“And what if you got hurt?” I ask, the thought of him taking a bullet making me feel physically ill.
“That’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I sit up. “But Iamworried about it. I care about you, Keller.”
“It’s my job to put you first, so I would’ve done anything to protect you. If that means getting hurt in the process, then so be it.”
“How can you be so casual about it?”
“Because your life matters more than mine,” he answers.
“I don’t like that answer.”
“But it’s the correct one.” When I don’t respond, he says, “Go on, get back under your covers.”
“I don’t want to.” My hands shake. “I have too many thoughts running through my mind.” My eyes connect with his. “You’d really protect me, even if that meant you getting hurt?”
“Yes,” he answers with a pause.
My teeth clench together as I slip my legs off the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
I stand, and as he watches my every step, I close the space between us until I’m right in front of him.
“Lilly,” he rasps out.
I kneel on one side of his chair, and then the other, straddling his lap. Like he does every night, he’s only wearing his briefs, so when I lower myself down, I feel him beneath me.
Breathing out a long, tortured breath, his hands fall to my waist. “Lilly, what are you doing?”
I place my hands on his chest, his thick pecs twitching under my touch.
“Lilly, you know I won’t be able to stop you.”
“I know,” I whisper as I move my hands to his neck and lean forward. “But I can’t stop myself either.” I lower my head to his ear and drag my lips over his cheek. He sucks in a sharp breath while his fingers at my waist dig into my skin. “Never in my entire life, have I ever had someone treat me the way you do. You’re the knight I never knew I needed. You offer me safety and solace. Just being in your arms makes me feel more comfortable than anywhere else on this planet. And I don’t know what to do about it other than show you how it makes me feel.”
“Lilly, please, I can’t...”
I rock my hips, moving my pelvis over his growing bulge.
“Fuck,” he whispers as his head falls back, giving me access to his throat. I take advantage of it and pepper kisses along his fiery skin.
“You make me whole, Keller.” I kiss up his jaw. “You make me feel safe.” I move closer to his mouth. “You make me feel cherished.” I hover my lips just above his. “You make me feel like I matter.” And then I lower my lips to his, giving him the faintest of kisses, and pause, waiting to see what he does.
He holds steady, still.
I don’t move, waiting.
The silent night sweeps around us.
The tension grows thick.
And with every second that ticks by, I can feel myself losing control until... it snaps.
I release his face and reach for the hem of my shirt, pulling it up over my head and dropping it on the floor, leaving me in nothing other than a pair of cheeky underwear.
“Fuck... me,” he whispers as his eyes fall to my chest. From the tempting lick of his lips and the slight thrust of his hips against mine, I take that as my green light.
