Elle watched the trees fly past the car window. Jace was behind the wheel, and her car was still at the visitors center. He’d asked if he could bring her home and stay with her at her place. Well,toldmore than asked. He was still angry, while she was somewhere between confused and shaken.
Whowasthat guy? Had he actually been after her in the street the other day, and Cody had just opened the door at the right time? After today, her gut said yes.
But that didn’t make sense. She was nobody. And as far as she knew, she’d never pissed anyone off. At least not to the extent that someone likehimwould want to harm her. She didn’t know the guy. Hell, she didn’t even know anyonelikehim…someone dark and dangerous.
Jace pulled into the parking lot in front of her building. The entire walk to the door, he kept his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his gaze continuing to move, scanning the trees and the cars like he was expecting company.
Maybe she was in shock, because she didn’t feel fear right now. But then, Jace tended to have that effect on her. The part she’d hated the most had been the dangerhe’dbeen in. He’d stood in front of a gun for her. Shielded her.
What if the guy had pulled the trigger?
Her blood ran cold, and she forced that thought to the back of her mind as they rode the elevator up to her apartment. It was only once they were inside that she took her first deep breath.
Home. Her little sanctuary.
She crossed to the kitchen, moving on autopilot as she opened the fridge. “Leftover pizza okay? I can heat it up.”
When he didn’t answer, she was about to turn when strong arms wrapped around her waist, making her gasp.
“Are you really okay?” he whispered, his breath brushing her neck.
He’d asked her that a few times. Once before Eastern got to the café, once during his interview, and again after. And each time, she’d answered the same. That she was fine.
This time, she just couldn’t give the same lie.
“You stepped in front of a gun to protect me,” she whispered.
His lips lowered to the crook of her neck. “And I’d do it a hundred times over.”
She turned in his arms, and he lifted his head. “I didn’t like that. I don’t like you being in danger.”
“I willalwaysprotect you.”
“I was scared for you.”
“Don’t be.” He slipped a lock of hair from her face. “If it’s a choice between saving you or me, I’ll always choose you.”
Her heart twisted. “I need you to be okay.”
He lowered his temple to hers. “I will be. As long as you’re safe.”
She scrunched her eyes against the building tears. “It’s getting harder and harder to fight this thing between us.” So hard that some days she wanted to lose herself in him and say to hell with the risks to her heart.
“Then stop fighting.”
His whispered words slipped into her blood, causing it to rush through her veins. She looked up at him, and all she saw was the best friend she’d grown up with. The first man she’d ever loved. Theonlyman she’d ever loved.
“Okay.” The word fell into the room like a small bomb detonating at their feet.
His brows flickered. “Okay?”
“I’ll stop fighting.” Slowly, so slowly that she had time to see a million emotions pass over his face, she brought his head down.
At first his mouth was gentle on hers, almost hesitant. Then she ran her tongue over the seal of his lips. The growl from his throat was so loud that she felt it everywhere. In her mouth. On her skin. In her head.
He lifted her to the small kitchen island and stepped between her thighs, his kiss deepening, his hands exploring her waist as he tangled his tongue with hers.
Every kiss with this man had been hot and important and intense. But this felt different, almost desperate. Like everything they’d both denied themselves for so long was exploding in this moment.
