Page 12 of Fierce Protector

This house is a money pit, but it’s worth every penny. Most of the ground floor is open plan with double height ceilings in the living room that are flooded with light by the folding glass doors that open out to the deck. There’s a brick fireplace housing a cast iron wood burning stove I salvaged from a scrap yard and reconditioned myself.

In fact, barring the sofa, I’ve scavenged most of the furniture in the house from antique stores or salvage yards. Even made a few pieces. Admittedly, the aesthetic is still largely influenced by wood but it’s much more oak and leather sanctuary these days, than tangerine pine ski chalet.

“Take a seat. I’ll grab you a drink and something you can sleep in.” I say, waving towards the large leather sectional.

“Drink first, please. Red wine if you have one open,” she says quietly before she flops down on the sofa and relaxes back into the cushions, closing her eyes.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course there’s one open.” I cross the room to a small bar and drinks cabinet in the corner, grabbing the bottle I opened last night. I pour out a large glass and place it on the table in front of her. “Be right back.”

I find myself almost bounding up the stairs, eager to get back to her. Having Katerina in my home is sending a warm tingle through my body and making the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. Like the feeling you get when ASMR tickles your senses. Everything about having her in my home feels right. After years of denying how much I want her, it’s like my heart hasdecided to overrule my head and is basking in any and all time I spend with her.

Whether she realises it or not, her presence has lifted me in a way I hadn’t expected it to. I’ve spent years building this home, but honestly, tonight is the first time it’s actually felt like one. What’s the use of a home without someone to share it with?

I’m a man who’s been ruled by logic for so long. I make the hard choices. I do what’s right. But there’s a little voice in the centre of my chest whispering that she is what’s right, and without her, everything else feels wrong.

When I get to my room, I head to the walk-in and pull out some sweats and a T-shirt for Katerina to wear before catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I’m wearing my usual tailored charcoal-grey suit; one I have multiples of with only the occasional variation. I switch up the look with the odd feint pinstripe, but mostly this is my uniform. The only time I wear anything else is at the gym.

I strip before throwing on a pair of dark wash jeans I’m not sure have seen the light of day before, and a henley.Do people even wear henleys these days?I’m probably showing my age right now, but my suit is covered in blood, so I have to change. As I fold the suit, I notice it’s singed. My dry cleaner is talented, but there’s fuck all he can do with burn marks.

I ball it up and throw it into the trash, cursing Benny and his flair for explosives.

“It’s not his fault you don’t dress for combat.”

I jump halfway out of my skin as Katerina appears inthe doorway. She looks less withdrawn and there’s a hint of a smile dancing across her face.

“Jesus H Christ, woman. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” My pulse races and I rest my hand across my chest. The movement only serves to highlight I haven’t actually put the henley on yet and she tries to hide her smile, but her pink cheeks betray her with a subtle blush. I wrestle the shirt over my head and then pick up the clothes I got for her. “I thought I told you to relax and wait downstairs. Can’t you ever do as you’re told?”

She shrugs and crosses the threshold. “Rarely. Besides, I was intrigued. You were taking too long, and this place is unrecognisable since I last saw it. I wanted to see what else you changed. That and ask you who your contractor was.” With her wine glass in one hand, she wanders through to the bathroom continuing her inspection.

“No contractor. Aside from some electrical and water work that needed certifying, this is all me.” I chuckle when she pops her head around the doorframe with her eyebrows somewhere around her hairline and her mouth agape.

“Who are you, and what have you done with Stefano?” She squints theatrically as I laugh at the way her mockery is lightening the mood.

“Don’t be so dramatic. This place was a relic in dire need of modernisation. I’ve only recently finished the bulk of it. There are still a few rooms that need finishing off though.”

“It’s impressive. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

“I’ll give you a tour,” I say, reaching for her elbow and steering her out of my bathroom.

“Lead the way,UncleStefano.”

It’s impossible not to wince every time she throws that word at me. “Stop calling me that. You never did when you were younger, so it makes no sense now.”

She shrugs and does what she always does—completely ignores me. “If you say so, Uncle Stef.”

Clenching my teeth, I swallow down the tension building inside me. “You’re a brat sometimes, Katerina.” I come to a stop in the hallway and she bumps into me arching her back, almost savouring the connection.

“Only sometimes?” As I turn back to face her, she quirks a slender brow. I’ve never met anyone who can say so much with the slant of an eyebrow. More often than not, hers are telling the nearest person to go fuck themselves. Right now, they’re baiting me.

“It’s been a long day. Don’t test my resolve, Katerina.” A shadow falls across her face, and it’s impossible to miss the moment she retreats back into herself. Her smile pales and her shoulders drop. “Here,” I say, pointing towards the door closest to us and handing her the clothes. “This is my guest room. Go grab a shower and get changed, then come downstairs and I’ll have another glass of wine waiting for you, and I’ll give you the full tour if you like.”

She gently nods her head as she hesitates for a second before retreating into the room. I stare at the closed door, wondering what it would be like if she was mine and I could follow after her, before snapping myselfout of it and forcing myself to walk away, back down to the living room.

Grabbing the open bottle of red, I carry it through to the kitchen and pour two glasses of wine before assuming a perch on a stool at the island. I take a moment to check my phone and see that all my team leads have checked in. All is safe at the Bianchi house and from the updates it looks like Dante dealt with the skirmishes at the clubs. It looks like both sides are taking time to organise and regroup. The repercussions of today will be felt for years to come.

Reaching for one of the glasses, I palm the base to warm it as I swirl my favourite red. I don’t know how long I sit here, contemplating everything that’s happened and is likely to be coming our way when there’s a padding of feet on the tile floor and I look up to see Katerina making her way towards me. I lift the glass to my lips and take a large sip of my wine to mask my reaction to her. The second I caught a glimpse of her bundled up in my clothes, with her rich mahogany waves framing her face, I started salivating.

While the sweats are far too big for her, the T-shirt hangs in a way that’s not tight yet somehow manages to highlight every curve, from the swell of her breasts to the flare of her hips.

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