Page 32 of Sworn to Protect

“Thanks, Mark. I appreciate the offer. Even though things ended between us, we did have our share of fun.”

My words bring a grateful smile to his face. “That we did.”

“A caramel macchiato for a Mark,” Jill calls out.

I roll my eyes as Mark chuckles.

“I best get going. Feel free to kick my dad out anytime. The freeloader.”

“You got it.”

Mark shifts to grab his coffee. He meets Nate on his way out. They exchange friendly hellos, and a sense of relief washes through me. That meeting could have gone a lot worse. I’m glad we’ve matured. Maybe it won’t be so bad when I run into his mom.

Nate steps to the counter, and my heart skitters. He looks … dangerous in the best way. His dark hair is neatly styled, but that five o’clock shadow gives him an edge. Oh, what that stubble would feel like scrapping against my inner thighs. That thought alone has those thighs in question clenching. I may not be able to act upon it, but I can allow my imagination to go wild, which is what I’ve done this past week in bed. Nate gives me plenty of material to keep me going while I fulfill those needs.

I greet him with a genuine smile, but my voice comes out raspier than intended. “Your regular?”

“Yes, please.” Nate leans over the counter and hands me his money. His clean scent competes with the coffee beans. It’s intoxicating. I’ve deduced he runs every morning and showers before coming here.

“What’s on today’s agenda?” he asks while I pour his coffee.

“Same as always: kids, cooking, and studying.” I cock my head. “I still owe you that meal. I sort of suck at repaying debts.”

“You suck, huh?” He smirks as his eyes dilate and darken to a deeper brown.

Heat flames my cheek from his sexy drawl. Guess I need to watch my phrasing around this man.

“Maybe.”

“Hmm, a form of punishment may be in order.”

Holy hell.

As if on cue, my nipples harden from the suggestion, and breathing has now become impossible. The air between us crackles with something dangerous, something thrilling. Jill chokes on her cough in the distance, but I can’t focus on her. I direct my attention to Nate. We’ve had a few flirtatious moments, but never anything so direct. What kind of punishment does he mean? The sexual kind? Do I want that?

Fuck, I think I do.

What is wrong with me?

He leans closer, his voice a low rumble. “The lasagna more than made up for it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing what else you’ve got.”

With a wink, he pivots and heads straight out the door. I’m left slack-jawed, staring after him.

“Oh, honey. Your needs are definitely getting serviced sooner rather than later,” Jill says in a low tone.

The rush of fluttering waves capsizing my stomach catches me by surprise. Is that what I actually want? To have my needs serviced by him? Eagerness swells inside me, telling me everything I need to know.Yes, yes, I do.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NATE

“Momma, we’re home!”Nick yells and darts toward the kitchen.

Home.The word lands harder than it should. He probably means himself and his brother, but for one foolish second, I imagine he’s including me. The idea unsettles me more than it should. Other than my military unit, I haven’t belonged to a family in years.

I still don’t.

The voice of reasoning rears its ugly head and keeps me grounded. That is until I catch a whiff of something delicious wafting from the kitchen. The scent stirs a yearning inside me that has no right existing. This isn’t supposed to happen. I don’t belong here. Not with her. Not with this family.

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