Page 12 of My Secret Protector
The look he sends me is heated and full of a sensual promise. I feel tingles to my core. I’ve so rarely felt attraction to a man that it feels almost surreal to have these feelings. Ever since high school, I’ve struggled to feel what I think I should feel for a man. Now, the feelings are coming unbidden.
“You are, Flora. The fact that you don’t know that makes you even more irresistible.”
“Whatever you say, Levi. I trust you to keep your hands to yourself.” And I do. I trust him an amazing amount for someone I barely know.
He lays down next to me and maneuvers to lay on his side. I do the same and fold my hand under my head, looking at him.
I can’t stop myself from reaching out to touch him. I slide my hand slowly down his arm. He reacts by shivering and I raise an eyebrow.
“Get under the covers. I trust you,” I repeat.
He sighs heavily and then finally tucks himself under my purple comforter.
“There,” I say with satisfaction and grin at him.
He smiles back at me and then slowly frowns. He reaches out to tug on one of my blonde curls.
“Something’s bothering me,” he says as he lets the curl go and it bounces back to its original state.
“What’s troubling you, tough guy?” I ask and lick my lips. His chocolate eyes follow the movement hungrily.
“Why don’t you get along with your uncle? Why are you so convinced he wouldn’t hire protection for you?”
And just like that, the mood is broken.
Chapter Sixteen
I’ll kill anyone who tries to mess with my girl. -Levi
She blanches and turns onto her back.
Obviously, I’ve said the wrong thing.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” I place a hand on her cheek to reassure her.
She continues to look at the ceiling and then sighs. “It’s okay. I can talk about it. I’ve had lots of therapy so I can talk about it,” she says drily.
I instantly tense. “Did he hurt you? I’ll kill him,” I say in a low, menacing voice. He may have been the one to hire the Silver Snakes, but I’ll murder him and bury him somewhere that he’ll never be found if he hurt my girl.
She turns and looks at me with a small smile. “Nope, big guy. It wasn’t him.”
“Who was it then?” Because I’ve known from the very first moment I saw her that there are dark secrets hiding behind those bright blue eyes.
She nibbles on her bottom lip and her eyes fill with tears. Then she says the last thing I’m expecting her to say. “It was the high school football coach.”
I clench and then unclench my fists. My mind starts spinning. I’ll take notes of everything she says. After today, this coach is dead. My boys and I will find him in no time.
“He started out by being extra attentive to me. I loved it at first. My uncle was always too busy to pay attention…I liked that someone was finally paying attention.” The pain in her voice reminds me that my job at the moment is to comfort her and to be there for her.
“Can I hold you while you talk?” I know I have to, if not for her, then for me.
“Y…yes, that would be nice.” She takes in a long breath.
I stretch out my arm and she settles her head in the crook of my arm. I inhale her sweet scent and struggle to maintain my composure. Now would be the absolute worst time to get an erection.
“I didn’t think a lot about it. The coach was around a lot, but then he was supposed to be. I was a cheerleader, and we were a winning team. Every year, we made the state championships. Once, even the nationals. He was a handsome guy and the parents adored him. I heard rumors from some of the other cheerleaders that he could be a bit inappropriate, but honestly, we laughed about it. There was a feeling in my gut, a feeling I should have listened to. When I think back, I always wonder why I didn’t listen to that feeling.”
She absentmindedly places her hand on my bare stomach, and I get goosebumps again. Every fiber of my being is concentrated on her story though, and I wait for her to continue.
