I’d had an ulterior motive for that kiss, though, and I wasn’t proud of it.
I’d already jerked off once thinking about her last night, then a second time in the shower. Then earlier, after she’d walked in on me naked and stared at my cock, my dick was longing for a lot more attention.
But I was not bringing her back to my place forthat, stolen kisses aside.
“We can work on the details. At the very least, you need to pack some things. You can’t stay here. These assholes have come to your housetwiceto hurt or scare you and haven’t been caught. What’s stopping them from a third? Or more?”
“I know,” she whispered.
I hadn’t wanted her to come back here at all, but after she’d gotten so flustered, I hadn’t wanted to argue.
What Ireallywanted was…not something I could have. The best I could hope for was a stolen kiss.
“You agree?” I asked.
Instead of answering, Keira pushed out of the truck and went back inside her house. I followed, unwilling to leave her there alone.
It was an instinctual need. This feeling that I should be close to her. A weakness for sure, but what was the harm if I was also keeping her safe?
Could’ve sworn she was easier to resist in the past. This version of Keira? A little older but a lot wiser and fiercer?
Fuck, she was my kryptonite.
I found her in her bedroom, throwing clothes and items into a bag. So she was packing.
“Can I help?” I asked.
“No thanks,babe.” She glared. “I’ve got it.”
“Be gentle with yourself.” I went to rest my hands on her hips. “You’re still healing.”
Her glare was pure murder. But as I touched her, the look in her eyes shifted, and suddenly it was so full of anguish it made me question everything.
“I’ll, uh, leave you to it.” I decided to pack up the food in her fridge and cabinets so it wouldn’t spoil and go to waste. But I paused there in her kitchen, hoping all this wasn’t a mistake. I’d never made the best decisions when it came to her.
Keira packed up a couple suitcases, and I carried it all outside. After the bed of my truck was full, we got back in and I started the engine.
“How do you want to handle the broken window?” I asked.
She took her phone out. “I’ll text a handyman. I don’t want to tell Owen there was another break-in. I doubt they left any evidence behind, and besides, if Owen finds out aboutthis, then we’ll have to tell him about going to see Donny Phelan.”
“He’ll likely find out anyway. If Phelan sends his lawyers to complain.”
She threw a hand up in exasperation. “Then tell Owen whatever you like! Or don’t. Seems like you always do whatever you want, Dean.”
“Trust me, that is not true.”
She frowned at her lap.
“Text the handyman. If Owen comes asking questions, we can decide together how to deal with him.”
“Fine. I’ll contact Brynn too about the protection detail.”
“What’re you going to tell her?” I asked.
“Just that I’m worried about my mom and sister. As for everything else… I don’t know.” Keira slumped against her seat, sighing, as I pulled onto the road and headed back toward my place.
I took a circuitous route, making sure there was nobody following us. By the time we pulled up in front of my house, Keira hadn’t said a single word more to me.
