Page 28 of Mountain Protector

“I think I do,” she whispers against my mouth.

The admission sends a wave of satisfaction through me that’s different from the physical pleasure we shared earlier—deeper, more profound. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close, breathing in the clean scent of her damp hair.

“Let’s get you to bed,” I murmur, leading her back to the bedroom.

I find one of my t-shirts in a drawer and help her into it. The sight of her in my clothes, the hem hitting mid-thigh on her shorter frame, stirs something primal in me again. I pull on a pair of boxer briefs and join her in bed, pulling her against me so her back is pressed to my chest.

I press a kiss to the nape of her neck, inhaling the scent of her clean skin. “Sleep, then. I’ve got you.”

Ruby turns in my arms, facing me with those incredible eyes that seem to see right through me. “This wasn’t what I expected when my dad said he was sending protection.”

I chuckle, tucking a strand of damp hair behind her ear. “I’m guessing he didn’t expect this either.”

Her expression grows serious. “Do you regret it? Breaking the professional boundaries?”

“No,” I answer without hesitation. “I should, but I don’t. Not for a second.”

Relief flickers across her face. “Good. Me neither.”

I trace the curve of her cheek with my thumb, marveling at the softness of her skin. “We’ll figure it out, Ruby. The protection, Holloway, your father—all of it. But right now, in this moment, it’s just us.”

She nods, her eyelids growing heavy. “Just us,” she echoes, the words slurring slightly with exhaustion.

I pull her closer, arranging the blankets around us. Her breathing gradually deepens, her body relaxing completely against mine as sleep claims her. I stay awake a little longer, watching the peaceful rise and fall of her chest, memorizing the pattern of freckles across her nose, the exact shade of her hair against my sheets.

The fierce protectiveness I feel for her hasn’t diminished. If anything, it’s grown stronger, more resolute. Holloway, her father, the world—they’ll all have to go through me to get to her now.

As I drift toward sleep, Ruby tucked securely in my arms, one thought circles in my mind: Mine to protect. Mine to cherish.

Mine, period.

ChapterSeven

RUBY

Warmth.That’s the first thing I feel.

Warmth spreading through my body, drawing me from sleep into a hazy consciousness that feels better than any dream.

My eyes flutter open and I realize the warmth isn’t just the blankets. It’s Clay’s mouth on my inner thigh as his hands part my legs with gentle insistence.

My breath catches as his tongue finds me, and any remaining fog of sleep vanishes in an instant. His eyes flick up to mine, dark with hunger, and the sight of him between my legs sends a shock wave of desire through me so strong I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out.

“Clay,” I moan.

He doesn’t answer with words. Instead, his tongue circles my clit, making my hips rise involuntarily from the bed. His large hands grip my thighs, holding me open to him as he tastes me with deliberate, maddening slowness.

I thread my fingers through his dark hair, not sure if I’m trying to pull him closer or push him away from the almost unbearable pleasure. He groans against me, the vibration sending ripples of sensation up my spine.

“Fuck, you taste good,” he murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and teasing. “Been thinking about this all night.”

Before I can respond, he slides one thick finger inside me while his tongue continues its relentless attention. My back arches off the bed as he curls his finger, finding that perfect spot that makes stars explode behind my eyelids.

“Clay, please,” I gasp, not even sure what I’m begging for.

He adds a second finger, stretching me deliciously as his mouth works magic. My thighs begin to tremble, heat building low in my belly, coiling tighter with each stroke of his tongue. I’m climbing higher, faster than I thought possible, my body responding to him like we’ve been lovers for years instead of hours.

When he sucks gently while pressing his fingers deeper, I shatter. The orgasm crashes through me in waves, my body clenching around his fingers as I cry out his name. He doesn’t stop, drawing out every last tremor until I’m gasping, oversensitive and boneless against the sheets.

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