Page 170 of Protecting Peyton

The room had become increasinglycold in the minutes since the gunshots took down Lucifer.

Another shiver wracked me as I snuggled into Zane’s warmth.

In response, he rubbed my back vigorously. “It’s the adrenaline.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a part of the fight-or-flight response. Feeling cold and shivering, that is.”

“Oh.”

“Stay right here and I’ll keep you warm.”

“I’m going to hold you to that, mister.” There was literally no other place I wanted to be right now, even with the cold seeping into me. Nobody could pry me away from my man.

I’d told him thank you several times, but it didn’t even come close to being sufficient for all he’d done for me. He’d found me. He’d come for me. He’d fought for me. He’d even put himself in mortal danger for me by putting down his gun and making himself defenseless.

He was truly my knight in shining armor, my savior, my man, and I knew for a fact that I loved him more than I could explain.

When I looked over at Lucifer and the puddle of blood, I didn’t know what to think about him living or dying, except that I hoped he was hurting.Actually, I hoped he lived so that he could hurt for many more days for everything he’d done.

Once I’d researched the topic and decided I wanted him sent to North Central Correctional in Gardner because I heard it was the worst in the state and as an added bonus, it was said to be infested with bed bugs.

Yes, I wanted the rest of his life to be miserable. It wouldn’t bring back Cassie or Olivia, but at least he wouldn’t be hurting any more women.

I could stop running now. The nightmare was over, and the women of Boston had one less worry in their lives when they were asked out to dinner.

How would it feel to wake up tomorrow and not have to check behind me as I walked down the sidewalk, or be fearful of the shadows at night?

That was tomorrow. Today I wanted to stay in my man’s arms and go back to his place with him to do something normal and boring, like make popcorn and watch a movie without having to worry about guard schedules for the night.

I could hear sirens in the distance.

I’d been on the run from the strangler for so long and was unable to fully relax that boring sounded like the perfect prescription for a few days.

This week with Zane had been such a whirlwind that we hadn’t even been able to sleep the entire night in a bed together.

I wanted to wake up in each other’s arms, trading morning breath before I got up to make us breakfast. I decided that’s what I wanted—simple and boring.

I wanted to make popcorn, watch a movie together, get frisky in bed, and fall asleep together, then wake up in the morning kissing my man like a normal girlfriend. Then, we’d make coffee and breakfast together in the kitchen, only half-dressed, like a normal couple, not like a woman running for her life and her bodyguard.

I giggled at the mental picture.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing. Do you have popcorn at your place?” Then I realized how silly I sounded. “It’s okay if you don’t.”

Zane pulled my chin up. “For you, if I don’t have any, I’ll get some.”

That made me smile. In his eyes, I saw what I wanted most—his love. Wasn’t that what it was all about—having a man who cared enough not to question your silly requests?

“Do you think you want to go back to Boston and your profession?”

The change of subject surprised me.

Suddenly, two LA cops burst into the room with their guns drawn. “Hands up. Don’t move.”

“Calm down. We’re Hawk Security,” Lucas announced as he slowly raised his hands. “We called you.”