Page 8

Adler

My knuckles rapped lightly on Linzey’s door.

After she’d finished the meal I’d prepared, I’d left her at her bedroom before I went to my own room, so we could both get ready to sleep.

While I preferred to sleep naked, I’d spent more time in pajama pants, the past four years, than I had since childhood.

No shirt. Especially after our conversation tonight.

I wanted her to see what I had to offer.

I growled quietly. Fuck. That. Linzey was not dating some other man, and tonight, I’d make that unmistakably clear. It might not be the wisest decision given the circumstances, but I’d never claimed to be a genius. However, I knew when I’d reached a crossroad. The decision had to be made.

I scoffed quietly to myself. The decision had been carved in stone a long time ago. I’d just been fighting it.

My eyes ate up Linzey as she swung her door open, wearing white satin pajamas covered in pale pink flowers. Oh fuck me. Neither of us would make it through tonight unscathed. Because… Yeah, tonight I’d claim her. And she’d claim me.

She stared at me for a moment. Her tongue dampened her lips while her gaze lingered on my mouth. Her throat convulsed then she sucked in a choppy breath.

“Come in,” she said, turning and heading back into the suite.

Before I could think better of it, my hand caught around her waist and I drew her back to me. Her hands landed on my chest, her wide eyes staring up at me.

“Adler,” she gasped, her breathing picking up while her pupils dilated, a pink flush creeping up the pale skin of her neck.

“You were a good girl, eating all your dinner,” I told her.

“Do I get a reward?”

I’d give her any fucking thing she wanted. “You’re already avoiding a spanking.”

Her lip pouted out, surprising me, then she made a face.

“Adler?”

“Yes?” My hands tightened on her waist.

“I…” Her breath caught. When she released it, she shook her head and stepped back. I let go of her, though it was the last thing I ever wanted. With several feet separating us, she crossed her arms over her middle. “Adler…” she sighed. “Why couldn’t you be the guy?”

“What?” I whispered. I must have misheard her. Couldn’t she see what I could see? Why did she think I’d just pulled her into my arms? I had to remind myself that she was young and wasn’t very experienced.

“The guy,” she repeated. “The one to sweep me off my feet, to whisk me away to his palace.”

I grimaced. “I’m no prince.”

“Maybe, not by blood.”

“Or any other way. I’m just a soldier who got lucky to be in the right place at the right time. To have a good friend and make excellent investments.”

“Bull,” she said, stepping close again. She poked me in the sternum. “You don’t have to concoct excuses for not being the guy for me. I get it.”

I caught her hand, reeling her closer before she could escape again.

My other hand looped around her waist, our position mimicking a slow dance on the tiny dance floor of her room’s entry.

Neither of us moved as we stared into each other’s eyes.

Couldn’t she see my feelings? I wasn’t good with speaking them.

It hadn’t been my place as her bodyguard, but I thought she knew how I’d felt and ignored it.

“You get what?” I asked slowly, sensing a direction I hadn’t foreseen. Maybe, I should have.

“That you’re not interested in me. Not…that way. Romantically. As a partner. I’m broken.”

“Not interested?” I said slowly. “You’re fucking with me, right?”

I pulled her closer to me, letting her feel the unmistakable ridge barely constrained by my boxer-briefs, the proof that grew whenever she was near. And having her in my arms…my dick begged for me to finally act. We were both tired of my hand.

“Do you feel that? What you do to me? I’ve barely slept for years because of you.”

“Because you’re protecting me. Which is ridiculous. I’m not special—”

“Because I want you. You are special. You’re a treasure I don’t deserve, not that it’ll fucking stop me anymore,” I practically snarled.

“This,” I thrust my arousal against her soft belly, “has no fucking thing to do with protecting. Hell, I want to do anything but protect you from me. I want to spread you out and have my way with you. To devour you. To show you whose girl you are, whose woman. But fuck, baby girl, after what you’ve been through.

I know you don’t need someone making advances on you.

You need someone you can feel safe with. ”

She gasped, her eyes wide. Her head shook, and I didn’t think she even realized it. “No.”

Shit. My grip loosened. I’d pushed to far.

“I don’t need or want protection . Not from you. I want…I want…I…”

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard before she looked up at me. The waiting killed me, but I had to let her proceed. To lead. If she wanted me, I’d be in control, but to start… It was her decision.

Letting go of her hand, I cupped her face and brushed my thumb over her cheek.

“I want what you said,” she whispered. “I’ve wanted it for a long time.”

My chin dipped in a single nod. Before I could think better of it—and really, there was no better of it .

Except walking away for her safety. And I couldn’t do that.

But before I could talk myself out of acting, I did what I’d wanted to do for hours, for years.

I curled my hand behind her neck, pulling her to me, and covered her lips with mine.

I groaned, gathering her tight to me. Linzey clutched my biceps, going to her toes, struggling to get even closer. I lifted her, giving into the baser urges I’d fought for so long. It felt like an eternity.

Her legs went around me as my mouth explored hers, plundering as she parted her lips. I pressed her back to the wall beside us. My cock ground against the place I wanted to be most in the world, my home, my heaven and hell. It could go either way, depending on if she accepted me or rejected me.

Breathing hard from the fire burning through my body and pooling in my balls, I drew back the smallest fraction of an inch.

“Okay?” I asked, checking in.

She knotted her fingers in my short hair, dragging me back. “Yes.”

That was it. My restraint snapped. My mouth covered hers with a growl.

I grabbed her ass, carrying her over to the bed.

Keeping one arm around her, I wrenched down the blankets then placed her on the mattress.

Worried as I crawled over her, I straightened my arms and peered down at her face.

Her eyes were wide and luminous, her mouth already swollen from our kisses.

She licked her lips and reached for me, but I only moved a little closer as she linked her fingers behind my neck.

“Anything you don’t like, anything that scares you or makes you uncomfortable, just say no and I’ll stop.”

“Do you want me?”

“More than anything,” I vowed.

“Then anything between us will be fine. I trust you, Adler.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by the faith she placed in me. I knew I’d still need to be careful. She might be fine now, but…a flashback was always possible.

“Just don’t be afraid to say no,” I told her, relaxing my arms and brushing my lips over hers. “I won’t be mad. I only want it to be perfect for you.”

“Got it.” She pulled at my shoulders, tugging me toward her as she lifted up to deepen the kiss. “I want it to be perfect for you.”

“Already done. I’m here with you. It’s already perfect.”

Perfect…so perfect.

I licked inside the warm, minty recess of her mouth, groaning, fisting her hair to hold her there, her silky tresses surrounding my hand.

Linzey was a balm for my soul. A sweet perfume filling my lungs.

A comfort surrounding me. Her soft sounds of contentment a symphony in my ears.

This entire day had been a shitshow, but to end like this, wrapped in her arms, I’d relive it again and again.