Page 109

The look on his face was now softer. And she practically raced over, banging into him and sending him flying backwards onto the mattress with her sprawled on top of his chest.

“Sorry,” she breathed out.

He chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. “I can always count on you to make me smile.”

“You should have told me about the meeting before now, Kent,” she said seriously.

He sat up, settled her on his lap. “You’re right,” he replied surprising her. “I was trying to protect you.”

“I know you were. You always protect me. But there are some things I need to do or know about. You can’t shelter me from everything.”

“I can try,” he muttered.

“Kent,” she said cajoling. “I love being your Little and your sub, but that doesn’t mean I want to be completely shut off from the rest of the world. It doesn’t mean I need you to solve all of my problems.”

“You’re out of your depth with this one.”

“I know I am. Which is why I’m lucky to have you. I still want to go. I’ll do exactly what you say. I just, I’d be a mess worrying about you.”

He huffed a breath. “Who knew you could be so stubborn?” He didn’t sound happy but she got the feeling she was winning.

“All right, you can come. But before you get excited, you won’t be leaving the truck. You’ll have a bodyguard the entire time. You will do exactly as they say, because they’re going to have my permission to do whatever it takes to keep you safe, understand?”

She understood it was as good as she was going to get. “All right.”

She glanced around at the group gathered in what they called the command room. It basically looked like a meeting room in any generic building. There were about a dozen desks and chairs, as well as a projector mounted to the ceiling.

Or it would have seemed like any other meeting room, if not for the group of badasses filling it. She stared at them, totally floored. It was like they sucked all the air from the room with their manliness. There were only four of them plus Kent, but it felt like there were way more.

She recognized Zeke but she hadn’t met the other three men. One had very dark hair with hints of silver, a body that was thick with muscle and had an intense focus about him that made you wonder what would happen if he ever aimed that focus on you.

She shivered at the thought.

Yikes.

But if she’d thought that guy was big, the next one had him beat and then some. He towered over the others, his biceps had to be thicker than her thighs and that was saying something. His hair was closely shaved.

The last guy was the only one who had glanced her way when she’d walked in with Kent. He had a surfer vibe about him. Blond hair, blue eyes, deep tan. Not as muscular as the other guys, she had a feeling that didn’t make him less dangerous.

The door opened and she turned to see Clint walk in. Beside him, surprisingly, was Charlie. She was carrying a small paper bag in one hand. She stilled like Abby had done when she’d first entered and gazed around with her mouth slightly open.

“Whoa, it’s testosterone city in here.” She waved her hand in front of her face while Clint gave her a firm look.

“Don’t worry, cowboy, they have nothing on you.” Charlie patted his arm.

“You guys ready?” Clint asked. “Thought Abby could come back to our place.”

“Shit,” Kent swore. “Forgot to call you. Abby is coming now.”

Every male pair of eyes turned to her. She gulped and felt her legs weaken at the disapproving glares she was getting.

“Girl, how are you still standing?” Charlie whispered. “That’s a whole lot of manly disapproval right there.”

She nodded. It was.

Clint’s scowl was the worst in her opinion. “She’s what?”

“She’s coming,” Kent said grimly.