Page 66 of Keep Me Safe

Fuck, does she think I’m sleeping with other people? Guiding her chin up to look at me, I brush my thumb over her lip.

“There’s no one else, princess.”

Her body relaxes somewhat under my touch, but something is still bothering her. “Jared can’t find out. I can’t do that to him,” she says.

“I know. He won’t, I promise,” I assure her, placing a kiss on her forehead. If he found out, it would ruin everything. I can’t begin to let myself think about how much this would hurt him. I’m his dad, and I just fucked his best friend. Not to mention, I’m almost certain that he has feelings for her. He’s the kind of guy sheshouldbe with.

A better man would get up, get dressed, and tell her that this was a mistake. Instead, I pull her tighter against me as she sighs. Stroking my fingers through her hair, she falls asleep on mychest, her arm wrapped around me.

I should bring her to her room.

Who knows when Jared will be back?

But I don’t.

chapter nineteen

kira

I wake up in the morning to the feeling of a hard body pinning me to the mattress. It takes a moment for me to remember where I am.

Oh my god, last night.

Rolling over, I look up to the naked man wrapped around me, his warm hazel eyes already fixed on mine. Thoughts of last night fill my mind, and I’m about to climb back onto him when I remember Jared.

Shit, is he home?

Noah must sense my panic, his hand reaching for my cheek.

“Don’t worry, it’s early. If he’s home, he’s probably still asleep,” he says, his voice rough.

His fingers trace through my hair, and I lean into his touch. I need to get up and go to my room. What if he comes looking for me?

“I should go,” I say, trying to sit up.

Strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into him.

“In a minute, I’m not ready for this to be over yet.”

His words hit deeper than I’m willing to admit. That’s precisely what I’m worried about. What happens when it is over, when we go back downstairs and back to reality?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

At first, I don’t respond. How do I say this without soundingclingy? He nuzzles his face into my neck, kissing right below my ear, and my body melts into him.

“Tell me, princess,”he orders.

“I just… I don’t want this to be like every other time. I don’t want you to pull away again.”

He’s silent for a moment, and I brace myself for the rejection. I knew it was coming. I don’t know what I expected.

“That’s not happening. I have no idea how this is going to work, but you’re mine, and I can’t stay away from you anymore.”

His calloused hand caresses my face, and my heart flips, my chest filling with butterflies. I shouldn’t be excited. There’s no way this can work. No one can ever find out, but the thought that he wants me, only me, is enough.

“But are you sureyouwant this?” he asks.

My eyes focus on his, and I rest my hand on his bare chest.

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