Page 96 of His to Protect

He stood up and dropped his hand from my neck. I felt the loss as my skin cooled. “No.”

My eyes jumped open. “No?”

He grinned. “My mom called. She and my dad are on their way here, too. They’re flying in later and should be here by dinner.”

I jumped out of my chair. “Your parents?”

“Their son was almost shot yesterday, sweetheart. You didn’t think they’d come see me? Plus, they want to meet you.”

His grin was larger. He looked so damn sexy dressed in his typical faded jeans and simple white shirt. With one hand holding a mug of coffee, he looked delicious, too good to be true. And too amused.

“You think this is funny?” I shrieked. Yes, shrieked. I pointed my finger at my chest. “I could have gotten you shot and now they’re coming here? And I’m going to meet them? They’re going to hate me!”

My hands flailed out at my sides before slapping against my thighs. “This is horrible.”

He laughed and I glared at him. “This isn’t funny.”

Setting his coffee cup down, he failed to wipe the smile off his face as he stepped toward me and pulled me into his arms. “What I think is funny is that after everything else I just told you, you freak out the most about meeting my parents.”

“They’re going to hate me.” And it was important they didn’t. I already knew they didn’t like Mara.

“They’ll love you because I do, and they’ll see that. Talked to them this morning before you woke up and it’s all good, Trina, swear to you. Trust me.”

“I do.”

“Then go get ready, we’ve got a full day ahead of us.”

Right.

Police station. Vet hospital.

Just a typical Sunday.

“Okay,” I muttered, and dropped my forehead to his chest before stepping out of his arms.

He didn’t let me go, though. “You forgetting something?” he asked.

I was probably forgetting a lot of things. Like my sanity, which had somehow been misplaced. “Um.”

“Kiss me.”

I was given no time to comply before his hands slid up my back to my shoulders and then wrapped around the sides of my throat. Declan’s lips hit mine and his tongue slid right in. I succumbed and kissed him back, pressing my chest against his, and holding on for dear life.

When I ended the kiss, Declan’s eyes were soft as he looked at me. “Love you, sweetheart.”

“You too, honey,” I replied, feeling slightly dazzled.

His eyes softened further before his hands dropped from my neck and he dipped his chin in the direction of the doorway. “Go shower before I have to call the police station and tell them why we’re going to be delayed.”

I flashed him wide eyes and watched his lips curl into a seductive grin.

“I’m going.” I held up my hands and took two steps back before I turned and ran out of the kitchen.

Behind me, all I heard was Declan’s laughter.

And I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading on my cheeks.

Only Declan would give me something like this. In the face of something horrific, something horribly scary, he not only made me safe…he made mefeelsafe. He was taking care of me and making things easy for me, and I knew he didn’t mind, because he wanted to do it.

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