“Well no, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome. Shit, the eggs!” I spun to stir the crackling eggs in the pan.
He gave me a moment to plate them and to grab a banana before he spoke again. “I like having you here.”
His quiet declaration had my heart skipping a beat. I set my plate down and eyed him nervously. “I just got here, Travis, and all I did was come in and go straight to bed. You don’t know what you’re signing up for. I can be super messy,” I warned, ignoring how his eyes lit with humor at my declaration. “You seem like a bit of a neat freak,” I rambled, looking around his pristine house. “Able can be annoying. And if I stayed, Buster would have to come too. I don’t know how he’d do in a new place,” I fretted. “And, did I mention I’m kind of messy?”
He pulled me close, the deep rumble of his chuckle reverberating off my cheek. “You’re so damn cute.” He pulled back to meet my eyes. “I don’t give a fuck if you’re messy. And I like Able.” He shot the mutt in question a warm smile as he sat at our feet. “Buster will be fine. I want you to stay. Please?”
I looked up at his handsome face, considering his offer. “Okay,” I agreed softly. “But I have a few conditions,” I added, trying to sound stern.
His face split into a gorgeous smile as he nodded for me to continue.
“I’ll need to go and get more of my things, along with Buster. And I’ll need my car. I don’t plan on changing my schedule. Come Monday, I’m sure I’ll feel well enough to go to work.” I took a deep breath. “And, if it gets too annoying having me here, I need you to tell me.”
He reached out, cupping my cheek tenderly. “That’s not going to happen, but okay,” he agreed with a soft smile. “Now, I have a few conditions of my own.”
I eyed him curiously.
“I want you to set the alarm when you’re here alone. I’ll show you how to use it. I don’t want you out at night by yourself—for now,” he clarified when he saw my eyes grow wide. “In general, I want you to be vigilant. Don’t put yourself in situations where you could be vulnerable. Empty parking garages, walking to your car by yourself. Call me, and I’ll come get you. I have no reason to think I need a man on you full-time, but if I change my mind for any reason, I need you to get on board.”
The clear concern in his voice had my heart warming. I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Okay,” I agreed.
“I mean it, Em,” he warned.
“I know.” I nodded sincerely, my eyes dipping to his full lips and locking there. I considered making the first move, but before I could work up the nerve, his mouth was on mine.
He took my mouth in a soft, slow caress, igniting an inner flame I hadn’t known existed before him. He pulled me close, letting out a delicious groan as I pressed against his hardness. The fact that I turned him on was a heady realization.
We stood wrapped up in each other before a throat cleared from the doorway. We broke apart, but Travis kept me close as he turned to look at Declan.
“Sorry, boss. Need you to check something out.”
Travis nodded. “Be right there.” He looked down to me. “I want you to eat something and take your pain pills.” His eyes drifted to the bruise at my neck, and narrowed slightly. “I’ll take you over to your place in a few hours, and we can stop at the store.”
“Okay,” I agreed, still breathless from our kiss.
With one final touch to my lips, he left the room, headed back to his command center, as I decided I’d call it from now on.
I watched him go, floored by the turn of events.
****
“Tired?” Travis asked early that evening as I sat curled up on the sofa. We’d stopped at the grocery store and had been to my place to collect my things, the noisiest of which was Buster, who was currently locked upstairs much to his very loud dismay.
“A little,” I admitted.
He sat next to me, moving my legs into his lap. “How about I barbeque tonight?”
“That sounds good,” I agreed. “I can make a salad.”
“I want you to relax.” He shook his head definitively. “I’ll take care of it. I would take you out, but I think you should take it easy.”
I blushed, pleased. “Okay. I’m going to go up and spend some time with Buster. Maybe he’ll shut up.” I winced at the continued yowling upstairs.
“Able and I will hold down the fort.” Travis nodded, giving Able an affectionate pat.
I headed upstairs to Travis’s room, where he’d insisted I put Buster. I wasn’t clear on what the sleeping arrangements would be and hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask.
“Clearly, you’re thrilled,” I muttered to Buster when I entered the room. I crawled up onto Travis’s massive bed, and he immediately hopped up to join me. I scratched his head as his deep rumble of a purr kicked into high gear.
