Page 56 of Protector

I’d taken it too far.

“Get him out of here,” I demanded. “Get everybody out of here!”

Bear hauled the prick to his feet, digging his fingers into the skin of his broken arm until he was wide awake and screaming.

I waited until they were gone before approaching her. “Celia, princess, can you hear me?”

She responded with a deep breath and a jerky nod. “It’s just my hand—”

“Is it broken?” I held my palm out, and she reluctantly placed it in mine. As I ran my thumb lightly across the raw knuckles, her nipples tightened beneath the sheer lace. And my cock, which had been hard since laying eyes on her, strained against my zipper, begging for release.

God, I wanted to fuck her.

I tried to discreetly adjust myself before checking her over, but she caught it, and her tongue darted out to lick along her lower lip. It only succeeded in making me harder.

“You’re uh, you’re gonna be sore…” My voice trailed off as her nipples peeked through the sheer lace, and I fought to get myself back on track. “But, it doesn’t… it doesn’t feel like anything’s broken.”

Celia’s chest began to rise and fall rapidly, and I worried that she was slipping away again. She’d obviously developed some strong coping skills, but maybe being alone in a room with me was bringing back bad memories.

With a slow smile and slight tremble, she brought her palm up to rest in the center of my chest. I held my breath as the other one moved up to cup my jaw. Her touch was electric, sending a jolt straight to my cock.

She slipped her hand beneath my kutte and fisted the t-shirt, all while watching me with those wide green eyes. As much as I wanted to lose myself in her body, I held back, letting her navigate.

“Jamie,” she whispered, and I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and let my hand trail through the dark curls on her head.

Her breath rasped out as a flush worked its way up her chest and, just like a book of matches near a can of gasoline, she moved up against me and ignited a spark.

Our mouths collided roughly, reopening both of our wounds. I sucked the iron from her lips; a man starved for the taste of her. Fingernails dug into my chest as her hands moved almost frantically over my muscles, gripping me like a lifeline.

I fought to take a breath, knowing it was too much, too soon.

I needed to pull away, but at her soft exhale, I palmed her ass and dragged her up into my arms. Her legs wrapped tightly around my waist, her thighs holding me in place while she rocked against me.

My mind shut off as I walked us over to the floating vanity near the A/C unit and set her down on top of the worn laminate counter. The antique mirror above it had gone cloudy, giving the appearance that we were surrounded by fog.

With a soft moan, she slipped her tongue between my lips, and I forgot why kissing her was a bad idea. I forgot why I’d fought against it for so long. That first time her lips connected with mine, I’d been a goner.

I blinked against the sting of tears as I was taken back to that afternoon in my office atInked on Broadway.

When shit went south, I couldn’t even look at that couch without being reminded of everything I’d given up for the club.

My hands slipped beneath the waistband of her lace panties and roamed over her ass as she pulled my lower lip between her teeth.

Goosebumps spread over her skin when my fingers brushed across a rough patch of skin near her hip, and it was like flipping a switch. One minute she was grinding against me, and the next, she was struggling to get as far away as possible.

She scrambled down off the counter and toward the wall, pushing both palms out. “Wait!”

I nodded with a rough exhale and took a step back, waiting for her to make the next move. It was vital for her to feel like she was in control. I knew that, but it was damn near impossible to keep my hands to myself.

“I’m… I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.” Celia studied her reflection in the mirror for several seconds. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizin’ for? You don’t owe me a fuckin’ thing, princess. I’m sorry.”

I’d keep apologizing for that night until the breath left my body, even knowing that it wouldn’t change a goddamn thing.

She gave me a shaky nod before turning back to the discolored glass in front of her. “I just…” she sighed. “I just feel strange.”

“Strange?” I asked carefully, moving behind her until I was close enough that my cock brushed up against her, but not enough to leave her feeling trapped. Keeping my eyes on her reflection, I pressed my lips to the side of her neck before whispering, “How?”

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