Her confession is a sucker punch to the heart and a call to ride at dawn.
Someone hurt her.
Likely multiple someones.
I want to end them all.
But not as much as I want to hug her and kiss her and show her how muchthis guylikes her for exactly who she is.
All of her.
“From this moment forward,” I say, “you can go to bed every night knowing someone likes you for you. All of you. Your drive. Your intelligence. Your passion. Your independence. Your body. Your heart.Allof you. And I will destroy anyone who makes you feel like you don’t deserve that. Understand?”
When she doesn’t reply right away, I mentally punch myself.
Too much, dummy.
We’re going slow.
We’re not scaring her away withI am obsessed with you and I will defend your honor to the end of time.
Except that’s what I just did.
“Duncan?” she whispers.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I’m going slow. I promise I’m being patient.”
“Thank you for liking me enough to want to destroy my enemies.”
“I know you can do it yourself.”
“I—I think I understand now how that turns women on.” Her voice is throaty.
And there goes my dick getting harder. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I swallow hard. Adjust myself again. Let my eyes fall shut while I imagine Addie’s hands on me. “Let me know if you ever want me to tell you that again.”
“I’ll try.”
My phone buzzes in the middle of the call, and I lunge for it. But I smack the water bottle on my nightstand too, and it goes crashing to the floor.
“All okay?” Addie asks.
I scan my text message. “Paisley’s home safe. Had a good time.”
“So you can sleep now.”
Not with this hard-on. “That’s the theory.”
“Great. Good. You need your sleep. I’ll—I’ll see you next week. ForCroaking Creatures. Thank you for calling.”
“I don’t have to go.”
“I think I do.”
“Okay. Call or text anytime. I’ll be here.”
