Page 46 of Guarded from Danger

XAVIER

There are times I almost forget why Lucy’s here.

When she’s snuggled up next to me in bed, her head on my shoulder and her hair trailing over my arm, her breath feathering across my skin, all I can think about is how perfect it is.

How perfectsheis.

As we take our daily walk around the B and A property, holding hands and stopping to kiss every few minutes like we’re the stars in one of those romance movies Lucy loves, I’m too damn happy to think about anything negative.

And last night, while we were cuddled on the couch watchingJeopardy, Lucy laughed as she said, “Look at us. Like an old married couple watching their shows together.”

A moment later, her cheeks went pink. “Not that we’re married. Or that I?—”

I kissed her before she could take it back. And for the rest of the night, the idea kept rolling around in my head.

Marriage.

It’s something I never considered before Lucy. But now? I like the sound of it.

In those perfect moments, it’s easy to let myself slip into a different reality. One where Lucy moved in with me because I asked her to and not because she needed Blade and Arrow’s protection. One where she’s not still in danger.

I think she forgets about it too, sometimes. On those walks, she’ll look up at me with sparkling eyes and that Lucy-glow, the one that lights up her face and makes people feel glad just to be around her. When she has that glow, I know she’s not thinking about the cabin or the dark web or the nightmares she can’t completely shake.

She’s just happy.

That’s what I want for her all the time. Not to be scared of the dark and sudden sounds and unable to see her family and friends. Not to wake up on a strangled scream after another nightmare or have a panic attack because something triggered her.

I’d doanythingto make Lucy happy. Give her a dozen libraries. Buy her thousands of books. Take her anywhere in the world she wants to go.

Except I can’t do that, because we still haven’t found the people behind that fucked up game.

It’s not for lack of trying. Matt, Leo, Beth—they’ve been working like crazy, and they’re definitely making progress. Two more captives have been rescued, and they’re both expected to make a full recovery. And judging from the results the web crawler is finding, the interest in Expiration Date is fading.

But that doesn’t eliminate the threat to Lucy. The only thing that will do that is putting the monsters behind this in jail.

Well. Unless I come face to face with them. Then I can’t guarantee they’ll make it there.

“Xavier?”

It’s said in a slightly tentative tone, and as I turn to face Lucy, I can see the worry in her eyes. She touches my shoulder and asks softly, “Is everything okay?”

“Of course. Why?”

She glances down at my hands, which currently have a death grip on the edge of the kitchen island. “Well. You just look… tense.”

I release the cool marble and flex my fingers, feeling the blood rushing back into them. Working my lips into a smile, I reply, “I’m okay. Just thinking.”

Skepticism arches her brows, but thankfully, Lucy lets it go. Instead, she covers one of my hands with hers and gives it a little squeeze. “Okay. As long as you’re alright.” She pauses. “You know… you can talk to me. If something’s bothering you. Don’t feel like you have to keep it inside to protect me.”

“I’m not.” Much. But really, what am I supposed to say?I’m thinking about the different ways I could eliminate the fuckers who abducted and tortured you?I’m not sure that’s the kind of answer Lucy would want to hear.

She twines her arms around my waist and leans against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “If you change your mind, I’m here.”

“I know.” Pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head, I add, “Thank you, Luce.”

“Of course. I—” Her mouth snaps shut. After a beat, she says, “Anyway. I was thinking about tonight. That newTransformersmovie is streaming, so I thought we could watch it. And order some pizza from Mariano’s? Maybe get some of that weird beer you like? Kind of like a Xavier’s Favorites night?”

My lips twitch, and some of the tension from before drifts away. “Weird beer?”

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