Page 10 of Protected By the Surly Carpenter

His thumb drags slowly across my lower lip as he smiles slightly. Then he leans back, throwing the truck into gear. “So we’re going to clear out your room there, and you’re coming to stay with me.” He flashes me a sideways look. “If that’s okay with you? You’ll be safer.”

Checking out his house, and hopefully gettingmuchcloser to this incredible man who seems obsessed with keeping me safe? Sign me up!

“Yes. Thank you.”

5

CLARK

Ihang back in the doorway of Elena’s room while she packs at lightning speed. She’s extremely tidy. I appreciate that. It’s sad that all her worldly possessions are being packed into an old, beaten-up gray car, though.

“Lock the door. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

I stand outside, waiting to hear the chain rattling before I go to close out her bill. From various things she’s said, it’s clear she doesn’t have a lot of money, so I might as well help.

I return to her door and knock. “It’s me.”

She flings open the door, grinning so widely that I feel my face stretching to match her smile. Honestly, my clients are going to be confused if they ever see me wearing this expression. They’ll think I've been replaced by a shapeshifter or something.

We pack up her car, and she follows me on the fairly short drive to my house. I pull into the carport, which is easier for the truck since I often have deliveries in the back of it. Jumping out, I grab the remote and open the garage door for her.

She gets out carrying her purse and duffel bag. Her lovely eyes are even more golden in the glow of the porch light. “This is your house?”

I take the bags from her and unlock the front door. “Yeah.”

“And it’s just you living here?”

I’m not quite sure what she’s getting at. “Yeah?”

She steps in, staring at the flagstones in the entryway. We kick off our shoes, then she walks slowly across the wide pine planks of the living room floor. “Holy shit! This place looks like a resort!”

It occurs to me in that second that I’ve never cared what anyone thought about my home before. But now there’s a reason I made every decision: to impress Elena tonight, so that perhaps she’ll consider living with me as soon as possible.

Even though this is moving way too fast. Even though I can see in Elena’s eyes that she’s nervous. It would be so much better if our first few weeks together could be stress-free as we got to know each other, even though I already know enough to know that she is my choice. My woman. My person. The one I’m supposed to be with.

“Let’s go into the kitchen.” That tends to make people comfortable, right? “Coffee? Tea? Sparkling lemon water?”

“No thanks.”

Crap, I should be clear about the sleeping arrangements to put her at ease. “I’m sorry, I never got around to buying an extra bed to make a proper guestroom. I use it as my office instead. So I’ll take the couch and you can have my room.”

Elena approaches me slowly, stepping close, then staring up into my eyes. “I’d feel bad stealing your bed. Would it be okay if we share it? I don’t take up much room, and?—”

I pull her close, nuzzling her neck. “I’d love to sleep with you, Elena.” There’s a grinding sound in my throat as I stifle a chuckle. “As insleeping. Holding you. That’s it.”

Leaning back, I trace my thumb over her plush bottom lip. “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen in my life by far. You’rein control. If I accidentally hold you too tightly when I’m asleep, promise me you’ll use your new right uppercut?”

She laughs, her head shaking as her hair swishes around her shoulders. “I’m in a new town. I was trying to have a new start. Maybe I…want to try some new things?”

“Okay. As long as you know that you’re in charge.”

I inhale sharply as her hand skims firmly across my chest. Then her fingers caress the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. “Actually,” she whispers, looking up at me through her lashes, “I think I’d like it if you took control. I…you know. Haven’t really?—”

I interrupt her with a slow, sultry kiss. Damn, the feeling of her body against mine makes me hard as rock in seconds. I feel saturated with pure, raw lust simply from knowing how much she wants me – and that, apparently, she’s never been with a man at all before.

My arms scoop underneath her, lifting her as she wraps her legs around my waist. Still kissing her, I shuffle forward slowly down the hall and through my bedroom door. I lay her across the bed, turn on the side lamp, then start unbuttoning my shirt that she’s still wearing.

“You look much better in this than I ever will.”

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