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Story: Her Protector on Route 14
“Being in the military, seeing friends, innocent people ... I don’t regret going into battle, I only regret not being able to help more, to bring more people home. It eats at me, less now, but ...” he hesitates. “I realize how it sounds. I appreciate my friendships and it’s not PTSD that’s fully encouraged my lifestyle, but it allows me more control, makes me feel safer.”
I don’t realize I’ve moved closer to him until his hand spreads over my cheek and his thumb strokes the corner of my mouth as my breasts rub against his chest.
“Being alone is a different kind of hurt and loss, based on my experience. But if that’s how you feel comfortable, who’s to say you’re wrong?” I murmur. “But it’s a shame.”
“Why?” he asks, eyes lifting from my lips to my eyes.
“I think you have so much to offer people and the world. So we’re the ones missing out, even if you’re not,” I answer.
“Holly ...” he trails off and shakes his head. I think he’s going to say more, but he leans in until our noses brush. My lips part and he shudders. “I swear, you’re just right.”
Chapter 6 - Tanner
Her eyes dip to my lips and she leans in against me. That’s the yes I need. I kiss her slowly, gently, giving her time to pull away, to say no, to push against me, but instead, she pulls me closer, squeezing my hand and rubbing my hip. My hand slides into her hair as her lips part with mine. I change the angle and kiss her again, gently licking into her mouth.
She tastes so damn good, is so responsive, molding herself to me and panting against my lips as she grips my shirt and stands on her toes to kiss me deeper. Groaning, I lick across her tongue and feel her echo the move, following my lead as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
I’ve had to face it—I care about her. More than I should. More than what makes sense. It’s not just affection. It’s something deeper, something instant and possessive, like my body already decided she’s mine before my mind had a chance to argue.
She fits here—with me. Whether she’s charming strangers with that soft smile or nervously tucking her hair behind her ear, she belongs. I want to be the one who catches her when she’s unsure, the one who carries her burdens so she never has to feel the weight alone.
But then there’s the truth I can’t shake: I’m too damn old for her. Fourteen years between us. She’s twenty-four. Bright, beautiful, just stepping into her life.
And I… I should know better.
When she kisses me, shy and curious, her tongue gently tasting mine, it nearly undoes me. My hands ache to pull her closer, to claim what every instinct says is already mine. But I force myself to draw back.
As sweet as she tastes, as right as she feels in my arms… I can’t lose control. Not now.
Because loving her might be the most natural thing in the world…
But letting myself have her? That would be selfish.
It doesn’t matter that my dick is hard and I’m wishing she wore a dress so I could make her moan the way she deserves with my hand between her thighs. I grunt as I draw back. Holly’s eyes slowly open and she pants while still holding me closer.
I very gently put some space between us. I don’t want her upset. After a moment, her brow furrows. I rub my jaw. “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you.”
“You – you didn’t,” she argues, tugging on my hand. “You didn’t, Tanner. I wanted to kiss you.”
“I want you to feel safe with me, especially since I invited myself on your trip.”
“I am, I promise. I’ve never felt safer,” she insists.
Since I recognize the lust in her eyes – it echoes my own – I don’t know what to say. If we keep this up, I won’t want to stop. I already feel too much for her, but I’m not ready to changemy life, to commit to a relationship with her and simply being physical with her isn’t an option.
“Let me take you back to the B&B,” I say, my voice quieter than I mean it to be. “I’ll check on your car and follow up with work.”
Her expression flickers. “Oh,” she says, pulling her hand from mine with a softness that stings. “Yeah… okay.”
We walk back in silence. The kind that feels heavy. The kind that grows between two people whoalmostsaid something but didn’t.
The truck ride is just as quiet. When I park outside the B&B, I hesitate, then clear my throat. “I hope you have a good night, Holly. Today was… pleasant.”
She repeats the word like she’s testing it. “Pleasant.”
