Page 196 of A Matter of Time

My head snapped up, and I realized I’d been daydreaming about us in bed.

“I’m gonna grab you if you don’t hurry the fuck up,” he threatened me, his brows furrowing. “It’s freezing out here, J.”

I tried not to smile as I used the crutches, my foot no longer touching the ground as I hobbled on.

“I hope you have something to eat up there, because I’m starving.”

“I don’t, actually. Why don’t you run and get some Cuban food and meet me upstairs. Gimme the bag.”

He snorted out a laugh. “Yeah, right, like you can use crutches and carry a bag. I’ll meet you up there. Whaddya want?”

“Just rice and some chicken is good.”

“Okay,” he said, leaning forward, kissing my forehead before he left.

At the stairs I realized that Sam carrying me was probably the best-case scenario. It looked like Everest instead of the two flights it was. I was resting at the top of the first flight when I heard Sam whistling behind me.

“Need help yet?”

“Screw you, Kage.”

He walked around in front of me, dropped his shoulder, and threw me over his back.

“Sam!” I complained as he did what he always did and slapped my ass hard. “Put me down. The blood is rushing to⁠—”

“Nope.” He bounced me on his shoulder to prove his dominance, carrying me and my crutches up the next flight of stairs. When he deposited me in front of my door, I immediately reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck to draw him down to me for a kiss that he immediately deepened, having his way with me, completely in control. I knew he loved that I was submissive, intoxicated with wielding his power over me. It was the role he understood and why we fit together so well; the essential makeup of the man I would never ask to change. He was the dominant partner, the alpha male, and I was his mate, simple as that.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“Where’s my food?” I teased him, hugging him tight.

He clutched me close, one hand in my hair, holding me against him, the other running up and down my back. The contented sigh was long, like he could finally breathe.

“The place is closed on Sundays. We’ll have to scrounge up some food. I’ll cook you something.”

I grunted and he pinched my ass.

“Open the door.”

When the door swung open, it took me a minute to realize what I was looking at. I had only ever seen an apartment ransacked in movies. I’d never imagined what it would look like in real life.

“Oh shit,” Sam breathed, and his gun was in his hand before I was even aware that he was carrying one. “Stay here while I check the rest of it, J.”

“No, just—” I reached for him but he slipped into the dark apartment and down the short hall to my bedroom. I leaned inside and flipped on the lights, illuminating the living room and kitchen as he came out, replacing the gun in the holster under his leather jacket. Funny that it had taken him only seconds to check the entire apartment; there was no getting around the fact that it was small.

“It’s all clear,” he told me. “Whoever was here is long gone.”

I nodded, shivering hard.

He wrapped me up in his arms and pressed me against his big, hard body. “It’s okay, baby, you just won’t be staying here. Let’s get your stuff packed up, okay?”

“No, Sam, I can’t just let somebody scare me out of my⁠—”

“Oh yes you can.” He tipped my chin up so he could look down into my eyes. “I won’t allow you to be here. It’s not an option. Besides, I would’ve been moving you in tomorrow anyway. I don’t plan to sleep without you again. Ever.”

“But, Sam, it’s too soon. We need time to⁠—”

“No, we don’t, J. You aren’t gettin’ any time, so do whatever you hafta do in your head, ’cause you live with me starting now.”