Page 60 of Her Devoted HERO

“I don’t know how to respond,” she whispered quietly.

“Oh Poppy, I’m not looking for any particular response.” He brushed back the hair from her temple, loving how she leaned into his touch.

“Dex, can I be honest?”

“Always.”

“Um.” She licked her lips, all teasing gone, she looked nervous.

“Kenna, what is it?”

She took a deep breath. “Look, I’m just a dumbass okay? I should have just got right back on the horse, you know? Jaden was awful. I let him fuck with my head. I think I had offers.” Her fingers trembled as she touched her neck. “No, I mean, of course, I had opportunities.” She took another deep breath and pushed against him, struggling to get out of his lap.

He kept her in place. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Let me up. What I have to say is stupid enough, without saying it while in some man’s lap.”

“First, you’re not on some man’s lap. You’re in my arms. And sweetheart, let me see if I can make the second part easy. You’re picky, and it’s been a while, right?”

She stopped squirming and looked up at him.

“Oh, let’s just call this out. I’m not picky, I’m neurotic. If I were a normal woman, I would have had a lover since Jaden. I haven’t, okay? I’m coming up on my ten-year anniversary of celibacy. Do you really want to have a relationship with somebody that crazy?” This time when she pushed against him, her hand hit his crotch. She turned bright red.

“Seeing as how you just tested my level of interest, I think it’s safe to assume I want a relationship.” Dex smiled.

“Umm.”

“But Sweetheart, it’s more than that, okay? I want more than just sex. I want your time. Your smiles. Your neurosis. I want to really get to know your son. Your mom. I want to know what you like to order at an Italian restaurant. I want to know what your favorite movie is. What you wear to bed at night. I want to know why in the hell you would think that you’re crazy when you’ve done nothing but protect yourself from being hurt again. But what I really want to know is if you will trust me with a little piece of your heart.”

Her eyes welled up with tears. “Oh God, that’s beautiful.”

“No, you’re beautiful.”

She sucked in a deep breath.

“Will you come upstairs with me?” he asked.

She nodded.

He stood up with her still in his arms.

“You’re going to carry me?” she whispered.

“I’m sure as hell not giving you a chance to get away.”

Her soft laugh tinkled like bells. It also told him that she was with him.

Thank God!

Soon they were in the room that he had commandeered. Kenna was clutching his neck so tightly he thought he might lose circulation. When he looked into her sweet face, he could see panic laced with determination. That was his woman. No matter her fears, she would never back down, but that wasn’t he wanted for them. For her.

Dex kicked the door closed with his foot, then went to the bed and sat down with her in his lap.

“Lasagna.”

“Huh?” he queried.

“I always order lasagna. With meat sauce. I wear Navy T-shirts to bed with comfy shorts.”