“God. Sorry.” She pushes her hair back behind her ears, brushing mine as she looks at me with those seductive, turquoise eyes, and I’m lost again in the feeling that I’m falling. “I fell asleep.”
“It’s okay. You’ve had a big day.” My cock twitches as I look into her sleepy face, wanting to see her like that in the morning. In my bed. After fucking her into unconsciousness.
“Thank God tomorrow is Sunday and I can sleep in.” Her lips curve into a soft smile. “I mean today, I guess.”
“Let’s get you inside.”
“Really, I’m fine, you’ve done more than enough…”
“Sorry, I’m not leaving you. Doctor said someone should be with you for twenty-four hours.”
“I know, my friend is coming when she gets off work at six. I can handle it for a few hours.”
“Nope.” I step out and move around to her side of the car, opening her door and wrapping her in my arms. “You’re my responsibility at the moment.”
What I want to say, what I’m feeling…is sheismy responsibility. Period.
From now on.
And I don’t care how crazy that sounds.
“You’re stubborn.” She smiles, and it lights up my heart.
“I can be.”
We walk up the two flights of stairs to her door. It’s an old Victorian house converted into apartments. Not a total dump, but not where she deserves to live, either. And in the back of my mind, I make a note to change her living situation—soon.
Inside, she flips on a light, and I look around. Her place is neat but small. The living room is open to an efficiency kitchen where I see a single plate and glass resting on a floral dishtowel next to the sink.
There’s a bowl of oranges on a two-person café-style table with an older laptop and a stack of textbooks on one of the chairs. The soft floral scent in the room is almost like her own but not nearly as sweet.
For a simple apartment, the décor is warm and original. Pops of orange and yellow draw my eye around the room, and the furniture—although simple and looking like it has a decade or more under its belt—has been paired with colorfulquilts and modern pillows that give the entire space a creative sophistication I could see spread in a magazine.
She sets her purse down, and her keys clatter on the faded Formica counter next to it. “I’ve never had a man in my apartment before.” She grins, twisting her lips to the side. “And I…” she stalls, squinting an eye at me, then pushes her blonde hair back behind her ears again as her tongue touches her top lip.
“What?” I shove my hands down in my pockets, trying to control my hard-on. When she said no man has been here before, the embers that were already hot inside of me burst into a flame, and there’s someone else coming alive I’m not sure I can control.
She laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t even know your name. That doesn’t seem very wise, does it?”
“My name’s Vito. I’m not here to hurt you. If I wanted to hurt you, I’ve had plenty of opportunities already, yes?”
She nods, her cheeks turning bright pink as her hands drop to hug her waist with the amazing side effect of pushing her incredible tits higher, so they nearly spill out of the V neck of her dress.
“True.” She lifts one hand and rubs her eyes. “I’m sorry, I should offer you something…coffee…but I don’t have a coffee maker. Or coffee. I have milk, tea or water.” She licks her lips, and there’s discomfort in her eyes.
“I’m fine. You need to rest. I’ll sit right here on the couch.”
I already know I’m never going to want to leave, but telling her that right now wouldn’t serve to ease her discomfort. One way or another, though, this will not be the last time we are together.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” She pushes her hair behind her ears again. “I’m so tired.” Her eyelids flutter, and her hands come to rest atthe base of her neck, and I wonder if her heart is beating as hard as mine.
“Go.” I nod toward the door I’m assuming is her bedroom. “But once you're asleep, I’m going to come in and check on you, so don’t lock your door.”
Her eyes widen, looking like a doe unsure which way to turn.
“I won’t hurt you,” I repeat, and the truth of my words hits me down low.
Not only will I never hurt her, but I pity anyone that does. Because this thing she’s lit inside of me has me already half-crazed with a sense of protectiveness I’ve never experienced—not even with my own family.
