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CHAPTER 7
PIPER
I feel a buzzing underneath my skin even though something has settled deep inside of me since Landon told me he loves me, and I returned the sentiment. It’s been a few weeks since then and I’ve been getting periodic threats even though no one will share them with me. Which, honestly, is for the best. I’ve had nightmares as it is, and I don’t need any more fodder for my subconscious.
It’s the weekend and this one, just like the last one, I’ve been stuck inside Landon’s place. I might love it here and find it feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve ever lived, but, at some point, I need to go outside. Right? At the very least, people need sunshine. I might be getting a lot of dick, but it’s not a replacement for vitamin D.
Yeah, even my mental jokes have devolved to the level of a frat boy.
This isn’t good.
I’m antsy and it feels like everything is closing in around me. I don’t know who much more of this I can take. I need to do something. I don’t even know what, but I feel like I’m going to lose it and I can only hope Landon won’t be in my line of fire when I do.
He’s already beating himself up enough over holding me at a distance for years. I don’t know what would happen to his fragile little heart if I blew up at him.
He might be a badass former SEAL who could kill someone with ease, but he’s so damn delicate it hurts sometimes. I think my love is shoring him up, but it’s hard to tell sometimes. He’s not the best at letting me in, even though I can tell he’s trying.
Landon presses his hand to my shoulder while I’m anxiously sitting on the couch in his living room, and I let out a yelp of surprise and whip around to look at him so fast I almost fall off the edge. His eyes are assessing as he looks at me. It’s an appraisal I can hardly stand right now because it pushes me even closer to my breaking point.
“Piper,” his voice is so damn gentle it causes tears to spring to my eyes.
I glance away and gnaw at my lip, unsure of whether I want to break down in tears or yell at him until I don’t have a voice anymore.
I know he’s trying to keep me safe. I know it. I do. I promise.
Knowing it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Get changed, Button,” there’s a command in his voice which has me looking up into his earnest eyes. “You’re going stir crazy and I’ve been too selfish to do anything about it because I love you being here so damn much, but that means I haven’t been taking care of you properly.”
“You’ve been taking great care of me,” I insist.
He shakes his head, his eyes turning fierce and hard. “I’ve kept you safe, that’s true, but I’ve also kept you from living your life and it’s going to end today.”
My voice is hesitant, “Are you saying you don’t want me here anymore?”
The thought of it, of not sleeping next to him with his warmth curled around me, of not hearing his morning voice in my ear telling me good morning, of not doing the domestic things which have made us closer recently, makes an ache grow inside of me.
“No,” he barks out making my eyes widen. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, moderating his voice better. “This is your home, Piper, that’s not what I’m saying at all, but we’re going to spend the day out of the house.”
The resolve in his voice chases away my insecurities and I find myself perking up, my voice hopeful, “Really?”
“Yeah, of course.” His shoulders tense for a moment, his voice soft, “Do you trust me to keep you safe?”
I jump up and move around the couch, wrapping my arms around his waist. I melt into him when he wraps his own around me and holds me tight. I murmur against his chest, “I trust you, Landon, with everything in me. I know you’ll keep me safe.” I peek up at him, resting my chin on his chest, “I love you.”
Landon presses his lips to my forehead before pulling away and turning me toward the bedroom where my clothes have mixed with his over the last few weeks. I wonder if he knows he’s going to have to pack up all my crap and take me back to my place if he wants me to leave. I don’t think I’ll have the strength to do it myself.
When I don’t move right away, too lost in thought of me never leaving, he gives my ass a slap to get me moving. The look I send over my shoulder is supposed to be a glare, but it’s nowhere close. His smirk is all I need to see to know my look is the farthest thing possible from annoyance; it’s want with a heaping side of ‘come and get me’.
When he doesn’t follow, I’m not sure if I should be relieved or a little put out. I figure it’s okay to be both. I pull a dress over my head, reveling in the summertime weather that’s not too hot yet. Then there’s the thought of putting on denim and considering the beard burn he left on my thighs after feasting on my pussy this morning, I’m going to pass.
After I slip on sandals, I’m almost bouncing on my toes as I go back to where Landon is waiting for me. I smile at him so big my cheeks hurt and he chuckles, the amused sound so damn deep it causes me to stutter a step before I get myself under control.
He arches an eyebrow at me from the look of awe on my face, “What?”
I close the distance between us, his eyes running down my body and making it heat a little more. As if the way his laugh wrapped around me and ignited every one of my nerve endings wasn’t enough. I wrap my arms around his neck, still a little surprised I get to do it in reality and not only my dreamscape.
“I like it when you laugh,” there’s honesty in my words and he blinks down at me.
