Page 77 of Yearning For Her

He gave her a lopsided smile. “It won’t look like anything. They can’t see us.”

Oh. Right.

Curling an arm around Willow, Kian led her away from the approaching people, who had reached the damaged brick wall and now stood speculating about what had caused it. Their voices barely registered for her anymore.

She focused on Kian, on his solidness, his warmth, his scent, and she wished his presence could blast away the memory of what had happened. She wished she could forget. The rest of the world was a blur as they walked.

And then he drew to a stop. Kian’s voice, so deep and soothing, stirred her back to awareness.

“Let’s get you home, Violet.”

Willow blinked. They were standing in front of her car.

He opened the passenger side door. “Get in, Willow.”

Still in a daze, she climbed into the car. Before she could even reach for the seatbelt, Kian pulled it across her body and buckled it, checking to make sure it was secure.

He smiled and brushed the back of a finger across her cheek. Tingling warmth spread outward from his touch. “Good girl.”

Despite everything that had happened, her core pulsed with his praise. Why did those words affect her so strongly even now?

Kian stood, shut her door, and rounded the car, getting in on the driver’s side. After adjusting the seat and fastening on his own seat belt, he pressed the ignition to start the engine.

“Kian?” she asked as he pulled onto the road.

“Hmm?”

“How did you know where I was parked?” She frowned. That wasn’t the right question, wasn’t the important question. “How did you know where I was at all? Not that I’m not thankful you showed up when you did, I just…don’t understand.”

That slanted smile returned to his face, and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I happened to be in the neighborhood.” He lifted a hand from the wheel and turned it palm up. “Because I followed you.”

“You followed me?”

“Yes, Violet. I followed you.”

“So…you are stalking me.”

“The way you say that word makes me think it’s the wrong one.” He came to a smooth stop at a red light and turned his face toward her. “I’m…protecting you. I’m not pulling up a hood, throwing on sunglasses, and shadowing your every step. Today, I followed you the area, watched you go into the restaurant, and occupied myself nearby. When you suddenly stopped responding to my texts, I decided to make sure you were okay.”

His hands clenched the steering wheel, making it creak. “I was on my way to the restaurant when I saw you in the alley.”

Willow was torn. Kian following her was wrong. And yet…had he not done so, had he not been there, Lachlan would have… He would have…

Oh God, and she would have…

She curled her fingers on her thighs, gathering the fabric of her skirt, as another tremor swept through her. Her stomach twisted. The wrongness of what had happened, of what she had felt, of her loss of control, was already so immense and overwhelming.

Letting herself think about what might’ve happened had Kian not shown up in time would be crushing. It would break her.

“You’re my mate, Willow,” Kian said gently, pulling her thoughts back to now, back to him. “I have this…instinctual need to be near you. It drives me to keep you safe. Even when there’s no apparent threat.”

Her eyes dipped. Though any wounds he might’ve suffered in his fight with Lachlan had healed, his fingers and silver rings were smeared with dried blood. He’d fought for her. In one of the most terrifying moments of her life, he’d come and fought for her. Had anyone ever done that for Willow? Had anyone cared enough?

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Twenty-One

Fire coursed through Kian’s veins in time with the pounding of his heart, each wave hotter and fiercer than the last. Time and distance were only feeding the flames. He knew his outward calm would crack if this continued, that his rage would burst to the surface like lava during an eruption. The only thing allowing him to maintain his tenuous control was the understanding that Willow needed him.

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