Page 12 of Protector Daddy

“Yeah, all those windows would sure be handy for disguising misdeeds.” I almost thought I glimpsed a smile but it was gone before I could be sure. “C’mon inside and get warm.”

Suddenly the gravity of what I was doing—what we were doing—set in. I hadn’t been thinking earlier, obviously. “Are you single?” The question seemed kind of too little too late after I’d let him suck on my breasts, but better now than never.

His laughter was a harsh gust of breath. “I haven’t been with anyone in over a decade.”

If my eyes had widened any more, I would’ve resembled a cartoon character. “Define been with.”

“Sex, Honey. I haven’t had sex with a woman in over a decade.”

“Holy crap. No wonder you almost had me naked in a minute.” At his sharp look, I coughed. “I mean, the speed worked for me. I had no problems with it at all. It’s been a while for me too.”

“How long?”

“A few months.”

He laughed again. “Right.”

“Maybe four,” I said defensively, wrapping my arms around myself. Without the heat on, the car was positively frigid. Or else my nerves were making me into an ice block.

“I have socks older than you.” He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

“I’m twenty-four. Fully legal.”

“There’s a relief. I’m thirty-six. Thirty-seven in a couple months.”

My breath was fogging up the windows on my side of the car and we were just talking about having sex, never mind actually…doing it. My throbbing clit had no issues with an older man. “So? We get to decide the rules, no one else.”

“I told your...Vanessa that I wouldn’t touch you.”

“She’s not my chastity belt. Besides, she’s already pregnant so she has no room to worry about what’s between my legs.”

He dropped his head back against the head rest. “God, what am I doing?”

“Nothing yet. I could…you know, take the edge off. For you, I mean. I already take care of my edge quite regularly.” My face was on fire, but it was dark so he couldn’t see it.

I hoped.

“Jeez, Honey.” He laughed again, shaking his head. “Your brothers will dismember me. Being with you will be my last act and then I’ll be the newest topic on Asher’s podcast.”

“But what a way to go?”

Christian glanced my way and rimmed his lips with his tongue. “It’d be worth it,” he murmured.

THREE

“Your house is a masterpiece.”I gestured at the floor to ceiling windows from where I was seated on a large throw pillow tossed in front of the stone hearth and blazing fireplace. “I feel like I can see the whole forest sitting right here.”

So much green—and darkness, since it was now night—surrounded us. The windows almost made it seem as if we were outside. There was even a skylight.

Inside, the roaring fire helped burn off the fall chill and long, cushy couches invited a nap. The multi-level coffee table with a burbling fountain added another layer of zen. The TV pulled down from the damn ceiling and tucked away when not needed. Beneath our bare feet, the floors were some kind of fancy stone that blended well with the hearth.

I already suspected I could stay here forever and I’d only seen one room so far.

He’d offered me a full tour—the man had a pool in his house—and a meal and I’d passed on both. What I wanted was something else entirely.

Though I wasn’t going to pass up food—later.

Christian was rubbing his hands together as he stared into the fire he’d stoked so carefully. He’d made sure to get the fire going right away so I wouldn’t be cold. Then he’d offered to make me a home-cooked meal, though he claimed his repertoire was extremely limited.

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