Page 64 of Protector

“Wait.”

He turns his clenched jaw my way. “I need to get shit rolling if we’re going to pull this off.”

I let the sheet fall away, stand in front of him in just my underwear, a plea in my eyes. “I know you need to do what you think you need to do…but I’m not ready to go back to the real world just yet.” I take his hand, place it over my breast as I peer up into his eyes. “Let it wait a bit more, Brooks, please.” I blink slowly, and as his eyes rake over my body, I lean in and place kisses along his taut chest muscles. “I don’t want to think about what comes later. What will happen to us… So just for now… Show me what I am to you, Brooks.Please.”

His large hand envelops my chest, squeezing with the perfect amount of pressure before sliding up to my face, then the back of my neck as he leans down and covers my mouth with his. “Oh, Shay,” he whispers between my parted lips, “you already know what you mean to me.” His lips place kiss after kiss over my mouth, my cheeks, behind my ear, down the column of my neck as I grip his broad shoulders, never wanting to let him go. Almost as if he’s marking me or committing every inch of me to memory, he continues down until he’s on his knees in front of me, his arms wrapped around me, his mouth making contact over and over again. This feeling of being practically worshipped is so overwhelming I struggle to breathe, and before I know it, I collapse to the ground in front of him, meeting our mouths as we pant and kiss and whisper words of love and passion I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.

Brooks eases me down over the deep plush rug, as if I’m a priceless work of art. Then, when he finally covers my body with his, the blissful weight of him pressing me into the ground, he bends his head so his lips are next to mine. And as he takes me quickly into the heart of pleasure, he whispers in my ear, “Just so we’re clear, baby…you mean everything.”

* * *

I carry my bags into the living room and set them next to the couch, looking around for Jade. The place feels empty, quieter somehow, though nothing has really changed.

After Brooks made love to me on the rug in our room, we lay there a few more minutes talking, making plans. It was sort of strange going over our plan as if we were co-workers while lying naked in each other’s arms.

Then we both started making calls, sending messages, and getting things moving forward. My mom knows to expect me back at her place as both Brooks and I decided it would be better to stay there the next couple of nights before the show. Brooks will stay, too, and he’s also making arrangements to get another bodyguard to be at the house when he can’t. That’s where he is right now. Thankfully, Cole Security Forces’ office is not far from here.

Before we get to my mom’s, we’ll stop at the police station and meet with the detective on the case. Hopefully, by the time we get there, they will at least have a name. It’s so crazy, I don’t even know his name. The thought sends me buckling to the couch. How can I not know the name of the man who is responsible for me getting away from Brendan? I think back to that night, my heart beating faster. I suppose at the time, I figured it was luck. Like this guy just happened to be coming back to his room. Maybe it was… Or maybe he knew to go there. What if he was watching out for me. He does think he’s my knight in shining armor. As twisted as this whole thing is, part of me feels sad for this man who is obviously hurt and mentally ill. I know this isn’t my fault, but I can’t help but wonder if I’d reached out, thanked him…would all this still be happening?

A hand on my shoulder makes me jump.

“Sorry, girl, didn’t mean to scare you.” Jade comes around the couch to stand in front of me. I rise and try to manage a small smile.

“I was spacing out. It’s okay.”

“You sure?” I can see the concern on her face.

“Yeah… But…”

“What is it?” She takes one of my hands like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Once again, I wonder if this is what it’s like to have a sister. It’s been less than a week, but we’ve grown so close, so fast.

“I’m going to miss you.” The words surprise me and make it sound like we’re never going to see each other again.

“So that’s how it is, huh?” She tilts her head and purses her mouth. “No room for me in the entourage?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Hey, I thought you had to lie low.”

“Well, you’re not…”

“Okay, you got me there.”

She opens her arms and smiles. “Come on, at least give me a hug before you dump me.”

“Stop!”

The hug makes me tear up, and instinctively, I laugh to cover. When we pull back, I say, “Hey, you have my number, and I have yours. We’re going to stay in touch, okay?” Yes, people say that, but the tightness of my chest tells me I mean it, so I hold her gaze until she agrees.

“Damn right. And when all this is over, and my brother makes a mess of this guy’s face, we’re going out for tacos and ritas.”

“It’s a date.”

Then Jade’s face turns serious as she touches my arm. “I’m taking a risk here because Brooks would be pissed if he heard me say this…”

Knowing where this is going, I nod. “It’s okay. I won’t say anything.”

“You’re a good person, Shay…I know that, but Brooks…I’ve never seen him act like this. Never seen that look in his eyes…” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “Be careful with my brother. I don’t want his heart broken.”

Again, I show a smile that takes effort, but at the same time, her words make me more emotional. “I understand what you’re saying. But I care about him so much. Honestly, it’s not me you have to worry about. I’m afraid I might be the one who ends up with a broken heart.”

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