Page 6 of Her Protector on Route 14 (Love Along Route 14 #6)

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 change my 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 who almost said 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 hate the thought of her relying on someone other than me, but I nod.

I make sure she gets to her room before I leave, annoyed with myself for letting the kiss happen.

I’m more annoyed that I stopped it, but it’s better to avoid getting too tangled up in her when it’s already so tempting to follow, knock on her door, and kiss her again so she doesn’t get a moment to think that she’s not enough – especially for me.

Instead of letting that thought get the best of me, I make myself go to my accomodation after trying to cool down.

My dick hasn’t gotten the memo though. Even after a cold shower, I can’t forget her soft lips molding to mine, the tentative way she followed my lead, how entirely she gave herself over in just one kiss.

I’m hard, frustrated in more than one way, and need an outlet. I glance at my cock, lay down, and slide my hand down my body as my eyes close. I curl my fingers around my dick and think of Holly.

I could go back to the B&B, knock on her door, and I’d find her just as riled and worked up as I am.

She’d be in a robe and nothing else, take one look at me and welcome me in.

The second the door shuts, she’d be in my arms, welcoming my hands to explore every inch of her while she pulls at my clothes turning one kiss into a plenty of foreplay.

“Holly,” I pant as I stroke myself faster, imagining her slowly dropping to her knees and asking me to guide her.

I’d bundle her soft hair in my hand and slowly ease my cock between her plump lips, watching her cheeks hollow as she sucks me, her green eyes staying focused on my face. Her slick, soft tongue working across my cock, teasing me with equal parts innocence and passion while moaning for me.

So responsive. So warm. So ...

I groan and submit to the fantasy. Gripping Holly’s hair and guiding her over every inch of my cock, feeling her throat tighten again and again while she tightens her hold on me until that determined glint in her eyes shines, telling me she’s not letting me stop until I finish.

I hiss and come, panting and slowing my thrusts while picturing her swallowing for me.

After a few seconds of bliss, I force my eyes open.

This is why I stopped the kiss. Holly’s too addictive, she’s too tempting in ways I don’t know how to process and if I get another taste of her, I don’t think I’ll be able to let her go.