Her gaze snaps to mine, the faraway look in her eyes evaporating. She’s looking at me like she’s seeing me for the first time. It makes me want to squirm. But I’m the fucking sheriff and I’m not going to be taken down by this pint-sized woman even though it’s clear I’m wrapped around her finger.
“Why?”
“Now,” I drawl, my hand coming up and cupping her cheek, “that is the right question to ask.”
She swallows hard, her eyes dancing with curiosity and excitement. “Are you going to keep being cryptic, Sheriff, or are you going to spill?”
I chuckle and kiss her softly. The gasp that comes out of her is so damn sweet. As much as I want to devour her, I keep the kiss soft and quick. Fuck, it’s over far too quick.
When I lead her over to one of the stools on the island, she perches there and watches me with interest as I make her an iced latte. When she takes a sip and her eyes slide closed while letting out a sound of contentment that goes straight to my dick, pure satisfaction riots through me.
I did that. I took care of her.
Her eyes open and lock with mine. The pink color on her cheeks makes me grin. “It’s perfect,” she breathes out.
I nod once and lean closer to her. “I got those things for you. If you stick around in the morning and have coffee with me, I have a few more minutes I get to enjoy you before the day’s responsibilities and expectations demand my attention.”
“Okay,” she murmurs. “That sounds like a big commitment.”
She looks confused, not like she’s fishing for a compliment or reassurance. I’m not surprised she doesn’t fully understand.
From everything Helen has told me, she’s not used to anyone putting her first, even the people who should have. She’s been conditioned to believe she has to hold everyone else together, while hiding how she’s being held together by duct tape and hope.
Now I’m in her life and she’ll never have to struggle to keep everything from going off the rails. No more. I’m going to stand between my woman and the expectations she hasn’t earned and shouldn’t be responsible for.
“It’s not,” I tell her fiercely, “it’s the most natural thing I’ve done. Thinking about you, considering you, and making space in my life for you feels easy and like this is how it was always supposed to be.”
Helen blinks at me a few times. The shy smile that lifts her lips is perfectly sweet. I close the distance between us and kiss her softly.
“You’re mine, Helen,” my voice is fierce.
“I like being yours,” she whispers the words like they’re a confession she isn’t sure about making.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her gently against my chest. She rests her head there and something clicks into place. This.
This is what I want. I want her in my arms, in my home, in my life. And I don’t want to ever let her go. How can I get her to agree to move in here with me? How long am I going to have to wait?
The absolute last thing I want to do is wait for her to move in with me. Waiting sounds like fucking torture.
“You just have work today?” I eye her as she pulls away and leans against the counter. “Anything else on the agenda?”
“I don’t think so,” there’s a hint of sass in her tone which has my cock perking up and taking notice. “Why? Are you considering adding something to my calendar?”
Anytime I’m around her I’m half hard all the time. It’s just what she does to me. It’s uncomfortable, and slightly embarrassing, but it is what it is.
I chuckle and watch while she takes another drink of her coffee. Not puffing my chest up with pride is more difficult than it should be. I’m aware it’s just coffee, but it feels like I’m providing something for her.
And I made sure it’s just how she likes it.
When she glances at the clock, she lets out a low groan. There’s reluctance in her voice when she admits, “I need to get ready for the day. It’ll take me longer to get into work today.”
“Okay,” I croak, trying to hold back all the words I want to say. Like how the last thing I want is to see her go. Or how much I crave for her to be close enough to touch at all times. “Can we make plans?” My question is filled with vulnerability, but I’m okay with it. “I won’t be able to go long without seeing you.”
Her brown eyes twinkle. This time she closes the distance between us. When she kisses the underside of my jaw, I’m fucking done for. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and I’m never letting her go.
“How about you text me later?” She studies my face as she asks the question.
I nod without hesitation. If she’s testing me that’s completely fine. She hasn’t been able to rely on anyone else for a long time; if she feels the need to test me and whether I’m going to follow through with what I say, then I can’t really blame her.
