“Tristan?”
Tearing my eyes away from Hawkeye’s cuteness, Daphne’s poised at the top of the stairs, a Glock in her hand, pointed away from me.
And goddamn, she’s wearing a nightie and matching satin robe, the tie undone to reveal her skin frosted in lilac fabric. My cock stirs at the dangerous sight of those curves coated in satin that clings to her skin like there’s practically nothing there. Honestly, if she shot me down and this is the last thing I ever see, I don’t think I’d mind.
“Hey, Princess.”
Dropping the Glock on the floor, Daphne bolts down the stairs and rushes straight into my arms, her warm body molding against me. Her vanilla perfume smells so damn sweet, it’s making my mouth water.
“I’m here, Daph. I’ve got you.” I hold her a little harder as relief thaws the icy worry in my bones. She’s safe. She’s alright. She’s here, in my arms, and she’s going to be okay.
A sob wracks through her as Daphne lets out a cry of fear. It burns my chest like a brand. Damn, why did I have to be so far away when this happened? If something hadhappened to her in the last ninety minutes, I don’t know if I’d ever forgive myself.
I cradle her closer. Minutes stretch until her sobbing slows and her breathing steadies. Her fingers relax around my back until they fall away.
“Tristan.” She wipes away tears with her fingertips as she steps back to meet my eyes. “I don’t know what to do. Someone’s trying to hurt me.”
“No one’s going to hurt you, Daph. I promise.”
She shakes her head in disbelief. “You can’t promise something like that.”
“I can, and I will. I willnotlet anything happen to you.”
“But what if it does?” The words slip into the universe like a whisper, but the image they plant is so loud I can’t block it out.
“Don’t say that.”
“But what if?—”
“Stop.” My thumb presses under her chin, forcing her to keep those eyes on me—on my mask where she can’t see my worry. I can’t hide my expressions for shit, but with a mask, I can be everything and nothing.
I’m itching to take the damn thing off so she can see how her words affect me. They grip my throat in a chokehold, and my heart bangs so hard against my ribs, they might crack. “Don’t you dare put that out in the world,” I tell her.
A strained puff of a laugh slips from those plush lips. “Why do you care?”
WhydoI care? I can’t answer that. I just know that the world would be a darker place if she weren’t around, shining some light in it. And like hell am I going to let this shitty place get any darker.
“I just do. Okay? So knock it off.”
“And if I don’t?”
The challenge in her voice sends blood pounding in my ears. My gut tenses like steel, and without thinking, I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her flush to me.
Her pretty blue eyes widen in surprise when my hardening cock presses against her soft belly. She can feel it, and I want her to.
Her lips part on a gasp.
Those lips. Her pink, plump lips are such a fucking tease. I shouldn’t. I should walk away now. End this—end all of it. Because even if I don’t know why, I care about Daphne Fox. I care about her safety, and her eyes, and that biting sarcasm of hers. I care about the way she speaks faster when she gets excited about talking about a book she’s reading. I care about how she doesn’t fear me. I fucking care, and I can’t walk away now.
“Fuck it.” My other hand yanks down my neck gaiter, freeing my lower face, and my lips trap hers. I taste her shocked gasp before her lips yield to mine.
My God, why did I wait so damn long to do this?
The way her body contours to me is pure heaven. My hand presses against the small of her back to bring her in closer. It’s like I can’t get enough of her.
Her fingers cling to me as if she might float away if she doesn’t hold on. They coast along the muscles of my back through my t-shirt, sending long tugs of need straight to my cock. My body heats with every trace of her fingertips against me.
My tongue presses between her lips, and she parts for me to taste her. So fucking sweet.
