Page 36 of Fire

“I’m surprised you bothered. I guess I still don’t understand it.”

He frowns at me, almost looking mad. Then, he rubs his forehead and lets out a heartfelt sigh. “You will understand eventually, but what you need to know right now is that I will always come for you, always protect you.”

His words sound like a promise, and it’s something that I’m not truly ready to deal with. So, I just do what any sane woman would do. I change the subject. “You don’t seem the type to wear pajamas.”

He gives me a sexy smirk, shaking his head. “I’m not, but I’ve been the adult in charge of Asher. He’s also been worried about his mom and needed reassurance at night. So, it seemed the best option.”

Again, my heart squeezes with his words. He really has been putting my son first. That’s something no one but me has ever done for him. Ford turns around, giving me his back. Then he pulls off his pants and my heart runs away with me.

“Ford!” I cry when I see his bare ass right in front of me. I mean, it’s beautiful, but I’m already tempted. I can’t handle this right now. I bury my head into a pillow, refusing to watch anymore. “You can’t undress in front of me!” I add, the words muffled because I refuse to move my face away from the pillow.I can’t.The temptation is just too strong. Ford’s laughter echoes around me and I now try to ignore how hot his laugh makes me.

“Baby, you can look now,” he chuckles.

“No, no, I can’t,” I deny instantly.

“I’m warning you, Grace. If you don’t stop being so cute, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

“I … you …”

“Exactly,” he purrs. “Us.”

I look up at him finally, gripping the pillow tight in my hands. “I don’t understand what is going on. You risk your life to come and find me. You risked it again by making sure Benny would never come after Asher again?—”

“Youor Asher, sweetheart.”

I nod at his words, swallowing down the emotion that I’m not ready to deal with. “Ford, you realize that before I was taken, I had decided to never see you again.”

I thought that would piss him off. I was actually kind of hoping it would. That way he’d leave, or kick me out, instead of insisting we share a bed. Instead of being mad, he shakes his head and gives me a sexy grin.

“You realize that if you’d tried that shit, I would have handcuffed you to my side until you caved.”

“I don’t understand you. We don’t know each other that well, yet you risked your life for me and my son … Honest to God, I don’t know what to do with you.”

“That’s easy, Grace. All you have to do is give me a chance. That’s all I want. Just let me prove to you how happy we can be together.”

“Ford, I’m cursed. My grandmother said it all the time, and she was right. Look at this latest debacle with Benny. That’s all the evidence you need to know I’m telling the truth. You could have gotten killed today and if you had …”

I can’t finish my sentence. The thought of this beautiful, selfless man dying because of me is soul destroying. I don’t think I could survive the mixture of guilt and grief.

“I didn’t.”

“You could have. How do you think that’d make me feel? I care for you. It would kill me to know I was responsible for something happening to you.”

He keeps staring at me and I feel like he might finally be understanding what I’m saying. Then, his lips spread into a big smile. There’s nothing here to be happy about. Maybe the man is insane.

“Youcarefor me?”

“Seriously? That’s all you got out of everything I just said?”

“I think that’s really big. Now come here and let your man hug you up. We both need sleep, and I desperately need you in my arms so I can reassure myself that I got to you in time and you’re okay.” I automatically start to argue, but he shakes his head. “Please, Grace. Give me this.”

There’s something raw and needy in his words. I just don’t have it in me to argue. Especially since I want to be in his arms right now. “Okay,” I whisper. Ford smiles at me, a smile that lights up his eyes. Once he gets in bed, I lay my head on his chest and his arm wraps around me, hugging me close. “What happened with Benny?” I ask once we’re settled and the quiet echoes in the room.

“It's over. That’s all you need to concern yourself with. I’ve made sure he’ll never come back into our lives. The entire nightmare is over for you and Asher. I’ll also be talking with the Korslovas when I get back to Virginia.”

“What exactly do you mean you made sure he’ll never come back?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

---