Page 33 of Saved from Obsession

“No, sweetheart, it’s not that.” My words come out in a rush. “It’s just not a good idea right now.”

Georgia flinches, and she tugs at her hair, starting to pull it in front of her face. I can see her withdrawing already, and I reach forward to tuck her hair back behind her ear. “Stop,” I tell her, my voice soft but commanding. “What you’re thinking right now isn’t true.”

“What is it, then?” Her voice is tiny, an undercurrent of hurt moving through it.

“I want you. More than anything.” I hold her gaze with mine, trying to show her I mean what I’m saying. “There is nothing I want more than to take you upstairs and make love to you all night. And Iwilldo that, just not tonight.”

I tug Georgia closer to me, tucking her stiff form under my arm. “The most important thing to me is keeping you safe. And if I’m kissing you, tasting you, touching you everywhere, sinking deep inside you—I won’t be able to focus on protecting you.”

“Sweetheart,” I cup her cheek and lean in to brush a kiss across her lips. “I swear to you, when this is all over, I am going to show you how much I want you. But for now, until the threat is over, I can’t let my guard down. Because if something happened to you because I was distracted, I’d never forgive myself.”

Georgia stares at me, a little frown still pulling down her lips. But after a few seconds, she lets out a deep breath and visibly relaxes. All the lines of strain smooth off her face, and she says, “Okay.”

“Okay?” What does okay mean, exactly?

“Okay,” she replies, and leans into my side. “It makes sense. I don’t like it, but I understand.” She pauses, thinking for a moment before continuing, “And I guess it would be awkward if the alarm went off and Cole and Rylan came running over while we were naked. I’m not sure I could look them in the face again.”

“They had betternotsee you naked.“ It’s part-growl, part-petulant statement. “The only person who’s going to see you without any clothes on isme.”

“Not if you keep turning me down.” This time, Georgia’s smirking at me.

I kiss the smirk off her face, devouring her mouth until she’s pink and breathless. “After this is all over, I’ll take you somewhere special. And we will definitely be making love until we’re both too tired to move. That’s a promise.”

Her eyes meet mine and I breathe a tiny sigh of relief—there’s no sign of pain or rejection there, only a heavy-lidded desire. “Okay, Leo.” Her lips curve into a smile. “I can’t wait.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

GEORGIA

At first, I can’t figure out where the unwelcome sound is coming from.

It’s an incessant beeping, alternating between fast and slow, dragging me out of sleep.

Still groggy, questions jumble around in my head. Did I change my ringtone? Did I set an alarm and forget about it? Is it Leo’s phone ringing and not mine?

WhereisLeo? I don’t feel his warmth behind me, the comforting heat of his big body curved around mine. No reassuring weight of his arm as it wraps around my waist, his hand splayed out over my stomach. Fear crawls up my back, icy fingers sending shivers through my body.

What am I missing? Why is my brain moving so maddeningly slow?

There’s a rustling beside me, then Leo’s face appears in the dark just inches from mine. I stifle a yelp of startled surprise. His features are all hard lines and angles and shadows, and his eyes aren’t just intense—they look dangerous.

“Don’t leave the room.” His voice is low and commanding. “I’m locking the door behind me. Do not come out until I’m back to get you.”

In an instant, reality crashes into me. The remnants of sleep wash away in a tidal wave of panic. My heart flies into my throat, jackrabbiting in my chest.

Oh, God. The alarm. The stalker. He’shere.

A whimper of terror whistles out from my frozen lungs. He’shere.

Oh, God, notagain. All rational thought disappears for a moment, my brain going blank except for the same words blasting on repeat.He’s here.

Leo is staring at me, his eyes almost black in the darkness. “Georgia. You’ll be okay. I promise. Nowstay here.”

I can’t stop shaking and my vocal cords are paralyzed. When I try to say something, all that comes out is a terrified squeak.

Leo brushes his hand across my hair and turns to leave. He’s nearly to the door by the time I coax my voice free. “Be careful.“ It’s an urgent whisper, cracking at the end.

He slips through the door with a soft but confident, “I will,” and the knob clicks shut behind him.

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