Page 64 of Unburied

“I know,” she said as she tipped her head against his chest. “It's not that. It's just… with everything going on recently, I wondered…”

He wondered the same thing. He still hadn't heard anything from Tyler, though he had texted him twice more. For something to happen to Vivi in roughly the same period of time made him incredibly uneasy.

“Was there anything about the man that you recognized? His build, his voice?”

She gave her head a little shake. “I don't think so. It happened so fast, and all I could focus on was the gun.”

The reminder sent a ripple of fury through him, and he tightened his hold on her. “We're going to figure out what’s going on.”

If someone had indeed killed Russ and covered it up, then he was certain that he wouldn't like Tyler poking around. He’d dragged Vivi into it by proxy, putting her in danger, and he wouldn't stand for it. They were going to figure out what happened to Russ and who was responsible, then put this to rest once and for all.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FIVE

The first thing Vivi noticed when she woke up was the soreness. She let out a stifled groan as she stretched her legs, all the memories from last night flooding back in rapid succession.

“You okay?” Mason’s voice was thick and raspy with sleep, but she welcomed the way it wrapped around her as she snuggled back into him.

“Good.” She cleared her throat. “My body is just a little worn out from last night. I found muscles I didn't remember having before.”

Mason’s hand slipped from her hip and moved around her waist, pulling her even tighter to him. His lips landed on the back of her neck for a soft kiss before he spoke again. “I'm sorry you had to go through that. I promise I won't let it happen again.”

Vivi turned in his arms to face him. “It's not your fault.”

He gave a slight shake of his head, his mouth set in a hard line. “I don't care. You're mine, and I take responsibility for that. No one will have the chance to get close to you again.”

Vivi's heart thudded hard at his proclamation, and she had to fight the urge to melt into him. Dredging up every ounce of willpower, she focused on the alpha possessiveness of his statement. “I'm your responsibility?”

“Yes.” There was no remorse in his voice. “You're mine, and I'll always take care of you. And reverse. In a different way, you take care of me, give me everything I've never deserved.”

His words struck straight into her heart, and she couldn't help but wrap her arms around him and pull him down for a kiss. What she couldn't give physically, he did. And whatever he couldn't contribute emotionally, she made up for. She loved this man heart and soul, and she wanted all of him for the rest of her days.

She pulled back. “I'm not letting you go. You know that, right?”

A tiny smirk lifted his mouth. “No?”

“Nope.” She cuddled closer, sliding one leg between his. “You chased me until I finally gave in. Now you're stuck with me.”

“You know, that doesn't sound so bad,” he said as he rolled to his back and shifted her so she lay on top of him.

More than an hour later, Vivi pulled on the same tank top and jeans she’d worn to the bar last night. From his spot on the bed, Mason looked at her. “How would you feel about staying here with me for a while?”

She was certain his request had everything to do with what had happened last night, but there was a huge part of her that hoped it meant more. “Because it’s safer?”

He nodded slowly. “That… But also because I want you here. With me.”

Happiness unfurled in her chest at his admission. “Okay.”

He exhaled deeply, then grasped her hips and pulled her close for a kiss. “Thank you.”

He released her, and they finished dressing in silence. It felt strange in a way to not be able to stay in her own home, but she couldn't deny that she felt much more secure with Mason. He was taking no risks with her security, and she deeply appreciated it.

These were the kinds of things he and her brother were trained for, and she wasn't too proud to fight him. She’d seen all those B-rated horror films. She wasn't going to be the girl who discarded common sense in lieu of pride and got hacked up by the killer at the end.

She didn't know what the person was after, if it was intentional or a coincidence, but she wasn't about to let her guard down. Until they figured out what was going on, she was happy enough to follow Mason’s and her brother’s instructions. Surrounded by a dozen ex-military men, she knew she would be entirely safe at work. Since she didn’t have any clothes there, they decided to head to her house and grab enough to get her through the next week or so.

“I should really stop by and see Ellen,” she said as she stepped into her shoes. “Would you mind if we made a quick detour to Morningside?”