Page 141 of A Little Jaded
I can’t believe I almost lost her. Can’t believe the police aren’t protecting her. Can’t believe Drake could get away with this without––
“You okay?” Raine whispers.
I shake my head, causing her flyaways to tickle the underside of my jaw. “What?”
With a quiet laugh, she wiggles in my grasp, stealing a bit more room but not moving away from me completely. I don’t know if it’s for her benefit or mine, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
Peeking up at me, she smiles. “I asked if you’re okay.”
“I’ve been better,” I grunt. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, Ev. Promise.”
“Not gonna let you out of my sight.”
“Or arms, apparently,” she teases.
“Not sure how you find this funny.”
“I don’t,” she admits. “But when I have the option to laugh or cry, I’m gonna go with laugh.” She sits up a little more and cups the side of my face. “Thanks for saving me today.”
“Not sure tonight counts as saving,” I mutter. “He got away, remember?”
“They’re going to find him.”
My muscles jump with the same fucking tension as before. “Not gonna leave this up to them.”
Pushing herself away from me, she brings her knees to her chest and rests her chin on them. “What are you saying?”
“Do you trust me, Stormie?”
She hesitates, staring fucking through me as if she has the power to read my thoughts. My intentions. My plan and everything I have in store for Drake Haitt. It’s better she doesn’t know, though. If she did, there’s not a chance in hell she’d let me out of her sight, let alone this house.
“Are you going to do something stupid, Everett?”
I don’t want to lie to her, so I kiss the top of her head again and tug her into my side. “Get some rest.”
“I don’t want to rest.”
“And what do you want?” I ask.
She sits up again, tosses her leg over my waist, and straddles me. “I want to erase…” Her fingers slide into my hair and frame both sides of my head, urging me to touch my chin to my chest. When I do, she presses her lips between my brows. “This.”
“This?” I repeat.
Running her thumb above the bridge of my nose, she smiles. “This.” She kisses the spot again. “The little worry wrinkle you’re sporting.” Her lips find it again. “I want to erase it.”
A gruff chuckle rumbles through my chest, and I wrap my arms around her waist. “Hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not sure it’s going anywhere. Not any time soon.”
“Not anytime soon, huh?” she challenges.
I sober and grab the outside of her thighs. “Not until I know you’re safe.”
“Well,” her pink tongue darts out between her lips, “since we’re here, and your arms are wrapped around me,andI’m straddling your very rigid cock,andthere isn’t anyone herebut me and you, I’d say I’m pretty safe, don’t you?” She slowly scrapes her fingertips against my scalp, massaging my head and making my dick jump at the attention. When she feels it, her mouth lifts. “I think you should kiss me now.”
Lifting my chin, I move slowly and do exactly that, melding my mouth with hers. Tasting her. Convincing myself she’s safe. She’s here. He didn’t break her. The reminder makes my hands dig into her silky skin, and I deepen the kiss. I’d give anything to erase every touch. Every minute they ever shared, knowing he didn’t deserve any of them. Not one. Single. Moment.
She drags her fingers through my hair, tugging on the roots with enough force to bring me back to the present. To me and her. Without our ghosts or our demons. Only our hands and our mouths and our bodies.