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Only a steady, protective gaze that remained as he scooped me up in his arms and headed back into his room. He sank into the leather recliner next to his bed and cradled my body close as I snuggled into his embrace.
We didn’t move or say a word for so long that I began to wonder what he was thinking. Tilting my head up, I gazed into those dark blue eyes that seemed as haunted as my own.
“Why?”
“It’s an easy answer, sunshine.” He lifted his hand and almost touched my face but dropped it instead. “You need protection and rest. You need to know that you’re not alone. Sure, your sister is here for you and that’s important, but fuck, Naomi,” he paused as my eyes widened at the use of my real name. “You need to know that not all men are monsters. Some of us can be trusted. We aren’t all assholes looking to steal something from you.”
“Patriot,” I whispered, sniffling as the tears threatened to fall again. “What’s your real name?”
“Dale Leonard Dixon.” He smirked. “I used to hate the fuck out of that name when I was kid.”
I held out my hand and he reached for it as I shook it lightly. “I’m Naomi Lyla Peters but my family calls me Mimi. You can too if you want.”
“Mimi,” he agreed. “Only if I still get to call you sunshine too.”
“Sure.” Biting my lip, I couldn’t resist my curiosity. “Why? I’m hardly the bubbly type.”
“You’re so curious,” he teased, bumping the end of my nose with the tip of his finger. “Your eyes are like a clear summer sky and your smile, what little of it I’ve seen, is a radiant beam of sunshine. Bright enough to shine through the darkest of nights. So, yeah, I think it fits.”
I couldn’t resist a small smile in response, and he grinned wide, holding me closer as I lay my head down on his shoulder.
“You know what else?”
“Nope,” I answered honestly.
“You keep my own monsters at bay,” he replied softly. “I haven’t experienced that before, not with anyone else. Your presence forced my nightmares away. You’re like magic.”
A light giggle left my throat and it was so shocking, I stiffened slightly. When was the last time that I laughed? “You’ve only slept next to me one night.”
“Technically two,” he contradicted, “but I think it’s gonna remain true.”
“You were a Marine, right?”
“Once a Marine, always a Marine.” His hand lifted and he stroked down the side of my cheek with one finger and then stopped, dropping his hand fast as he realized what he was doing. “Yeah, to answer your question.”
“That means you’re trained to protect and serve. I understand how you feel obligated right now ––”
“It’s not obligation, sunshine.” He cut me off, tilting my chin up. “It’s instinct. And I didn’t have to keep you here, but I wanted to,” he continued, “because something about you calls to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Something in here,” he pointed to his chest and his head, “feels a pull toward you and I can’t ignore that.”
“You’re really complicated and unpredictable,” I decided aloud. “I’ve never had anyone talk to me the way you do.”
He shrugged. “I don’t play games or waste time. Just who I am.”
“Maybe you just like puzzles.”
He laughed lightly. “Maybe. I was awfully good at them as a kid.”
Searching his eyes, I swallowed hard. “If something happens to me, look after Nylah. She’s not as strong as I am.”
He flinched like I had slapped him. “Don’t say stuff like that.”
“Promise me.” I touched his cheek with a super light caress. It wasn’t sexual. I’d say it was more exploratory. I hadn’t felt gentleness in so long that a part of me craved the interaction. At the same time, I was terrified.
Patriot caught my hand as I was about to pull away. “It’s okay. Touch me.”
