Page 50 of Let Me Protect You

Being with her is so right. I’ll never regret calling Sully for help when her life is on the line.

Before I can respond, a knock sounds on the front door. “That’s why.”

Her copper eyes widen, and I help her off the counter. My stomach twists as she looks up at me with a question in her gaze. She opens her mouth to say something, but I lean down and press my lips to hers. I plunge my fingers into her hair, and she pushes to her toes automatically.

This is exactly the distraction that will get her killed.

More pounding at the door spurs her into action, and she flees from the kitchen.

Chapter 27

Harmony

The constant ache between my legs is finally quenched, but now that I’ve felt his hands on me, I need more. I’m addicted.

Tell me you’ve only ever been mine.

Just thinking about his dirty talk makes me press my thighs together. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. I can almost still feel his arms still wrapped around me.

After what just happened in the kitchen, there’s no more denying his attraction for me. And no matter how much Elias has changed, he wouldn’t touch me without having some sort of feelings for me.

So, where does that leave us?

I reopen my eyes and find my brush. I yank it through my hair, and it snags on little knots—reminders of what just transpired. This will have to do. I head out of my room and poke my head around the corner. I spy Sully and Elias standing in the middle of the living room, speaking in hushed tones. Elias nods.

Elias looks over at me and my heart sinks. Any signs left that he just gave me a fantastic orgasm are all gone. He clenches his jaw and shakes his head at something Sully says.

“Is everything okay?”

Sully paces away from me but says nothing.

“Did you find out something?”

He stops moving but doesn’t meet my gaze. “After what happened last night, we all agreed that it’s best if you come stay with me.”

“Who is we?” I glance between the two men. Elias has the decency to look ashamed. “Why are people deciding things for me?”

Sully shifts from one foot to the other, and after a quick look at Elias, he says, “Elias feels he can’t concentrate on protecting you because of your developing … relationship.”

I laugh shrilly. “So he went to you about this relationship and not me.”

“I did tell you.” Elias takes a step toward me, and I raise a hand. He halts, and his body is suddenly rigid. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Please don’t be mad.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “How could you hand me off to someone else?” I strengthen my tone, praying he’ll listen. “Don’t make me go. I trust you a thousand percent to protect me.”

“I agree that she’s better off here with you but not if you can’t keep your head in the game,” Sully says, breaking us out of our staring contest. “I can’t move like I used to, and none of my men can come to Granite Falls, so she either needs to come to New York, or you need to pull your head out of your ass.”

Before Elias can launch another argument, I move to him, and cup his face. Lowering my voice so only he can hear, I say, “You’re the one I trust. If this is because of what just happened, then I promise to keep my hands to myself from now on.”

He grabs my hand, placing a gentle kiss on top. “But that’s just it. I want you to touch me. But I can’t go to bed with you every night and get lost in you.” He releases his grip, and my hand falls to my side. “How will I protect you if I do that?”

My phone trills. I check my watch, and Serenity’s name flashes on the screen. She definitely has to be a part of this scheme. But if she thinks she can convince me to go with Sully, she has another thing coming.

I answer the call. “Let me guess; you want me to go with Sully, too?”

“Yes, I do.” Her voice is more strained than usual. “You need to listen to us. Now.”

“Why? No one has tracked me here yet, so—”