Page 85 of The Keeper and I

“Why so sad, Yurochka?” Larysa cooed. “Are you hungry?”

Laci handed him back to his mother who gathered up her diaper bag and rose to her feet. She gave Laci one last serious look.

“Whatever you choose, good luck, Laci.”

“Thank you.”

She left. Artem jogged over but didn’t get his question out before Larysa shot him a thumb’s up and let him know she was taking the baby inside to feed and change him. He blew her a kiss. Laci barely contained an “awww” that started to form in her mouth.

She turned her gaze over to Jordan, who caught her eye and smiled. A grinning Hector whispered something to him, which made Jordan roll his eyes and shove his teammate away from him. He stole another glance at Laci before getting back on his line. Her chest warmed.

She couldn’t say for sure that it was love. Not yet. But it was pretty damn close.

Chapter 22

JordanwatchedLaci,withdrawn,sitting on his bed as she tugged a brush through her hair. She’d barely spoken a word on the way back from the Hive, and he worried she was still shaken up. He wasn’t sure he could deal with another sleepless night with a match coming up. Sliding behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and slipped the brush from her grasp. He took over, gently raking the bristles from the crown of her head to the ends of her hair. To his relief, she closed her eyes.

“That feels nice,” she said with a sigh.

“Nice enough to make you sleep?”

“Perhaps. Keep going, let’s find out.”

He obeyed, using his fingers to comb through the hair the brush didn’t reach. Goosebumps erupted over her skin. She leaned into his chest and rested.

“What are we going to do if they don’t catch him?” she asked.

Jordan needed no clarification about who she meant, so he answered. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, which you are right now.”

She opened her eyes and turned her face to meet his gaze with an uncharacteristic frown. “I know I’m safe when I’m with you. I just…”

He paused his ministrations with the brush. “Just what?”

“I can’t turn my mind off,” she said. “It’s like every time I start to relax, I wonder what’s going to happen next. I’ve got a photoshoot tomorrow, and I can’t even talk or post about it without being terrified he’ll turn up there. Not to mention, you’ve got training and can’t come with me. I don’t know how I’ll feel safe going to and from the studio. My father keeps texting me about different private security companies, saying he’s going to send someone to sit by my house. Which only makes me want to scream. I know it’s serious, and I’m scared to death, but I want to forget about it for a moment. God, I…I want it all to stop.”

Her forlorn expression made his chest tight. He had an idea. It crossed his mind that she may not be up for it, but he wouldn’t know unless he tried. Testing the waters, he lowered his lips to her shoulder and moved the strap of her tank top aside to kiss her soft skin. He trailed all the way up her neck until his mouth hovered by her ear.

“Let me help,” he murmured. “I bet I can make you forget.”

She shivered. “Yeah?”

“Only if you want. If not, I can keep doing this…”

She snatched the brush out of his hand and tossed it to the floor. She brought his hand up to cup her breast, and he smirked. She needed it more than he thought.

“Go on, then,” she said. “Make me forget. Please.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and scooted back to the headboard, dragging her with him. She giggled. What a sweet sound that was. He pulled her between his legs, her back pressed to his chest.

“Close your eyes,” he whispered. “Focus on the feeling.”

She let out a breath and did as he asked. He sat her up for a moment to take her shirt off, which freed her breasts.

“No bra tonight?” he teased with a nip to her ear.

“I much prefer your hands,” she breathed back.

“That so?”

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