Page 46 of Shield and Savior

“Alana’s a closet nerd and assumes everyone else is.” I hand him the remote. “You okay? Do you want to talk at all? How are you holding up?”

He blinks at me. “You woke me up, then gave me ice cream and the greatest video game hook up ever. I don’t care why I’m here. I’m actually a little annoyed it took you so long to bring me here in the first place.”

God, I love this kid. He takes everything in stride. “I’ll get you some donuts and juice. You can stay here until your mom comes down, okay?”

He’s not even paying attention to me anymore as he scrolls through the gaming options. “Uh-huh.”

“Hey, look at my nose.” I point to my nose, and he whips his head around. “You can’t open any of the windows or the outside doors. They’re code operated. No one gets in or out without me, got it?”

Again, he blinks at me. “Why would I go anywhere when I’m in paradise? You’ve been holding out on me. Uncool.”

I throw up my hands. “Okay, you win.” I point behind him toward the back of the room. There’s a door with a dartboard on it. “That’s the panic room. Don’t go inside unless I tell you to.” I point to a door next to the stairs. “That’s the bathroom. Don’t get them confused.”

“This place has three bathrooms? I’m not leaving this couch ever again.”

Kids. He’s so unbothered by everything.

I head back upstairs and do a quick survey of food and supplies as I listen to Izzy shower. The water cuts off, and I imagine her drying off, wet body soft and smooth from the products she swooned over. I have a love-hate relationship with the towel right now. Stop, focus.

Feed Drew to make sure he’s safe.

By the time I return with a plate full of donuts and a glass of juice, he’s so focused on the game, he only grunts a response at me. Safe. He’s safe. That’s all that matters.

I make my way upstairs. The bedroom door opens with a gentle push. She’s sitting on the bed, a fluffy white towel wrapped around her chest as she squeezes water from her hair with a matching hand towel. Her skin is still pink from the water, and the entire room smells like lavender.

Mine.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Lance

She’s mine. For now, and for as long as she’ll have me. There’s nothing separating us, no rules, no expectations. She is with me, and I will keep her safe. Happy. Loved. Being with her last night awakened feelings I had been trying to hold back. This isn’t just a job for me anymore. I wanther.

I close the door behind me, and the click of the lock breaks her reverie, pulling her focus to me. Watching her, I wait for some sign she wants the door unlocked, open, that she wants me to leave. Instead, her cheeks blush, and she nods.

I take three steps closer to her. She leans back on the bed, her arms behind her holding her weight. The towel falls open at the bottom, giving me a golden invitation. Her brown eyes look up at me, desire and fear mixed together.

I will take care of one of those first. “You’re safe now.” My knuckles slide across her cheek, chasing a water droplet before it hits her shoulder.

“Was it…” she starts, but slams her eyes shut, shaking her head.

My heart breaks as I kneel before her, resting my hands on the side of her face. “I will tell you whatever you want to know.” I press my forehead to hers. “Or I can make you feel whatever you want, whatever you need.”

Even with my hands on her cheeks, her bottom lip quivers. Her chest rises and falls with one steadying breath. “Don’t leave again.”

“Never,” I whisper, before kissing her until the shaking stops. She spreads her legs and slides to the edge of the bed. Her kisses turn hungry as I wrap one arm around her back, bringing her closer to my chest. Tiny mewls escape her as my lips caress her neck. She’s everywhere, in my arms, wrapped around my body, her scent fills my nose.

I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want her. Kissing her neck builds my desire, and when she grabs my hair to guide me where she wants to be touched, I’m granite hard. “Do you feel safe with me?”

Her grip is frantic as she pulls me close. “God yes.”

My hands travel to her thighs, rubbing up and down, getting dangerously close to the bottom edge of the towel. The cotton brushes against my knuckles, and I spread her thighs wider. My lips travel to her collarbone. She makes a whimpering sigh. “Do you trust me?”

Her breath warms my cheek as she whispers, “Yes.”

My hands round her hips and grasp the smooth curves of her body. “Let me help you feel good,” I say, crashing my mouth onto hers. Our tongues dance together while we gasp between frantic kisses.

She cries, “Yes,” and, full consent given, the towel needs to go. With one motion, I unknot it and it flutters onto the bed.

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