Page 26 of Coerced

And don’t even get me started on the boy’s washboard abs.

I certainly appreciated every drool-worthy muscle, but that was the least of what made him strong. Me wanting to protect him was like an ant trying to protect a hurricane - impossible and totally pointless.

“I promise,” I gave him an impish smile. “Besides, I have no interest in breaking up with you. A boy asked me out just this morning and I told him no. You know why? Becauseyouare the only one I want to be with. I want to be with you forever.”

“Forever?” The raw hope in his eyes killed me.

“Forever.”

He looked at the ground and his lips stretched into a full-fledged smile.

“Wow. With a response like that, I guess Idobring something worthwhile to this relationship,” I teased.

Of course, he took me seriously.

“Worthwhile?” He stopped walking. “You help me keep control. Just being near you soothes the monster inside me. You bring me peace, angel. That’s something I haven’t had in a really long time.”

Taking my hand, he held it against his heart.

“There’s so much more, but it’s harder for me to explain. You’re fun and funny and almost always cheerful. Even after I piss you off or make you cry by being stupid, you understand and are so endlessly patient with me. You have this deep determination and you know what’s right. You’re also brave, although I think that might give me heart failure in the future.”

I laughed, unsurprised that he didn’t. He hadn’t been joking, and I knew that, but it was still funny.

“So, um.” His eyes skated away from mine. “DoIbring anything worthwhile?”

“Of course you do. I wouldn’t be with you if you didn’t.”

He wore the lost little boy look that always made my throat tighten into a painful knot.

“You make me feel as if I’m something more than a scared girl out of her element in a world she knows next to nothing about. You respect me, you care about me, and you trust me. All the dates and gifts and romance in the world can’t compare to that. At least, not to me.”

With a gentle smile, he raised my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

“I’m never gonna stop trying to become the man you need me to be.”

“Mine. That’s the only kind I need. Just mine.” I smiled up at him. “My one and only.”

“Just like you’re mine.Myone and only.”

One of his hands cradled the back of my head against his chest, and I laid my cheek on my spot.

“This guy who asked you out. He wasn’t a problem for you, was he?”

“No, he was more interested in Gigi. He only asked me after she turned him down.” I frowned. “I don’t think anything will come out of it, but— Look, don’t get mad, okay? When you get mad, I can’t tell you things.”

“I won’t get mad.”

“Well, he got kind of aggressive, and I got a little aggressive back. He didn’t seem like the type to turn into a threat like Reilly or Cole or Noah, but I wanted to tell you about it in case I’m wrong.”

Kerry’s lean body turned to steel against me, and a growl vibrated his chest under my cheek.

I closed my eyes. I didn’t have enough energy left to deal with his anger.

“Did he touch you?” He sounded like he was clenching his teeth.

“No, but he pulled Gigi’s hair. It upset her, so when he didn’t take the hint, Imadehim let her go. Then I told him I was dating you and that he didn’t want to tick you off.” I huffed out a little laugh. “He almost tripped in his hurry to leave.”

“Tell me his name.”

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