Page 62 of Protected from Malice
“One of my friends is an artist,” I add. “Levi. He was on Ace’s team. Back when we all lived on base, he’d make these caricatures of everyone. They were really good. I bet he’d be happy to create a team logo for us.”
Eden stares at me, emotion working in her eyes. Her smile sobers.“Rafe.”
Something pulls at me.
Not something. Someone.Eden.
Like she’s a magnet, and I’m inescapably drawn to her.
Fuck. I want her so badly it’s hard to breathe.
Not just her body, though I think she’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. I want all the parts of Eden that make her so special. Her kindness. Her intelligence. Her sense of humor. Her bravery.
And somehow, in all of this mess, I think she wantsme.
But dammit, I’m not right for her.
“Rafe,” she repeats. This time her voice is huskier. Needier.
My body erupts with heat. Desire. “What?”
She puts her hand on my arm and leans in. Her rosy lips part. “I…”
I think she wants to kiss me.
And I want to let her.
Because, despite how badly I want Eden, if we did kiss, I’d let her have control.
I’ve always been more of the dominant type. Not that I want women to call me sir and be my submissive—there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just not my thing—but I’ve typically been the one taking the lead.
But given what Eden’s been through, I wouldn’t.
“Rafe.” It’s barely a whisper. Her pupils dilate until there’s only a thin ring of blue around them. She leans even closer. So close I could just dip my head…
But she just told her brother about something traumatic. Something she was just crying about.
Tyler and Webb are right outside.
Indy could come back any minute.
Fuck.
I want to kiss her. But I know I shouldn’t.
“I’m not broken,” Eden says quietly. “Bruised. But not broken.”
Ah, fuck.
“I know.” I cup her cheek. “I know you’re not.”
And then, before I fall prey to my desires, I hug Eden against me again.
I stroke her hair, combing my fingers through it.
My lips press to the top of her head.
Dammit, I wish I could kiss her.
