Page 95 of Protect

“I’ve never felt anything like you,” he whispers.

“Me either…” I say, still breathless.

“Electrostatic connection.” He leans down and kisses my sweaty forehead. The air is heavy and full of emotion.

“Attraction,” I correct.

“Yeah, that too.” He smirks, kissing me again as he pulls out of me, leaving me feeling hollow.

I fall down onto my bed, my arms in an outstretched U above my head. I smile up at the ceiling as Rowan lies down beside me and kisses my shoulder.

“You know you can tell me anything right?” I ask. His eyes are puzzled as I giggle. “If you were afraid to lose at Euchre to me and wanted out of the game, you didn’t have to get all mushy on me. You could’ve just forfeited,” I say as my grin grows to blissed out proportions.

Rowan pounces on me with a growl. I flinch then softly giggle as he nuzzles my neck.

“Brat,” he mutters against my skin. “Now, spread these thighs, I’m nowhere near done with you yet.”

“You’re definitely bringing Scottie, right?” I ask Cal as I keep an eye on my portion of the line where my sawyer is cutting down a snag. We’ve spent the day an hour outside of Sky Ridge near Benny Ridge National Park prepping for a prescribed burn near a highly developed area. We take away heavy fuels in an area that is highly susceptible to fire, especially when we haven’t had any rain the entire month of June.

Sup was tickled when we were tasked to it. He says it’s a really good opportunity to “team build” and get the newbies learning. We have three new crew members this season, bringing our squad to a record high since I’ve been on board.

“Yes, for the tenth time,” Cal mutters, wiping his brow before turning to the team.

“Your arms are on fire, but will you stop digging?” Cal calls to the newbs behind us.

“No, Cap,” the crew calls out as they dig.

“Making this hole your bitch?” Dixon asks, working with them. I shake my head and grin.

“That’s what she said,” Roycie calls out to Dixon.

“Well, your mom has a way with words, what can I say?” Dixon fires back.

Roycie pauses long enough to give him the Ross Geller flip off.

I chuckle at their typical bullshit.

“Reason number 101 why I don’t want Vi to be the only woman there with this group of miscreants.” I hike my thumb over my shoulder as I say it.

Cal chuckles. “Point taken. Scottie likes Vi, said she wants to get to know her better.”

I nod, liking the sound of that.

The moment Sup comes up from the base of the hill to check on our crew, everyone instantly becomes a little more serious. Cal won’t ride them quite as much about fucking around a little. It’s 90 degrees out here and we’ve been mucking for four hours already. I’ve been back to work for five days and we haven’t been called out to our next roll yet, which never—and I meannever—happens. I think the longest I was ever off after mandatory R&R was two days. So, five? That’s unheard of. But I’m not complaining. It means I’ve been spending almost every night with Vi and Hollie, and for the first time ever in my seven years on this crew, I’m actually dreading going out on my next roll.

If I’m being honest, the memory of falling into that pit is still fresh in my mind, although I’m doing my best to stay above it, and the other reason I’m dreading going? I just don’t want to leave Violette, not when I feel like something deeper is really starting to happen between us.

“This getting serious?” Cal asks like he’s reading my mind. “Hold that thought,” he adds before shuffling over to correct Roycie on something.

He's gone for more than ten minutes so when he gets back, I don’t expect him to remember to ask me the same question again, but he does.

“So…Little T, that serious?” Cal asks again.

“I’m just trying to get used to the idea that she actually wants to spend time with me.”

“And she does?” Cal asks, genuine concern lines his tone.

I nod. “Yeah, seems so.”

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