“Shit.No, Angel,” I said quickly, stepping into her space.I took her face in my hands, tilting her chin until her eyes met mine.“That ain’t it.”
She blinked.Unsure.
I cupped her jaw, brushing my thumb across the soft curve of her cheek.
“Truth is, I’m a jealous asshole when it comes to you,” I admitted.
“Yeah, right.”
“I mean it.I love every single fucking one of your curves.Every line, every dip, every delicious inch, and freckle.But look at us.”I gestured between our bodies, close but not touching.“You’re not exactly a big girl, are you?”
Her head tilted.
Still uncertain.
I leaned in, let her feel the tension rippling off me.
“Sabrina,” I said, low and rough, “your body is fucking beautiful.It’s perfect.Every inch of you is mine, and I’m proud of it.I was just trying to calculate how many deadly sins I’m liable to commit today, cracking skulls at all the knuckleheads at that school for gawking at you like they’re allowed.”
She laughed then.A breathy, startled sound.
“Oh my God, Theo.No one at school gawks at me.”
I wasn’t smiling.“There’s Mr.O’Mara from fifth grade.Always finding reasons to pass your classroom.”
She raised an eyebrow.“Seriously?”
“And Mr.Kendall.The English teacher.”
“The one for seventh and eighth?”
I didn’t like how fast she knew who I meant.
That was one sin.
She arched a brow.“Anyone else?”
“Richie, that little shit in eighth grade who’s always being sent to the principal’s office.And Father O’Brien,” I added, deadpan.
Her mouth fell open, then she burst out laughing.“The priest?Theo!”
I didn’t laugh.I couldn’t.
But I was glad I made her smile.
Because every time she smiles, it feels like the world is right again.Like maybe, just maybe, I can protect this thing we’ve found.
Every breath she takes is important to me.
And right now—out in this storm, in the hands of someone who doesn’t understand her worth—I swear to God and everything holy in this or any other universe, that I’ll rip the goddamn soul out of anyone who dares try to take that smile away from her.
Yeah, I’d kill for her.A hundred fucking times with no hesitation.
But now—now I’m watching thick chunks of ice and snow rain down, and I wonder if she’s cold.
If she’s scared.
And a sound slips from my throat.
