Page 70 of Let Me Protect You

“I’m not sure I’m following.”

I look down at my hands, still swirling my thumbs, and he places his fingers under my chin, drawing my gaze back to him. “He’s my father.”

Elias’s dark brown eyes widen. “I swear he never said a word to me.” He rubs his chin. “But I suppose it makes sense why he moved to the city after you and paid for your protection. He’s never done that before.”

“I’ve been robbed of having a father.” A treacherous tear escapes, and I try to swipe it away before he notices, but he doesn’t miss a thing.

He rubs both of his thumbs under my eyes. “Try not to think of it that way. You gained a father, and now you two can spend more time together.”

I nod, sniffling. “I suppose you’re right.”

Elias pretends to think for a moment. “I’m always right.”

A laugh bursts free from my lips. Even during my hardest moments, he knows how to make me laugh, to make me feel lighter. And he claimed he wasn’t the same sweet guy from before. I step into him and wrap my arms around his neck, the movement feeling so natural. He immediately winds his arms around my waist. The warmth from his body surrounds me, and I soak it in.

Our clothes are our only barrier. But we still aren’t close enough. “I guess if you’re always right, you don’t need me here to soothe your ego.”

“I’ll always need you here.”

The way his words rumble out of his chest, vibrating against me has me twining my fingers through his hair and tugging.

“Where?” I kiss down his neck and untuck his button-down shirt, needing to quiet my mind for a little bit. He lifts it over his head for me as I undo the clasp to his slacks, and I slip my hand inside, wrapping my fingers around his already hard cock. “Here?”

He draws in a ragged breath. “I always—fuck.”

His words break off as I stroke him. I start off slowly until his head tips back, and then I drop down on my knees. The moment I wrap my lips around his cock, he hisses out a breath. I pump him as I take him so deep in my throat that my gag reflex activates.

I look up at him. My vision is blurry from the tears forming in my eyes. The lean muscles in his torso flex and unflex as I continue to work him. I move my hands in tandem with my mouth, increasing my pace. A groan rumbles out of him.

“Fuck. Let me make love to you in my bed.”

I haven’t even seen inside his bedroom yet. He picks me up smoothly, but he flinches. My eyes immediately search out his mostly healed wound. A scar raises his skin.

“I can walk.”

“Hell, no.”

He strides to his room with me still in his arms. He places my feet on the floor and turns me around to unzip my dress. The silky fabric falls to the floor in a heap, revealing the red bra that drove him wild back at the hotel. “You’re so beautiful, Harmony.” He takes in my lingerie and says, “Fuck, you wore that today to bury yourself under my skin, didn’t you?”

I nod, unable to speak.

“I want to hear you say it.”

Taking a big gulp, I say, “I wore it for you.”

“Good girl. Now, take it off for me.”

My heart pounds wildly. Even though he’s already seen me naked, I can’t help but feel a sudden shyness. Maybe it’s because this … us … now we’re official, and he wants to make love.

He doesn’t say anything. He patiently waits as I reach behind my back and undo the clasp with one hand. My bra falls to the floor, and Elias’s breathing turns shallow. His reaction empowers me, and I slip off my matching panties.

Elias prowls over to me and guides me on to the bed. I land on my back, and he hovers over me, his gaze taking me in again. He dips his head down and takes one nipple into his mouth as his hand comes up and plays with the other, flicking it, punishing it for being hidden behind my sexy lingerie. His breath dances along my skin, and I shiver.

“Please, Elias, I … I need more.” My words come out breathy. “I need you to fuck me.”

“Not yet.” He kisses a trail down my chest and spreads my legs. “I want to make you feel good first.”

I writhe beneath him, so desperate that my core aches for him. He sinks to his knees on the floor and splays my thighs even further, pulling me toward his face. His mouth goes to work with a ferocious hunger as if he hasn’t eaten in a month and only my pussy can satisfy him. My hips buck off the bed as he licks me.