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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Hop had never really had a girlfriend like this. At least not once he was an adult. High school didn’t really count, not like this. He’d learned early on that dating while in the Navy was too much. The women he went out with started sleeping around when he deployed and that always ruined the fun. It was easier to never commit. But with Vera, he wanted more, he wanted commitment.

They made dinner and were watching the movie when a knock sounded on the door. He stopped the movie, then grabbed his phone, checking to see if anyone had texted. His phone was clear of notifications. Maybe it was a neighbor.

“Who do you think that is?” Vera asked.

“Not sure. Let me see.”

Vera pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees. He hated what she’d gone through to get here. Before opening the door, he thought about grabbing his Glock, but he didn’t.

He pulled the door open, surprised to see a police officer. “Hello.”

“Sorry to bother you. We’re just out asking questions. The house that burned down last week, did you know the person who lived there?”

He shook his head. “No, sir. I knew they moved in last year, and that’s all I know.”

“You remember them moving in?”

He nodded. “I don’t like surprises. I don’t know everyone in the area, but I do keep up with when people move out or sell their houses. I might miss a few, but I try to keep up with who my neighbors are.”

“Oh, but you didn’t know this guy.”

He shook his head. “No, sir. I never met him.”

“Did you see anything the night of the fire or the week leading up to the fire?”

He thought back over the time. “No, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

“What about anyone else living here? Do they know him?”

Hop made a quick decision, deciding not to document that Vera lived here. The last thing they needed was for some cop to put her name into the system.

“No, sir. No one else lives here.”

The officer nodded. “Okay, if you think of anything, call the station.”

“Sure will.”

He shut the door then turned to Vera and shrugged. He moved to her before speaking and even then, he spoke quietly. “I didn’t want him writing your name down.”

She nodded. “I was wondering. Thank you. You’re right, it would be bad for him to document my name associated with this property.” A shiver worked through her, and he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “It would suck if Logan figured out I lived here.”

“It would, and I want to protect you from that.”

“Thank you.” She sighed against him. “I wonder why they were asking if anyone knew him.”

“They asked if I saw something suspicious. That tells me that something happened. That fire was either deliberately set, or the person who lived there was murdered before the fire started.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yeah, but life is harsh, and people do crazy stuff.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, that’s why I’m here.”

“You know that better than anyone else.” An overwhelming feeling of protectiveness rose up, and he pulled her onto his lap, running his nose in her short hair. He drew in a deep breath, drinking her in. The thought of her being trapped out in the forest or in a burning building made him feel helpless.

She adjusted and straddled his lap. Their gazes met and held. The intensity wasn’t going down. Instead, it ramped up.

Vera leaned in and brushed her lips over his. He couldn’t hold back. He needed to do more than just kiss her a few times. He wanted to feel her, to touch and taste her.

“I want you,” he growled as he stood, holding onto her so her legs wrapped around his waist. “If you don’t want this, say so now.”

Her breath hitched, and she held tighter onto him. “Yeah, I want you. I want to feel you up against me and then inside me.”

He groaned. “We should wait.”

“Maybe. But I don’t want to.”

He carried her into his bedroom and lowered her slowly to the bed. He was between her legs, only their clothes separating them, his cock grinding against her center. It was hot, and he was going to lose it if he had to wait.

He slid his hand down her torso, loving every sexy curve on her body. He cupped her hip before moving his hand to her center. She was hot, and he needed her wet and ready for his cock. He wasn’t so dumb to think he was bigger than she’d ever had, but he wasn’t small. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

He popped the button on her shorts and slid the zipper down, anticipation filling him. She shoved off her shorts, and with his help, she pushed them low. He glanced down and saw her pink panties.

“Such a pretty present for me to unwrap.”

Her shiver caused him to shiver. He helped her pull her top over her head, revealing a green lace bra. He ran one finger over the edge. Her skin felt like silk and absolutely perfect. He wanted her, but he also wanted to give her a chance to say no.

“If you want me to stop, just say so. I don’t want to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

“I want this. I want you.” Her voice was breathy and sexy as hell, making him harder.

His balls pulled up tight, and he knew he wasn’t going to last if he didn’t slide into her. He had never been this hot for anyone, and he loved it. He didn’t want to scare her, but he was beginning to fall in love with her.