“Good.”
He threads his fingers through mine. We don’t talk; we don’t have to. He’s speaking to me through the soft look on his face. The gentle, reassuring touch of his thumb smoothing over the back of my hand.
I’m safe. I’m loved. I’m his.
“Baby?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me?”
Huffing a laugh under his breath, he leans over, his stubble scraping my chapped lips as his mouth molds to mine. It’s gentle at first, until I open for him, luring out his tongue. His palm cups my jaw, tilting my head back as he hovers over me.
“You don't have to be careful with me, you know. I’m not gonna break,” I whisper.
He grins. “I know.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. He means it. Weaving my fingers through his hair, I gaze into his eyes. Count the blonde tipped lashes framing them. A pink blush rises in his cheeks at my blatant perusal.
“What’re you looking at?”
“My knight in shining armor.”
His blush deepens.“I don’t think knights break explicit orders from law enforcement.”
My brows scrunch. “Orders?”
“Yeah, they told me not to go in, but there's no way I was just gonna sit in my car and wait.”
Now I’m really confused.
“How did you beat the police?”
"I might've…" He glances around nervously. “Followed you to make sure nothing bad happened— not because I didn’t trust you— I just had this bad feeling and I’m glad I did! She totally deserved that concussion.”
A disbelieving laugh gusts from me. “Wait, you stalked meandknocked Jessica out?”
He’s red as a tomato. “You're welcome.”
I snort. "Uh-huh."
“Shut up, creeper.”
“Oh no, I think you stole that title.”
My chest shakes with giggles as he fights a smile. “If you weren’t in a fucking hospital bed right now, I’d totally spank you.”
I feign a gasp. “You wouldn’t.”
“Would you rather a headbutt like the bitch?”
I throw my head back on a howl. His reluctant chuckle turns into a wheezing laugh.
“Please tell me there’s video evidence.”
“Nope.”
I’m in full hysterics imagining it. He attempts to silence me with a kiss, but it’s infectious. Soon, we’re laughing into each other’s mouths, eyes dewy with hilarity… and relief.
