Page 12 of Guardian

“Okay,” Daphne’s voice drops, and she turns away stepping outside, “you deserve this and whatever else happens to you. Clearly, this dog was searching for better.”

She ruffles Rocky between the ears and glances up at me. “Can we go home?”

“Sure can, kitten. I’m right behind you.”

When my girl is out of earshot, I turn back toward the pathetic excuse of a man behind me. “I have no fuckin’ clue how you ever got a shot with her in the first place, but it’s over now. If you come around here again, I’ll make sure you’re never found.”

I don’t wait for whatever pitiful response I’m sure he’s conjuring. I step out the cabin door and rejoin Daphne who’s leaned down, scrubbing Rocky on his belly. I hook into her soft hand, and we walk back through the pines toward the cabin where I intend to fix everything that’s broken.

Chapter Seven

Daphne

I don’t say much on the walk back to the house and I continue to stay quiet as I scrub the kitchen floor and toss away the mess that Rocky made with dinner. Part of me feels bad for Gary. He’s fallen so far since I met him. There was a time when he really seemed to care about himself and others. Then again, maybe that was me projecting what I hoped he was. I’m probably doing the same with Boone, and that’s part of the reason I haven’t said much since we got back. Sure, he’s big, strong, protective, and hot as hell, but that doesn’t mean he’d be a good partner. I don’t even know if that’s what he’s interested in. Maybe he just wants to finish what we started earlier… which wouldn’t be the worst idea. Sexual healing is good for the soul… so I hear.

“Got the dog washed up,” Boone says, stepping into the kitchen as I toss the last of the paper towels into the trash. “He was covered in mud.”

“Thanks.” I tuck my hands into the pockets of my dress and try not to look him directly in the eye. I’m not sure what happened back at that cabin, but I love the way he keeps standing up for me, the way he looks so big and strong, the way his biceps flex when he’s angry.

My clit throbs and I drill a hole into the ground with my eyes.

“You okay?” He steps forward, his hand on my shoulder. “You look tense.”

“Yeah. It’s just been a roller coaster of a day. Can you believe Rocky? I think he was getting protective.”

“He appreciates you. It just takes time to bond. Does this mean you want to keep him around?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah, I do. I think I might sell this cabin, though. I thought I wanted to stay here, but it’s weird now that Gary is like half a mile away.”

“Yeah,” he brushes his calloused hand down over my shoulder, snagging the fabric as he rubs, “I feel a little weird about leaving you here tonight.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve got Rocky to go to battle for me if all hell breaks loose.”

“True,” he brushes back my hair and leans into my neck, “but Rocky can’t do this.” His beard brushes against my skin softly and tingles move up and down my spine as his touch warms me inside and out.

God, I want him. I want him to keep going. I want him to do everything those hands are capable of, but I’m gonna hate myself later.

I drag in a deep breath and back away from the massive man I want to take me over. “I shouldn’t do this.”

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t know. This is all happening so quickly, and you’re…” I look away and blow out a breath.

“Old.” He finishes my thought for me.

“Well, I wasn’t gonna say it like that.”

“Does it bother you?”

“I mean, I never thought about it before, but I like that you’re… more mature, and you have this way about you that makes me feel electric and sexual. I…”

He steps forward, brushes a strand of hair from my face, and presses me back against the wall, his hand locked in mine above my head. “I don’t know what comes over me when I’m with you, kitten. I’m not usually this guy, but when I’m next to you, I want to make those pretty lips do dirty things.”

Oh God! My heart pounds against my chest as my panties soak. “Right, but… what about real life? What are we doing?”

“If you’re asking me if I’d want this forever, I doubt you’d believe the answer.” He breathes hot air onto the lobe of my ear and a growl fills his throat.

“What do you mean?”

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