Page 60 of Romancing His Heart

“No, Red. I’m not going to fix you. That would imply you’re broken.”

“Aren’t I?”

“I don’t think you’re broken. I think you’re lost, and we’re all a little lost sometimes. You just need help finding your way home. I can’t do it for you, but I can help if that’s what you want.”

“What about you? Can I help you?”

Fuck yes, you can help me by stripping down right here.

Jesus Christ, get a grip.

I like the way her body molds to mine when I lean into her space. Taking a deep inhale through my nose to calm my racing heart, the scent of her overwhelms me. “What are you going to help me do, Sloane?” I murmur.

Tilting her face, we are nose to nose as she works to swallow. The muscles in her exposed neck work hard, and I’m assaulted by visions of running my tongue down that silky skin.

“Live,” she whispers. “I’m going to help you live. Teach you to have some fun. I’m going to help you adjust back to normal life.”

“Civilian life,” I mutter.

“It has a lot to offer.” She grins.

Like you?

Fucking hell. What is going on with my thoughts lately?I have no self-control, and it’s making me antsy. Moving a couple of steps to the left, I try to compose myself.

“Okay, so … dinner?”

Crossing her arms over her rib cage, she leans against the sink. The action causes her tits to present themselves, and I feel light-headed.

“Hey, are you all right?” she asks, coming to my aid immediately.

“Yeah, I …” Blinking slowly, I try to get my shit together. I can’t exactly tell Sloane that it’s her fucking tits causing my brain to short circuit.

“Come on.” She wraps her arm around my middle, and guides me to the bed. “You went from zero to a thousand when you woke up this morning, at 4:50 a.m., and you’ve been going non-stop since. You pushed too hard today, Loki. So dinner will be up to me.” Her voice is upbeat, but I can see her fingers working. Tap-tap-slide.

“I’m fine. Honestly, I just need some food in me, and I’ll be good to go.”

“Get in bed, Loki. If you don’t want cereal, I can manage a sandwich. That’s about the extent of my cooking ability, though, so those are your choices.”

“Sweetheart? You can order me to bed any damn day of the week, but this is what I’m talking about. See how strong you are when it’s for someone else? This,” I say, pointing to her body language, “says,‘Don’t fuck with me.’You need to apply the same standard when protecting yourself.”

Sloane scowls but doesn’t say anything.

“Okay, okay,” I acquiesce. Turning, I let my pants fall to the ground. I pinch my shirt behind my neck, pull it over my body, and drop it to the floor as well. Climbing into the bed, I pull the sheet over me and smirk when I find Sloane drooling. “Did you like the show?”

“You’re, you’re not wearing underwear.”

Oh shit.

“Oh, ah, Christ.”

“Why, Mr. Kane, are you blushing?”

“Red, don’t call me Mr. Kane while I’m lying naked in a bed.” My voice is low as I fight for control.

The sharp intake of air tells me she gets my drift just fine.

“Listen, I-I’m sorry. Fucking Preston. He sent you all that, that stuff to sleep in, and the asshat couldn’t even send a single pair of boxers. I completely forgot I was freeballing it when I just dropped my pants. I’m sorry.”