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Chapter Seven
Emma closed her eyes and rested against Devon’s chest. She was startled when he stood with her in his arms.
“Where are we going?”
“To the bedroom,” he said.
The low timbre of his tone made her nipples bead into hard little points. Heat pooled low in her groin, and her panties got wet. She pressed her legs together to help ease the ache, but it just made it worse.
“Settle down, pet. You fell asleep again. I want you to take a nap.”
“No, I have too much to do.”
“We already talked about this,” he told her.
“I have to go back to my place.”
He laid her down and pulled the blankets up to her chest. “I’ll have someone get your things. Is there anything specific you want?”
“No, that’s not the point. There’s nothing personal or important there. Everything is from a dumpster, Goodwill, or given to me, but it’s all I have.”
He sat down beside her hip and rested his hand on the other side of her. “I’ll keep telling you, pet, until you hear me. You’re not going anywhere. You won’t need anything because I’ll take care of you, and you have nothing to fear.”
“Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.”
“I know how I feel.”
“But—”
“No, listen, honey. Do you feel okay being here with me?”
“Well, yes, but that doesn’t…”
“I love having you here, and I don’t want you to go.”
“But—”
Her stomach tightened when he placed his hand on her abdomen, searing her flesh beneath the shirt.
“Unless you tell me you don’t like being here or being with me, you’ll do what I say and let me protect you.”
“I…”
“Enough arguing. Sleep for a while. The more you rest, the quicker you’ll heal.”
She grabbed at his arm when he went to stand. “Wait. Can you stay until I go to sleep?”
Her eyes started to slide closed when he rubbed his thumb against her cheek.
“Yes, anytime you need me, you come to me or ask me for what you want. There is nothing I won’t try to give you.”
She grinned. “What about a pink pony?”
He laughed. “If that’s what you want, I’ll start looking.”
“No, all I want is you.”
He cupped her cheek. “You’ve already got me.”
Those four words went straight to her heart. God, if that were true, she’d be the happiest woman in the world.
He stood, walked around the bed, pulled off his shoes, and crawled in beside her.
She tried to roll closer to him but cried out when she bumped her arm.
“Baby, don’t move.” He slowly turned her on her side away from him and then curled his body around her. “Is this better?”
She grasped the arm he laid over her waist, nodded, and closed her eyes. “Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now try to get some rest.”
She thought she felt his lips touch the back of her head before she drifted off. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, and she hoped it would never end.
****
