Page 10 of Snowed in with My Protector

“How about you go and get on something comfortable, and I’ll get the fire going.” I look her over and the thought of her in pajamas, even if they cover her completely, makes my cock throb and beg to be set free. “I know you don’t have much in your bag, so let me know if you need anything.”

Her hand wraps around my forearm and I have to bite back a groan of pleasure. “Thank you, Hutch.”

I focus on getting the fire going, which isn’t easy until I remind myself that it’s for her. It’s all for her.

When she walks back into the room in an oversized t-shirt, I almost swallow my tongue. Her legs are bare, and the shirt is long enough that I have no idea if she has shorts on underneath. Part of me hopes she doesn’t, but I know I won’t be able to control myself if that’s the case.

Her steps are hesitant when I sit on the couch and relax, not taking my eyes off my woman. Yes, my woman. As she steps closer, my palms itch with the need to get my hands on her. The moment she’s close enough, I grip her hips and pull her down next to me.

I can feel the way the tension leeches from her as she curls into my side. I’ll gladly give her all my strength if that’s what she needs.

The crackle of the fire is a gentle lullaby I hope she finds as relaxing and comforting as I do. I want to hold her closer. I want to pull her onto my lap and nuzzle her neck,

But I hold myself back for now.

“I’ll keep you safe, Fallon. I promise.”

She doesn’t say anything and when I look down at her I realize why. She’s fallen asleep. And for the first time since she got here, she’s completely at peace.

CHAPTER 5

FALLON

The book in my lap has no hope of holding my attention. It could be the most amazing, enticing, dramatic piece of literary awesomeness, but it wouldn’t stand a chance. Not when I have Hutch to steal my attention from these measly words on the page.

Poor dead trees soaked in ink and filled with the effort of some author somewhere. I’m completely unable to focus on a damn thing.

Well, at least nothing beyond Hutch across the room with his own book. He’s at least turned a page though while I’ve been pretending to stare at the same word for the last 40 minutes. Is he not as distracted by me as I am by him? How is he capable of reading right now?

It feels like the tension between us has been steadily growing since I arrived a few days ago. And holy shit, it is almost too much for me to deal with.

I’m not sure what is going to happen, but I’m pretty sure that if he breathes in my direction just the right way then I’ll be climbing him like a damn tree. Or maybe I’ll be humping his leg. Either could happen at this point.

Balancing on the knife’s edge is both exhilarating and exhausting.

It has not been easy to sleep these last few nights, not when I was acutely aware of Hutch being so close and yet so far away. Everything in me wanted to go into his room and crawl into bed next to him. I feel so much safer in his arms. I felt a little bit weird about it at first, but I’ve come to accept it over the last few days.

I’m sure it helps how he’s never been far from me. And he finds ways to touch me and hold me. Hutch has grounded me, making me feel like I can exist in the here and now instead of floating in the what ifs which threaten to pull me under.

There are so many what ifs left from my old life.

What if I had never found that hidden file? What if I hadn’t listened to Echo and gone to a hotel? What if I hadn’t reached out to Echo about what I had found? What if I didn’t remember my brother telling me at Higgins Security?

There are never going to be answers to these questions because I chose my path. The only thing I can do is walk it. Even though it’s scary. Even though I have no idea where it leads.

What I don’t have to question is the way Hutch makes me feel. I’m safe with him, but there’s something else between us and I’m not sure if I’m ready to examine it yet.

My body hums with a knowing sensuality whenever he’s close to me, and he’s guaranteed that he’s close to me often. He makes me feel alive and seen. I want him.

Then go and get him.

I’ve never been all that great with men, I was always better keeping my head buried in a book and focusing on work. That’snot to say I’ve never tried my hand at a relationship, because I have. I’m a nerdy bookwork who loves my job, not a blushing virgin.

Except Hutch has the ability to make me blush just by looking at me. Which is kind of strange.

I’m confident with my body and I’ve enjoyed sex with the partners I’ve had in the past. But there was something…missing in my past relationships. A spark? A fire? I’m not even sure how to describe it, but what I do know is that it exists in the space between Hutch and me.

“You know if you keep looking at me, Beautiful, I’m going to give into my desires. I’m not sure you’re ready for that,” Hutch’s voice is deep and languid, skittering across my skin and making goosebumps cover me.

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