Page 68 of Mine to Protect

“What?” His wrist rested on my shoulder, allowing three of his fingertips the reach to brush up and down the length of my neck.

“I’m relaxed, comfortable. I’m about to fall asleep.” Rotating my head, I tipped my chin to see above the bill of my hat to look at him. “It’s because of you. I’ve wanted to do this exact thing in the past but couldn’t. Thank you.” Shifting back and forth, I nestled to get comfortable and let out a deep, whimsical sigh. “You’re my hero.”

“I’m no one’s hero.”

My heart sank at his words. His tone made it sound like he believed what he said. How could he not see how amazing he was? Thoughtful, caring, protective—all the qualities I hoped to find in someone one day. Never expected it to come wrapped in a sexy-as-hell package too.

My eyes fluttered closed. Just as I slipped into the beautiful space between awake and asleep, a soft, deep voice whispered, “If I could be anyone’s hero, Lady, I’d die to be yours.”

* * *

A shiver snapped me awake.Blinking against the bright sun, I pushed onto my elbows with a groan. Hand at my lower back, I massaged the sore muscles that had pressed into the rock while I napped.

“Come here,” Cas said with a tug on my arm as he also sat up.

After scooting back, his injured hand wrapped around my shoulder, holding me in place while the knuckles of his good hand pressed into my tight muscles.

“Oh,” I moaned. “That feels so good. Harder, right there.”

“Lady,” Cas growled and pulled my back against his chest. “Do you want me to strip you naked and have my own personal picnic with you splayed out on this fucking rock for everyone to see?”

Well, when he put it that way….

The tip of my ponytail swished along my back as I shook my head.

“That’s what I thought. So kindly stop making noises and saying shit that makes me want to, understood?”

Remembering his words from earlier, I smirked. “Yes, sir.”

“Fuck,” Cas grumbled, but went back to kneading the muscles along my spine.

A soft chuckle died on my lips as the hair on the back of my neck and arms stood on end. Pressing up to my feet, I turned to scan down the trail.

Beside me, Cas stood too. “What’s wrong?” Mouth open to explain, I gaped at the gun dangling from his left hand.

“That was fast,” I said in awe.

The corners of his lip twitched upward. “That’s the only time I’ll be okay with you saying that.”

“It just felt like someone was watching us,” I whispered, following Cas as he stalked toward the trail. “Maybe you should give me the gun since you have a bum shooting hand.”

“I’m trained to use both,” he whispered over his shoulder. “I’m keeping my gun.”

“Fine,” I sighed as I gripped his black T-shirt. Even though I’d been trained since childhood, there was zero doubt that he was a faster and more accurate shot than me.

To our right, a barely audible cascade of sediment and rocks fell, shifting both our focus between the rocks. Cas’s back muscles tensed beneath my hand. Nerves drew me closer to him, pressing my front against his back for protection. I wasn’t the fragile girl type, but he was the one with the gun, so I snuggled in closer.

“Let’s keep moving,” Cas directed. “I don’t like this.”

Next thing I knew, he was hauling me down the trail as I fought to keep up. My grip on his shirt loosened as we weaved between the rocks. Just as his shirt slipped through my fingers, something snagged my foot. Everything stilled as I tilted forward, hands extended in front of me to soften the blow that was to come.

But it didn’t.

Unclenching my eyes, I found a pair of amused dark brown ones staring back. “You thought I’d let you fall?” A flash of pain swept across his gaze as he used both hands to haul me upright. Mouth open to say something else, he glanced over my shoulder. His shoulders rose, muscles bunched, ready for action.

“Alta, get behind me. Now.”

Not understanding what was happening, I peeked over my shoulder and froze.

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