Page 89 of Guarding the Singer

She looked at him, her eyes filled with emotion that he understood all too well.

"I never thought we'd be in the same place for more than a few hours at a time. And now that I've had a few weeks with you, I don't know how this is going to work."

The look in her eyes was hurting him. He lifted his hands and gently smoothed her hair from her face. He wanted to see into her eyes so there was no mistake, no misunderstanding.

"It's going to work if we want it to work, Sel. I won't always be able to give you details of where I am if I'm working on a sensitive assignment, but when I'm not on assignment, I'll come to you. I'm going to get a lot of frequent flier miles."

"My life isn't simple." Her eyes shone with worry. "People around me can make things crazy."

He titled his head a little. "I've been on your movie set. That wasn't all that bad. How much worse can it be?"

She lowered her chin and looked at him through her lashes. "It gets crazy. Especially when it comes to concerts or public appearances. It's... epic in how strange it can get."

He shrugged. "I can handle that, Sel. I can handle anything for you."

She hesitated and he moved closer, lifting one hand, he unpinned her bun and threaded his fingers through her hair, watching as her eyes slid closed, enjoying his touch.

These were the moments he really wanted with her.

The moments where it was quiet, and they could just be a woman and a man? Those were the best times.

"I can tell you this, Sel. If it means I get to have moments like this? If I get to have you? I'll handle the crazy and everything else that comes with it."

They heard a chime and Selene turned to the speaker in the corner. "Synergy?"

They heard Cypher laughing. "Yes, Jerrica?"

William couldn't help but smile at both of them. "Oh boy."

Cypher's laughter faded enough that she could speak clearly. "I've got your flights planned for tomorrow afternoon."

Both of their phones chimed.

"Sent you both the information and Badger, too."

Selene looked at him and her eyes softened. "Yeah?"

"Gunny will go with you to the airport. Selene, your plane will be in the private terminal and once you're there, Badger and Gunny will return the Suburban to the rental company and catch their flight in the evening."

She nodded and then shook her head, probably realizing that Cypher wasn't actually in the room. "Yeah. I got it. Thanks, Synergy."

"Don't be a stranger, Jerrica." Another chime, this time from Selene's phone on the coffee table. "I added my contacts in your phone. If you need me for anything, just call."

"Thanks." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"And now," Cypher softly cleared her throat, "I'm going to... uh... say goodnight."

"Goodnight." "'Nite."

And then the room was silent.

All William could hear was the pounding of his heart.

Selene looked at the wall clock and he felt her whole energy shift. "So soon. It's just so soon."

William turned on his side and lay down on the sofa, holding his arm out to her, "Come here, gorgeous. Let me hold you for a while."

She gave him a hint of a smile and stretched out beside him, putting her head on his arm before wrapping her arm around his waist. "You can hold me forever." She turned her head and placed a kiss on his chest before settling in against him. "I'll never complain about being in your arms."

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