Page 112 of Here and Now
I have never felt this much for anyone this fast. I’ve loved before, when I was in college, but as soon as I left for the military, we were done. It hurt, I was pissed, and then I got over it real fast.
This is completely different. I would’ve laughed at anyone who said you can fall in love with someone you know very little about other than surface level, that you’ve known for only a few months, but here I am, making a liar out of myself.
I stare down at her, hating the walls she’s erected and knowing someone or something caused her to put them up.
I brush her cheek with my thumb. “Who hurt you, Penelope? Who made you so afraid to let me in?”
She looks away, and it’s as though those blue eyes that were so open a minute ago have the shutters going down.
I lift her chin back up, waiting for her to open her eyes to me.
Slowly, her lashes flutter and her blue eyes are guarded. “There are things I can’t give you, Miles. My past is one of them. And it’snot because I don’t want to tell you or that I don’t trust you, but it’s to protect Kai. I have to protect him, and allowing anyone ... I just can’t. It’s better the less you know.”
My primal urge is to fight. Whoever did this to her made her afraid and secretive. I’d like to kill them. To destroy them for ever hurting her. All those emotions rage inside me, but I know that violence and my unchecked masculine pride aren’t what she needs.
I brush my finger against her cheek and keep my voice even. “Then I’ll wait.”
“Wait?” she asks.
I nod slowly and pull her closer, wanting to shelter her in my embrace. “I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me, but just know that if you ever need me, despite whatever happens between us, I’ll be here. I will never let anyone hurt you or Kai. Do you promise you’ll call me if you’re in trouble?”
“If it ever comes to that, I’ll call,” she promises.
I let that be enough for now and then shift onto my back, pulling her to my chest so I can hold her. “Sleep, Penelope, I’ll make sure nothing hurts you.”
The sun is just starting to rise, and Penny has slept soundly all night. On the other hand, I stared at the ceiling, thinking about everything that happened. Talking about that mission feels as though an old wound has been reopened.
Then I thought about what she said, and what could be haunting her. All my training kicked back in as I did a mental sweep of her house. Door locks, windows, entry points—I had to make sure there were ways out and a plan.
One niggling thing is her brother. He was a SEAL, and I would guarantee that he’s behind her living here and her protection. I need to find a way to reach him and give him my word that I will do anything she needs to protect her.
I rub her bare back, sliding up and down the vertebrae, and she snuggles deeper. I could do this every day, wake up like this, her in my arms after I make her come over and over again.
However, we’re not there, and I need to leave before Kai wakes up.
“Penny,” I say her name softly. She wakes with a jolt, sitting straight up. The fear in her eyes has me lifting my hands. “It’s just me.”
Her chest is heaving and she works to calm herself. “Sorry. I just ... waking up. I didn’t ...”
“It’s okay, but it’s almost morning and I have no idea what time Kai wakes up.”
Those blue eyes go wide and she looks at the clock. “Oh my God! I have to be at work in thirty minutes. Shit. Kai’s alarm will go off any second. You have to get dressed.”
The two of us throw the covers back and are out of the bed. I find my shirt on her side of the bed, and when I turn to find my other clothes, I see her standing there, biting the tip of her thumb, staring.
I grin. “As much as I’d love to let you ogle me—and I definitely like you naked standing there—you need to get dressed before?—”
“Mom!”
Her hand covers her mouth, and she runs to her door, turning the lock. “Give me a minute!”
He jiggles the handle and she stares at it, waiting to make sure it doesn’t open, then turns to me. “Get dressed,” she whispers aggressively.
“I’m trying,” I say back as quietly as I can.
“Mom, why is the door locked?” Kai asks from the hallway. “Can I come in now?”
“No, Kai, I’ll be out in a few minutes. Go get yourself some cereal before we have to leave for Prose & Perk.”
