Page 70 of Hot Zone

“Me? Why me?”

“Because, Kitten, you matter to me. If this guy wanted to hurt me, there’s nothing he could do that would be more effective than to go after you.”

Oh. Wow.That was both terrifying and the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. I was sure I’d be scared here in a minute, but for right now, I was just basking in the fact that he cared that much.

I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Okay, so what do we do?”

“Hawk is going to provide someone to keep an eye on you when you aren’t with me. Just until we figure out who this guy is.”

“While I’m at work?” I asked.

“Anytime you aren’t home with me, just to be safe.”

I thought about that for a second. It would be uncomfortable having someone around all the time, but if being uncomfortable for a while gave Samuel peace of mind, I could put up with it.

“Okay. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

He reached for me and pulled me close. “Thank you, Kitten.”

“No, thank you, Daddy, for taking care of me. Is there anything else I can do that would help?”

“You could unpack all that stuff in the garage so I can park there.”

“But that’s for my new place.”

“Exactly, so unpack it all and make this your place.”

“But—” There was no way he was saying what I thought he was saying.

“But what?”

“You want me to stay here with you? Like, stay here, stay here?”

“Yes, Kitten. I want you to unpack all the stuff in the garage and put it wherever you want. Move your clothes from Steven’s old room into ours and stay with me. Make my home your home.”

I could barely breathe, much less respond. He was watching me, waiting for me to say something, but instead of words, I just launched myself across the couch and into his lap.

He wrapped his arms tight around me and chuckled. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

I snuggled in against him. “It would’ve been if you’d asked me.”

His chuckle turned into a laugh. “I told you I was bossy, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

He kissed me on the forehead and said, “Okay, so here you go. Will you stay here with me, Kitten?”

“Yes, Daddy, I’ll stay here with you.”

“Well, I think that calls for a celebration,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows in a ridiculous way that made me chuckle. He stood up, taking me with him, a playful grin lighting up his face. “You may think I’m joking, but I’m not. Let me show you just how serious I am about this celebration.”

“We should move to the bed then,” I said between kisses.

“That sounds like a very good idea.” He let go of me, letting me slide to the ground, and maneuvered me in that direction as we kissed, neither willing to stop touching the other.

When we crossed the threshold to the bedroom, I froze. Everything we had done together had been fabulous, but if I was going to stay here with him—if this thing between us was real—I wanted more.

He looked down at me, his concern warring with his need. “What is it, boy? Tell Daddy what you want.”