Page 26 of Coco and the Misfits

“Atticus,” she breathes, voice hitching a little, and fuck, she smells even better now, like cream and honey, all topped with her sugar candy scent.

“I should go,” I say, my voice rough.

“Don’t go.” Her hand reaches my neck. She tugs my head down. “Stay...”

She’s interested. Willing. Aroused. She wants me to kiss her, and I hesitate. Why do I hesitate?

Because this is the mother of all bad ideas.

What the hell, Ace. Sex is fine and if sex is all she wants, perfect. But you know damn well that this soft, sweet girl doesn’t need a hard ride and a goodbye, she needs a pack. She needs protectors. She needs people who will stay with her and not leave her behind, like you’re about to do.

I push her off me more roughly than I’d meant to. “I really have to go.”

She sits back on her ass on the bed, a hurt look crossing her face. Then she glances around and frowns. “What happened last night? Why am I still dressed? Why...? Oh shit!”

I wince as her memory obviously catches up and she scrambles away from me. “Yeah, shit.”

See? Good thing you didn’t fuck her, Ace. Imagine if the memories returned as you were buried in her. That would have been a disaster.

“Look,” I say, “I should leave you to shower, brush your teeth, drink coffee... whatever your morning ritual is. I’ll head on home.”

Thank God it’s the weekend. She’ll have a chance to rest.

She says nothing, still staring at me, eyes wide.

“Make sure to lock your door after I’m gone,” I say as the silence stretches awkwardly, “and avoid walking alone at night. I don’t want to scare you, but be cautious. I really don’t like what those guys tried to pull. Like I said, I’ll do my best to find their faces and names, but until then...”

Still no reaction. That’s concerning, but she’s an adult. A big girl. She doesn’t need a daddy.

I repeat this to myself, but as I prepare to get up and make my goodbyes, she buries her face in her hands and starts to shake.

Fuck. Fuck!

I’m not used to being around... people, I guess. I hang out with men, I fuck women. That’s the end of my social life, and I’ve never... taken care of anyone.

Not since that old disaster.

The urge to pull her back into my arms is burning. So I fold them over my chest instead. “Coco...”

“Sorry... sorry. I’ll be fine. You can go.”

But I can’t, not now. Not like this. “A penny for your thoughts?”

She sniffs, wipes her cheeks and lifts her chin. “That this sucks. I’ve always loved going out. Never had any fear. It makes sense that you’re not afraid until something bad happens to you, right? I was lucky. So damn lucky that you appeared when you did. God knows what might have happened...” She shivers. “Shit. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s perfectly understandable. “

She scoots closer. Puts a hand on my arm. “Thank you again. For bringing me home. For staying. You are such a gentleman.”

I almost laugh. If she only knew me... but nobody does, not where it counts. “No problem. After all, it happened in my bar.”

She looks away. “Professional pride, huh?”

No, but I don’t correct her. Better if she thinks that of me. “Will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I have nowhere to be anyway. I’m out of a job, too.” She sighs. “I’ll stay home.”

“Out of a job?” Damn my alpha instincts, rearing their heads again. “What happened?”

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