Page 148 of A Little Jaded
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“It’s a shame I’m a selfish brother, huh?”
My brows bunch. “Oh?”
“Yeah. Sorry, Stormie, but I think I want to keep you for myself.”
“Sounds a little controlling, if you ask me.”
“Never claimed to be a saint.”
“Just a well-hung, and sometimes grumpy, hockey player with a hero complex,” I counter. “Who can cook.”
He tilts his head and considers my description while trying to hold back his amusement. “Grumpy?”
“I mean…I also said well-hung.”
He snorts. “At least I have something going for me.”
“You have a lot going for you, Everett Taylor,” I murmur. “And I mean like…a lot.” My hands find his cheeks. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Stormie.”
“You want to know the crazy thing about last night?” A glassy sheen hits my eyes before I blink it away. “I was scared. I was,” I admit, “I was scared. But…I don’t know. I think a part of me knew you’d come. A part of me knew you’d fix it. Fix the situation. Fix whatever Drake managed to break while I was alone with him. Fix…me. I knew I’d be fine because I knew you’d be there.” I suck my lips between my teeth and sniff. “Thank you. For always being here.”
“You couldn’t get rid of me, even if you tried, Raine Anders.” He leans closer and kisses a tear away as it slips down my cheek. “Although, I do have a confession.”
“What is it?”
“I had Dodger come stay with you last night.”
I frown. “Was he the one who moved me to your bed, or were you?”
“Me.”
I nod slowly, connecting the pieces. “I assume that’s when the knuckle damage came into play. Am I right?”
“I went after Drake.”
My stomach bottoms out, and I let my head fall forward, resting it against his sternum. “Ev?—”
“I know you didn’t want me to, but I also can’t lie to you. I needed to make sure he never bothered you again.”
“What did you do?”
“Beat the shit out of him until he promised to confess to everything he put you through.” He reaches for me and cups the side of my face again, his expression sobering. “I want you to know I will never hurt you, but I will protect you no matter the cost. Even if you hate me for it. Do you understand?”
I nod.
“That’s my girl.” He rubs his thumb along my cheekbone. “The question is…do you hate me for it?”
It’s a good question, and I’m not going to lie. Part of me wants to. To hate him for putting himself in a dangerous position like this. Drake could’ve hurt him. He could’ve been in trouble with the cops. He could still be in trouble with the cops. But I understand it. His need to keep me safe. It’s the same way I’d walk through fire for him if the occasion called for it. And apparently, from his perspective, this occasion called for it. For him to walk through fire for me. And even though part of me wants to be pissed, I’m not. I can’t be.
I shake my head. “I don’t hate you, Ev. When I said I trust you, I meant it. If this was the best way for you to handle it, I believe you. You aren’t stupid. Stubborn,” I clarify, “but not stupid, unlike Dodge, who probably would’ve killed the guy.”
As if my words are a balm to his soul, he bends forward and kisses me, making me melt against him.
“Fuck, I love you,” he mutters against my lips.