Page 24 of The Protector’s Heart

She rolled her eyes. “I think I can control myself.”

He grinned, that adorable dimple showing, and walked into the adjoining bathroom. She heard the water running in the sink and took the opportunity to change into the sleep shirt that was tucked into her bag. She was staring into the bag when Malachi came into the room.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“Who packed my stuff?”

“Jeremiah, why?”

“He touched my things.”

He looked confused. “And? Since your other bag was trashed, I asked him to pack you a new bag with a few days of clothes. Did he forget something you need?”

“No, it’s just weird that a stranger went through my drawers.” She lifted up a black lace thong. “He only grabbed my sexy undies.”

Malachi chuckled. “He might be a non but he’s still a man.”

“What’s a non?”

“A full wolf who can’t shift. Do you want me to beat him up for touching your sexy things? I really don’t mind that he packed that kind of stuff.”

She snorted. “I bet you don’t.”

After cleaning up in the bathroom, she joined Malachi on the big bed. She didn’t even have time to wonder if he wanted to cuddle with her, because as soon as she climbed onto the bed he hauled her up next to him and covered them with a blanket. A click sounded and the table lamp next to the bed was turned off.

The room was bathed in darkness, but a sliver of light from the hallway was showing through the cracked door. Malachi curved himself around her back, letting her use his bicep as a pillow. He was naked save for a pair of boxer briefs, and she felt the ridge of his arousal against her back.

She moved to turn onto her back to see him, but he prevented it. “If you turn around, sweetheart, then things are going to get sexy really quickly. It’s better if we just sleep, especially since we’re not alone in the room at the moment.”

Her cheeks heated. “Fine,” she said, finding the humor of the situation, “be all noble and keep your hands to yourself.”

His warm lips found her neck and he nipped her gently before kissing the mark. “It’s only because I don’t want to wake Jack when I make you scream in pleasure, okay? Don’t think I don’t want you, because I do. I want to make you come a hundred times, taste you, touch you, make love to you.”

A shiver raced down her spine and her nipples beaded. “Malachi,” she whispered.

“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. We’ll pick this up another time, when we’re not in the same room with your son.”

She closed her eyes and tried to quell the desire that rushed through her. It wasn’t hard when he pointed out that Jack was right there, sleeping soundly in the playpen. Thank goodness Malachi was thinking clearly enough for the both of them.

“Goodnight, Mal.”

He kissed her neck again and murmured goodnight. It didn’t take long for her to drift off to sleep. In her last bit of wakefulness, she wondered at her feelings for the protective male. She’d been so intent on keeping him away from her and Jack, but here she was just a few weeks after meeting him, letting him hold her while they slept and taking refuge in his home. She didn’t know what the dawn would bring, but she wasn’t as worried about it as she would have been if she were alone. Malachi was taking care of her, and she had no doubt that he would continue to do so. There was something very honest and real about him. He wasn’t trying to charm her or lull her into complacency. He was just a good guy, right down to the very center of his being.

She wanted to tell him that she was sorry for being such a bitch, but when she opened her mouth she yawned instead and decided to tell him in the morning. Relaxing in his arms, she absorbed the warmth and comfort of him and slipped away into sleep.

* * *

Monday morning, Kammie opened the front door and smiled at Malachi as he wheeled an older human woman up the makeshift ramp to Kammie’s front porch. “Good morning, I’m Kammie,” she said, smiling at the woman.

The woman’s face was black and blue from a severe beating, and her left arm and right ankle were in casts.

“I’m Diane. Thanks for taking me in.” The woman smiled in spite of the bruises and cuts on her face, and Kammie smiled back. Kammie knew what it felt like to be beaten by a wolf, and according to Malachi, Diane had been attacked by several of them because she’d harbored Nila, Malachi’s human mate, who had a crazy wolf ex.

Malachi introduced Nila to Kammie as Jeremiah took over, pushing Diane into the front room. Earlier that day, Jeremiah and Adam, both omegas, had brought over a hospital bed and a suitcase of Diane’s things, and oversaw a human male from Malachi’s security company as he installed a system in her home to make sure they were well protected. Kammie’s home was going to be watched over by the protectors to make sure that Nila’s ex didn’t try to harm either of them. Kammie had suffered enough at the hands of her uncle during her teen years to know that she wanted to help keep Diane safe. At least Kammie had the ability to heal faster because of her wolf nature, and she was stronger than a human and could shift and escape if she needed to.

Nila came up the ramp swiftly and hugged Kammie. “Thank you so much. Diane is the only family I have left outside of my son.”

Malachi cleared his throat noisily and Nila looked at him with a raised brow. “We’re not official yet, I haven’t said yes.”

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