Page 77 of Tabitha

Though the thought of her using her new flirting techniques on anyone but one of us has me struggling to contain my rage. If I react this violently, I can only imagine that River would cut off whatever offending appendages she might touch and give them to her as presents.

I trail after her to the kitchen, adjusting my aching cock, admitting ruefully that her bungled attempts are very effective. Tabitha peers into the empty teakettle with a cute little scowl. I repress my smile, nudge her aside, and start her tea.

She beams up at me, and damn if my heart doesn’t skip a beat. I’m beginning to understand why Pierce does things for her. Not only does it gain her undivided attention, but her smile contains one second of unguarded emotion before her mask falls back into place.

As her tea steeps, Gage enters the room. “Area’s clean. Just the normal lookie-loos.”

After giving his report, he pulls a pan full of bacon from the oven, followed by hash browns and pancakes, then he sets the massive platter in front of Tabitha. Before the plate hits the counter, Tabitha snatches a fistful of bacon and scuttles back to hover over her tea. Her silver eyes are bright as she devours the food like it’s a prize that she’s claimed.

What she probably doesn’t know is no one would dare touch anything until she’s had her fill. If she wants more, Gage would happily cook her a whole slab of pork just to appease her. Pierce strolls down the steps, looking more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. River trails just a step behind him, his eyes immediately locking on Tabitha, and a smile breaks across his face.

I quickly claim Tabitha for my own before anyone else can speak. “You three will head to town first, scout the area, and do recon. After the incident in the woods this morning, I don’t trust Banks not to have something else planned.”

All three guys agree without protest, their need to protect Tabitha riding them just as hard. Pierce kisses her temple and heads toward the door. Gage looks indecisive for a moment, then approaches her as well, running the back of his hand down her cheek before he leaves. River hesitates, his eyes wary, and he approaches Tabitha slowly.

Tabitha winces when she gets a good look at him, his bruises more pronounced now that he’s cleaned up. After a minute, she holds out her hand, offering him her last piece of bacon. River’s eyes light up, seeming to understand the silent apology. He takes a bite, stealing half, leaving the rest for her. He presses his forehead against hers in silent communication, then turns and heads toward the door with a cheery whistle.

I wait for jealousy or possessiveness to swamp me at seeing the others kiss her. We’ve shared women in the past, but we’ve never become so attached that we considered making the arrangement permanent.

Tabitha is different.

Instead of being jealous, it feels right.

She completes our group.

I suspect she stumbles into one adventure after another. While she needs all of us to protect her, we need her more. We need her to make us whole.

Tabitha picks up her cup, then leans back against the kitchen counter, peering at me over the top as she sips her tea. After emptying her cup, she sets it aside. “Why did you want them gone?”

I stride toward her, unable to be near her and not touch her. Time alone with her is at a premium, and I need to take advantage of it whenever an opportunity presents itself. When I near, I grab her hips, boosting her up until she’s perched at the edge of the counter. I step forward, forcing her legs to open, her knees coming to rest on either side of my hips.

Her breath catches, no doubt remembering the last time I had her on the counter, and I plant my hands on the cool granite surface on either side of her to keep from repeating the performance. Hunched over her form, I inhale deeply of the fresh lavender scent that seems to cling to her skin and hair.

My soul sings at her nearness, and I admit to myself that I’m totally, completely in love with her. It’s time to tell her the truth. “I joined the marines right out of high school. I devoted my life to the military. Those men are my everything. They’re all that’s left of my unit. Year after year, we lost more and more soldiers. It was too much. Too much blood. Too much death. So we left, created our own security firm, thinking it would be safer. And it has been…until now.”

I shudder at the idea of anything happening to her. I close my eyes at the very thought and press my forehead against hers. Sleep is almost impossible as nightmares haunt my dreams. The only thing that helps is when I hold her close. “If anything were to happen to you…”

Her tiny hands cup my face, and I barely resist the urge to sink into her arms. Instead, I take a bracing breath and force my eyes open.

“You are a big, mountain of a man, with glorious muscles that go for days, but even you are not big enough to stop fate.” She scratches her nails against the stubble on the underside of my chin, then drops her hands. “That doesn’t mean we have to tempt it, either. We’ll play this smart. No more danger. No risks. We do this job and leave. You will each protect me, and I will protect all of you.”

A growl rumbles in my chest at her declaration, and I’m torn between relief and possessiveness. I place my hands on her hips, dragging her closer, getting right up in her face. I curl my hands into fists to keep from throwing her over my shoulder and leaving while we still have the chance. “Promise me, no matter what happens, we’ll leave together.”

The thought of her disappearing from my life sends a bolt of panic shooting through me. My hands settle on her hips, my grip tightening reflexively. I can’t get over the irrational fear that she will vanish once this job is done and I’ll never find her again.

Tabitha bites her bottom lip, her eyes darkening with indecision. Hope and fear churn in my gut like a toxic mess at the thought of losing her. The job used to be all that mattered, but that changed upon meeting her.

She makes me feel alive for the first time in years.

She’s my second chance at life, and I’m not ready to let her go. My whole future rests in her dainty hands. I reach up and sink my fingers into her long hair, dragging her head back, refusing to let her look away until I get the answer I want. “Promise me.”

Chapter Twenty-three

TABITHA

Bast’s amber eyes blaze down at me, promising me a future I’ve never dared to dream. Part of me wants to grab it with both hands and not let go, but fear has a chokehold on me. I’m a difficult person at the best of times, not exactly sane at the worst. If I allow them into my world, I’ll be dragging them into my shit.

But all that fades against the temptation of having them in my life.

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