Page 108 of In The Trenches (Owens Protective Services)

“Oh, I see how it is. You’re feeling protective of her.”

I was, and that was a huge problem for me. If only he knew what almost happened. I would be so screwed. “I’m thinking that until we know what we’re up against, we need to keep her identity hidden.”

He was silent for a minute. “Boss…tell me you didn’t fuck her.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, I didn’t fuck her.”

“But you want to.” I heard the laughter in his voice. “Man, I called it. I so called it. Fox is going to be so pumped up.”

“As much as I would love to sit here and talk with you about my love life and how it affects Fox, I want to get some shut eye.”

“Love life? Boss, you’re in deeper than I thought.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Because you know I’m right!” he shouted as I hung up.

Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I quickly walked around the store and grabbed new clothes for us, this time grabbing Beth a few extra pairs of underwear and some sports bras. I didn’t know her size, but I could guess based on what I saw this morning.

I was so proud of myself for remembering the little things, even grabbing her a few toiletries, that I wanted to show it all to her when I walked into the motel room. However, she was already passed out on the bed. Sighing, I set the stuff down and got cleaned up, needing a shower to relieve the tension in my shoulders. I wasn’t used to not being around to care for my company. My only saving grace was that I knew my guys always had my back, and they always would.

I was just getting out of the shower when I heard her crying in bed. Wrapping a towel around myself, I walked over to the bed and sat down, placing my hand on her back. “Beth?”

She didn’t answer, just rolled over with her eyes still closed. She was crying in her sleep. Against my better judgment, I laid down beside her and pulled her into my arms. She came willingly, snuggling into my chest and burying her nose in my neck.

I stared up at the ceiling and tried not to let this affect me—not physically, but mentally. This woman was worming her way into my head more and more every day, no matter how hard I fought it. I was a sucker for a sob story, but I had never let it affect me in this way. But she was different.

I told myself it was just a physical attraction, but that wasn’t true. She had a strength to her that she didn’t know about yet. That’s why I called her kitten. Deep down, those claws were waiting to come out and fight back. She was a fighter, just like me. Yeah, she was a little damaged, but with time and training, she would be strong again, and I would be there to witness it. I knew it deep in my soul.

* * *

Both of uslay there wide awake, but not moving. I didn’t know how to explain that she was practically laying across my chest with her legs entwined with mine, or the fact that I was holding her to me like I needed her to breathe. I tried to come up with something logical to say, like…we got cold in the middle of the night. Except, it was sweltering in the room, and despite that, I was still more comfortable now than I had ever been in my life.

“We should probably get up,” she finally whispered.

“Yeah,” I agreed, but still, neither of us moved.

“I’m guessing this was something that happened in our sleep,” she continued.

I could lie and agree with her, but I didn’t really want to, which surprised me. “You were crying in your sleep. I…I pulled you into my arms.”

Her head jerked up in surprise as she looked at me. “You did?”

I shifted to face her, but didn’t let her go. “I don’t like to see you cry.”

Her bright eyes shone with a light I hadn’t seen before, and then they dropped to my lips. “You won’t get involved with me though,” she stated. “You can’t.”

“No,” I admitted, but I wasn’t sure how true that was anymore.

“And I’ll be moving on. I have to find someplace safe to stay.”

That would be happening over my dead body. “I can help you with that.” I knew a great place she could stay, where she would never have to worry about anyone coming after her again.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, my voice low as I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. She opened for me immediately, gasping as I slipped my tongue in her mouth and rolled to the side, maneuvering her under me. Now my leg was intertwined with hers. I kissed her harder as my hand slid up to cup her cheek. I was careful of her arm, not to hurt her further. When this was over, I was taking her to the fucking doctor. I hated seeing her in constant pain.

Despite my growing erection, I pulled back. I wasn’t going to fuck her quick and hard in a cheap motel room. She’d already dealt with enough shit. She needed something real to hold onto. I kissed her one last time and pulled back, staring into her eyes.

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