Page 41 of Used By the Unicorn

Stirling holds me there. His large hand on my shoulder slows me, letting me think. Letting me breathe. “Youneed me. Sapphy has Knight and Boaz. That’s why we’re a herd.”

“No.” God, not that. Not now. Not when I want it so badly to be true. I shake my head. “I’m not.”

Stirling tries to hold me, but I step back. “Jade—”

“I’m not your herd. I’m not your responsibility. I’ll sort this out by myself.”

“No.”

I blink. He never argues back. Whenever I get like this, he just lets me shout and rant and storm off. He never says no.

“You can take the lead and I’ll follow, but I’m going to be there for you no matter what. Especially when I can see you need it.”

“You—I—” I can’t choke out another word.

“Because we’re herd. Nothing you say can change that.”

Tears fight their way up my throat until I’m sobbing into his chest. Until he’s holding me up because I can’t stand by myself anymore.

God damn him.

I’m not like this.

I don’t cry. I don’t faint. I’m not a damsel in distress kinda girl.

Somehow, his strength allows me a moment of weakness I’d never allow myself. His big hand strokes my hair and his soothing whisper brings me out the other side.

“Still here, little dynamite.”

I let out a little growl I don’t really mean. “Why? Why would you want that?”

He’s still holding me close. “Because I’m yours. Because you’re a bright spark. A lightning bolt of energy. And it’s beautiful.”

“What if I burn you. Or you know... set you on fire or something?”

He snorts softly. “No chance. I’m more like thunder. I’ll just follow you around.”

I wipe my nose while looking up into his stupidly handsome face. “How can you say all that with a straight face? That’s so cheesy it hurts.”

He brushes a hand across my cheek. “You like it, though. You’re not as cold or tough as you pretend to be. You’re not cold at all. You’re hotter than anyone I know. You burn brighter.” He runs a knuckle down between my breasts and I shiver. “You have a soft heart.”

“Do not.”

When he leans in to kiss me, I almost give in to it.

I stop him right before our lips meet. “I’m forty thousand dollars in debt and I’m about to have to take who knows how long off on unpaid leave and pay for child care and diapers and cribs, and all that stuff. And now debt collectors want to go through my apartment.”

“They can’t do that.” Boaz’s voice is firm and authoritative.

I look around in surprise. I didn’t even realize he was listening. But he really sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. “Are you sure? How do I stop them?”

“You refuse them entry to your property. Then if they won’t stop harassing you, you file for an injunction and make a formal complaint to the tribunal.”

I stare at him. Where did this serious legal jargon come from?

He grins. “I work in property law. I can make this go away.”

“And you don’t have to buy baby things, Jade. We have plenty to share.” Sapphy chimes in from her position on the pile of pillows.

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