Page 55 of Safe With Me

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, treating me to the bulge in his glorious biceps as he leaned closer. He’d come all the way here to see me home because he knew I’d be afraid.

“Did you ask to get off early, or was that a lucky accident?”

He sent me a crooked grin.

“I went in right after I left your apartment so I could clock out an hour early and catch you here. Not that I didn’t believe you could get yourself home and be fine. I just wanted to remind youthat you’re not alone.” He grabbed my hand as his eyes blazed into mine with more than just concern. “And that I’m good for more than just furniture.”

“That you are,” I whispered, my voice cracking before I buried my head into his chest and cinched my arms around his waist. He stilled for a second, most likely as shocked as I was at the contact, before he hugged me back, his strong arms tightening around me as he pulled me close enough to feel his heartbeat against mine.

The same man who made butterflies flutter in my stomach was the one who’d allowed me to breathe. I’d only known him a short time, yet he knew me better than anyone else. I felt the relief from him too as he leaned into me.

I inhaled what felt like my first deep breath in months.

“Do you have the cruiser or just your truck?” I asked as I pulled back. “Maybe you could turn on the sirens as you follow me, and we could see what story the locals would conjure up.”

“No, I returned the cruiser to the station. Just my boring truck. But let’s put a pin in that.”

His husky chuckle went right to my knees, already melting from being this close to him.

“That sounds like fun.”

He cupped my cheek, drifting his thumb back and forth as he inched closer. I waited for him to pull back, to clear his throat and reset the moment like one of us usually did at this point.

Instead, his grip tightened as he came even closer, exhaling with a groan before he pressed his lips to mine.

My eyes shot open, both in shock and the best kind of surprise, before I let them close and kissed him back. I roped my arms around his neck as he walked me backward against my car door, sifting my fingers through the hair on the back of his neck as he slanted his mouth over mine.

My lips parted on a moan as we kept going, slow and sensual as his tongue tasted and explored, both of us whimpering in sweet relief as he wove his hand into my hair.

“Fuck, Lila,” he murmured against my mouth, sliding his hands down my hips, his erection hot and heavy against my core.

Whatever had been simmering between us exploded onto the street, and instead of pulling back, I was more than ready to let it consume me.

A car horn made us break apart, yanking us back to the present where we were still pretending to be good friends without an inferno of attraction between us.

“Lila, shit,” Mike said, running his hand through his hair. I could still feel the silky strands between my fingers.

“It’s okay. I was right there with you.”

He dropped his hand and covered his eyes.

“The last thing I wanted was to push you.”

“You didn’t.” I grabbed his arm, my shaking hands now having nothing to do with a potential stalker waiting by my car and everything to do with the lust simmering in my belly and pooling between my legs.

“I’d apologize, but…” He trailed off, his eyes still burning as they held mine. “I’m honestly not sorry I kissed you.”

“Neither am I,” I managed to squeak out. “What’s a kiss between friends, right?” A nervous laugh bubbled out of my chest.

“Right,” he said, his hooded eyes locked with mine. “Incredible or not.” He cupped my cheek, the corner of his mouth, still wet from our kiss, tipped up.

“Ready for that escort now?” Mike motioned to where his truck was parked across the street.

“Sure,” I said, both relieved and disappointed he didn’t pull me in for another kiss. “I guess I’ll wait until you make a U-turn?”

“That works,” he said, grinning at me as he jogged across the street.

I was still scared, but not of Ted or what else lingered in the night. The heat smoldering in Mike’s gaze was dangerous, not because he was watching me. Hesawme in a way no one else had and was there with what I needed without my having to explain or ask.

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