Page 54 of From Us, Forever

“I told you not to worry your pretty little head about it. They’ll keep saying things until the next fascinating news jumps on their radar.”

I nodded. “You sure they won’t bother us here?” I instinctively looked out the window. Even though the curtains were drawn closed, monsters still could be lurking.

“They won’t. Tyler has doubled security, and I won’t let anything happen to you. Understand?” His voice was laced with assurance and an undercurrent of unyielding promise. “Plus, everyone knows us here, and they are not going to say a thing.”

“Okay,” I agreed. It was home, and the peace that came with it silenced my mind.

“I’m sorry it played out the way it did.”

I gave him a soft smile. “I told you it wasn’t your fault.”

“Downside of the job.” He let out a sharp inhale before the seriousness in his eyes vanished. “Do you want to watch another movie or go to bed?”

“Bed sounds amazing, but I was thinking of something else.”

“Wonder what that was?” His lips tugged in a sly grin, reading my mind like a pro.

Like he knew all the dirty thoughts running through my head, I had become a horny fool lately.

Partly, I wonder if it was because I was rediscovering my sexuality as an adult, and I was comfortable exploring that with a man I trusted with all my heart. It was empowering in a way.

Feigning braveness, I asked, “How about we christen every inch of this house,again?” I licked my lips as the air coursed with tension with each ticking second.

His grin widened. “Considered it job done.”

I shrieked when he suddenly pulled my leg, and my back crashed on the couch. Spreading my knees, he settled his weight over me.

“Let’s start with the couch.”

I burst out laughing, but that laughter died in its wake when his lips met mine.

CHAPTER 12

“Goddamn, is this heaven?” My eyes never blinked as I leaned against the doorframe, scrubbing the back of my hand over my lips.

Gone were the heavy gray skies from yesterday. The sun was high, shining bright, and almost blinding.

Just like the shirtless man grinning at me while mowing the lawn with sweat dripping all over his washboard abs. “Morning, sweetheart.”

“Morning,” I mumbled and watched as he turned off the machine, putting it aside before he padded over to me and took my lips in a hard kiss.

“Hey.” I blushed. His smell of seawater, wood, and sweat tingled my nerves.

“Hey back,” he murmured before he planted another kiss on my lips.

“You should get inside,” I said, my eyes darting to the two giggling girls on the next-door porch. “This should be a crime—illegal for you to be shirtless in the sun or…” I held up a finger. “In any other weather, for that fact. Those girls aren’t old enough to begawking at you.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “They are Leslie’s granddaughters; I’ve known them since they were kids. I think they go to college now.”

“It still doesn’t matter.” I curled my hand around his wrist, dragging him inside. The flush from my heated skin cooled immediately as I drew the door shut.

“Do you know how adorable you are when you’re jealous?” He switched hands with mine in a second and yanked me to his chest.

I swallowed, shaking my head. “I’m not.”

His grin widened as he leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

“Your skin is glowing.” He paused, and my inhale lodged in my throat. “Green.”

---