I press my face to her chest, laughing quietly.Of course she wants a whip.She'll probably put her own eye out with the damn thing, but I'll get it for her anyway.Because something about this woman is utterly irresistible.I'm incapable of telling her no."Don't you ever change, Cassia Murphy."
"Never, cowboy," she promises, wrapping her legs around my waist.
"I love you."
"I love you too," she whispers, lighting up like the Fourth of July.
Seeing that smile on her face, knowing I put it there, lights me up too.
"I want something else," she says, running her hands beneath my shirt.
"Yeah?What's that?"
"Orgasms.Lots of orgasms."
"Yes, ma'am."I grin, more than willing to oblige.
* * *
"I'm sorry I ran," Cassia whispers hours later, curled up on my chest."You didn't say it back and I guess I just…freaked out a little bit."
"I'm an asshole."I run my hands through her hair, letting the strands slip between my fingers.
"You aren't.My mom used to tell me all the time that no one would ever love me the way I am," she says, her voice soft."Rationally, I know that's her issues talking, but sometimes it sneaks up on me.When you didn't say it back, her voice came creeping in and it messed with my head."
"Your mom is a bitch," I growl, flipping her over onto her back.I tip her chin up until she meets my gaze."I don't use that word lightly, pretty baby.But I mean in this time.Anyone who knows you and can say that kind of shit about you doesn't deserve you."
"She doesn't deserve me," she says, smiling softly."We don't talk often anymore.I see her on holidays and that's about it."
"Good," I grunt."You should know I won't be fucking nice to her if she's a bitch to you.I don't care if she is your mom.If she doesn't treat you with respect, she'll answer to me."
"Yeah?"Her smile grows.So does the softness in her eyes.
"Lesson six," I remind her."You're mine to take care of in every way.That means in this bedroom and out of it, pretty baby.I protect you now, even if it means protecting you from your mother.No one makes you cry or hurts you without answering to me."
"Does that mean I get to protect you too?"
"You want to protect me?"I ask, grinning at her.Fuck, she's cute.
"Yes," she says, her expression somber."No one gets to hurt you either, Cord.I may not be a big, mean, scowly cowboy, but I've been learning a thing or two from one.If you're mine, that means your heart is mine to protect."
"I'll make you a deal," I say, linking our fingers together."You promise to run to me when something I do hurts you, and I'll let you be my knight any time you want, princess."
"Can I have a sword?"
"Uh, no.Definitely not."
She scowls at me, making me grin."Fine, then can I have a white horse?"
"Pretty baby, you can have five of them if it makes you happy."I'll give her whatever the fuck she wants if she forgets about the sword."But no more running from me.You raise nine kinds of hell and use that smart mouth to tell me what I did to piss you off or hurt you, but you don't run.Those few hours without you this morning were the longest of my goddamn life."
"Mine too," she whispers."I didn't like them at all."
"That's because you know you belong here with me," I murmur, leaning down to kiss the pout from her lips."This is your home now, Cassia.I'm your home."
"I love you, Cord."
"I love you, princess," I whisper, leaning down to claim her lips in a deep kiss.
