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She studies me, eyes traveling slowly over my face, and a smile forms as she memorizes me, just like I did with her moments ago. Her gaze trails over my tattoos, fingertips carefully following the inked lines. Tingles spread under her touch, each careful stroke peeling away layers of my past, revealing parts of myself that were always reserved for her.
“Do these all have stories?” she asks, looking up at me with curiosity.
“Some of them,” I admit, following her gaze to the ink on my arm. “Some are memories, some reminders. And some …” I pause, choosing my words carefully. “Some are things I thought I’d lost forever.”
Her eyes lift slowly, and they’re full of understanding. She leans closer, pressing a kiss against my collarbone, lingering there for a long, quiet moment. “You deserve happiness, Brody. You deserve to hold on to good things.”
Harper doesn’t just see me; she sees through me—straight into the hidden places I’ve protected from the outside world. The realization is both terrifying and exhilarating because I know I can never escape her. I don’t want to.
“I’m actively working on that,” I whisper, sliding my hand up her back.
Her eyes are serious as she presses her palm over my heart. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She read between the lines; of course she did.
I cup her face, guiding her eyes firmly to mine, needing her to hear my words. “I’m not either. I will always protect you. I will always keep you safe.”
The promise hangs between us, solidifying the bond already tightening around us, cuffing us together. Harper nods, accepting my truth without hesitation, and I feel immediate relief, knowing that’s exactly what she wants.
She feels the same, and I want to scream it from the rooftops.
Harper settles her head back against my chest, drawing circles over my skin. I breathe in the scent of her hair, feeling my heart pound steadily beneath her fingertips.
After a long moment, she whispers, “Real-life you is way better than fantasy you.” Her voice is a blend of playfulness and sleepy satisfaction.
I chuckle, the rumble vibrating through my chest. “Good to know fantasy me takes the back seat.”
She tilts her head slightly, peeking up at me with a mischievous look in her eyes. Her smile is playful in a way that’s uniquely Harper. “We can do this again, right?”
“Fuck yes.” Laughter falls out of me, and happiness chases away shadows that have lingered for too long.
She chuckles, and the sound is music to my ears. “Great. So, should I apologize for keeping you really busy now or later?”
I tilt her chin upward, painting my lips across hers.
“Already addicted, huh?” I whisper against her mouth, feeling her smile.
“Yes,” she admits.
“Me too.”
Harper stands, and we clean ourselves up, then lie on the couch naked. As I hold her, I run my fingers through her hair, and she moves closer. Her breathing slows as sleep threatens to claim her. As I drift toward sleep, surrounded by Harper’s warmth, I promise myself that I’ll always hold on to the good things, to Harper, no matter what it takes.
Her breathing evens out against my chest, and her body relaxes. I carefully shift beneath her, scooping her up as I rise from the cushions. She stirs slightly, mumbling something unintelligible about floating. Her eyes flutter briefly before settling closed again.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper, pressing a kiss against her forehead as I carry her toward the bedroom.
“My hero.” Her arms tighten around my neck, and it’s the simple trust she has for me—that she’s always had—that nearly undoes me.
I set her onto the mattress, sliding the covers over her before joining her.
She snuggles into me. Our bodies mold perfectly together, and we’re the best big and little spoon on the planet.
The tension I’ve always carried melts away, replaced by bone-deep relief that love exists for me. The emptiness is exchanged with Harper, and right now my heart is overflowing with hope, with something strong enough to silence my loudest fears.
I brush my lips against her hair as my arm snakes around her waist, breathing in the sweet smell of her skin as I close my eyes.
Tonight, nothing can touch us, and I let myself believe that I deserve every ounce of happiness Harper brings into my life. Nothing else matters but this.