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Midas jerked back. He whipped around.
Alina stood on the porch. Her hands were behind her back. Her long hair blew lightly in the evening breeze. She watched him with her incredible, dark eyes.
“Don’t fuck it up, my friend,” Oliver cautioned. “And shut the door, would you? I’ve got places to be. Sadistic murderers to catch.”
Midas slammed the door. He didn’t look back when Oliver drove away. He was too busy staring at what waited in front of him.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Alina said as Midas closed in on her with lurching steps, “but this is where I want to be. Lane and Memphis let me in.”
He would send them both an awesome thank you basket. He climbed one step. Stopped. Just drank her in. She stared back at him, and, no, Alina didn’t look at him like he was some kind of monster.
But like I told the detectives, some monsters hide—
“If someone tried to hurt you, Midas, if someone tried to kill you, I’d do whatever it took to keep you safe.” Her words were clear. Strong. “If that meant ending someone else’s life in order to protect you, I’d do it.”
He climbed another step. His hands reached out. Curled around her. He tugged her closer. Held her.
“I told the cops you saved me. That’s exactly what you did. You’re my hero. Like I’ve been telling you all along—you’re my personal guardian angel.”
His eyes squeezed closed. “I do not deserve you.”
“I think you do. I think you’ve had enough pain and horror, and I think we both deserve to let all of that go.” Her fingers brushed over his jaw. Seemed to linger over one of the scars he tried so hard to hide with his beard. “I think it’s time we start dreaming, Midas.”
His eyes opened. “You’re in every dream I have.” She was his dream. The only thing that mattered.
Her smile bloomed. The high-voltage smile that stole his breath and made him want to slay dragons.
Only, they had slayed the dragons. The bad guys were dead or in jail. She was safe.
“I love you, Midas,” Alina told him. Beautiful, perfect words.
“I’d rip the world apart for you,” he told her. Grim, growling words.
But she knew what he meant. Knew he loved her. He could see it.
And she sees me when Alina looks into my eyes. Oliver had been right. She didn’t see a monster. Even if he was one.
She saw her protector. He would protect her. This day. Always. He’d fight. Kill. Destroy. As long as Alina was safe.
He swept her into his arms. The warm sound of her laughter eased the ache in his heart. They’d both lost too much. It was time to build a new life. Good memories. They’d make those. Over and over again. They’d get started right now. He carried her back into the house. Paused long enough to lock the door because…
You can’t be too careful. Not when you have something so valuable to protect.
He took her to the bedroom. Lowered her onto the bed. Stripped her slowly. Kissed her neck. Her precious, beautiful neck. His lips skimmed over her collarbone. Then down, down he went.
His fingers teased her nipples. Then his mouth took them. First one. Then the other. Control wasn’t an issue. He wasn’t rushed or frenzied. This time was different for him.
Midas wanted to worship every single inch of her.
I almost lost her.
Never again.
Never.
He licked her nipples until she moaned and writhed beneath him. His fingers darted between her legs to seek out the sweetness that he craved so desperately. He kissed a path over her stomach. Then he spread her legs wide.
He feasted.
