.

“I texted Val and had her come switch the oven to warm so our dinner didn’t burn.” I rake one hand through my hair, trying desperately to find a way to calm myself down. It doesn’t work. I need a minute to breathe. A second to collect my shit before it falls everywhere.

I blindly motion to the couch as I turn. “You get comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

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