Then she gives me a smile—polite, pretty, but missing that dimple I’ve grown far too attached to.
“It was,” she says. “Thanks for everything. And if you get called away for work, don’t worry—I’ll sort a taxi or something to pick up the car.”
I don’t realize I’ve moved closer to him until his hand spreads over my cheek and his thumb strokes the corner of my mouth as my breasts rub against his chest.
“Being alone is a different kind of hurt and loss, based on my experience. But if that’s how you feel comfortable, who’s to say you’re wrong?” I murmur. “But it’s a shame.”
“Why?” he asks, eyes lifting from my lips to my eyes.
“I think you have so much to offer people and the world. So we’re the ones missing out, even if you’re not,” I answer.
“Holly ...” he trails off and shakes his head. I think he’s going to say more, but he leans in until our noses brush. My lips part and he shudders. “I swear, you’re just right.”
Chapter 6 - Tanner
Her eyes dip to my lips and she leans in against me. That’s the yes I need. I kiss her slowly, gently, giving her time to pull away, to say no, to push against me, but instead, she pulls me closer, squeezing my hand and rubbing my hip. My hand slides into her hair as her lips part with mine. I change the angle and kiss her again, gently licking into her mouth.
She tastes so damn good, is so responsive, molding herself to me and panting against my lips as she grips my shirt and stands on her toes to kiss me deeper. Groaning, I lick across her tongue and feel her echo the move, following my lead as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
I’ve had to face it—I care about her. More than I should. More than what makes sense. It’s not just affection. It’s something deeper, something instant and possessive, like my body already decided she’s mine before my mind had a chance to argue.
She fits here—with me. Whether she’s charming strangers with that soft smile or nervously tucking her hair behind her ear, she belongs. I want to be the one who catches her when she’s unsure, the one who carries her burdens so she never has to feel the weight alone.
But then there’s the truth I can’t shake: I’m too damn old for her. Fourteen years between us. She’s twenty-four. Bright, beautiful, just stepping into her life.
And I… I should know better.
When she kisses me, shy and curious, her tongue gently tasting mine, it nearly undoes me. My hands ache to pull her closer, to claim what every instinct says is already mine. But I force myself to draw back.
As sweet as she tastes, as right as she feels in my arms… I can’t lose control. Not now.
Because loving her might be the most natural thing in the world…
But letting myself have her? That would be selfish.
It doesn’t matter that my dick is hard and I’m wishing she wore a dress so I could make her moan the way she deserves with my hand between her thighs. I grunt as I draw back. Holly’s eyes slowly open and she pants while still holding me closer.
I very gently put some space between us. I don’t want her upset. After a moment, her brow furrows. I rub my jaw. “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you.”
“You – you didn’t,” she argues, tugging on my hand. “You didn’t, Tanner. I wanted to kiss you.”
“I want you to feel safe with me, especially since I invited myself on your trip.”
“I am, I promise. I’ve never felt safer,” she insists.
Since I recognize the lust in her eyes – it echoes my own – I don’t know what to say. If we keep this up, I won’t want to stop. I already feel too much for her, but I’m not ready to changemy life, to commit to a relationship with her and simply being physical with her isn’t an option.
“Let me take you back to the B&B,” I say, my voice quieter than I mean it to be. “I’ll check on your car and follow up with work.”
Her expression flickers. “Oh,” she says, pulling her hand from mine with a softness that stings. “Yeah… okay.”
We walk back in silence. The kind that feels heavy. The kind that grows between two people whoalmostsaid something but didn’t.
The truck ride is just as quiet. When I park outside the B&B, I hesitate, then clear my throat. “I hope you have a good night, Holly. Today was… pleasant.”
She repeats the word like she’s testing it. “Pleasant.”
Then she gives me a smile—polite, pretty, but missing that dimple I’ve grown far too attached to.
“It was,” she says. “Thanks for everything. And if you get called away for work, don’t worry—I’ll sort a taxi or something to pick up the car.”