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"Ms. Wright," one of the officers starts. "I understand this man is your ex-husband?" he asks, pointing to Joseph.
I nod, looking at him briefly before turning my attention back to the officer. "Yes. We got divorced three years ago after he…" I blow out a breath and steel my resolve. "After he beat me. I have a restraining order, and I would like to press charges for that incident if that's still an option. I-I have pictures of my injuries in a locked folder on my phone, if that helps. I wasn’t going to do anything with them, but my instinct was to have a backup plan, you know?”
I’m rambling and trembling, but finally stop to take a breath and slow down. I don’t want to come off as some crazy chick, though I think the boat might have sailed on that one.
“Your instincts were spot on,” the officer says, giving me a soft smile. “You can come down to the station when you’re ready to press charges.”
I feel more than see Drake stepping up next to me. My entire body goes still, unsure of what he thinks of me after everything he had to endure today. When he wraps an arm around my waist and tucks me into his side, all of my worries fade away, leaving only me and him.
I sink against him, letting this strong, capable, protective man hold me up as I speak to the officer and give him my story. Drake is silent the whole time, letting his presence be enough.
The officers agree to have me come down to the station tomorrow since I still have my son here. We'll file the paperwork then, and hopefully, get my ex locked away for a while. I know he won't be in jail forever, but I'm surprisingly not worried about it. I know Drake will always protect what's his, and that's exactly what Carson and I are. We're his, and he's ours.
Once we're alone, I turn and wrap my arms around Drake, squeezing him tightly. He wraps me up in his embrace and rocks me back and forth, pressing his lips to the top of my head and breathing me in as if I'm calming him down instead of the other way around.
"I'm so sorry," I whisper.
Drake peels me off of his chest, cupping the side of my face while his other hand stays on the small of my back, keeping me close to him. I close my eyes, unsure of what his reaction is going to be.
"Look at me, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice low and soft, blanketing me in safety. I have no choice but to open my eyes. "Hear me when I say none of this is your fault. Not one single thing. I'm just glad it was me who came here today. God, I can't even imagine if something happened to either one of you…"
The pain in his eyes breaks me. I get up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his, reassuring him that I'm right here. Drake holds me close and kisses me right back, slowly at first, almost gently. But the kiss turns desperate, both of us needing more, needing each other, needing this moment.
Eventually, we pull apart, but Drake only crushes me into his chest, apparently not willing to let me go just yet. I'm not complaining.
"I can't thank you enough, Drake," I mumble, my words muffled by his coat.
"You never have to thank me for taking care of you. It's my duty, my fucking privilege to protect you and Carson. And that's not a responsibility I take lightly. I think the best way I can take care of my family tonight is to have you both stay with me. Or I can stay at your place, but God, I can't imagine leaving either of you for the night, or possibly forever."
"I think I'd like that," I say, tipping my head back to look up at him.
"Thank fuck," he breathes out, making me smile. He really does want us in his life. "Damn right, I do." I blush, not realizing I said that out loud. "Now, let's go get Carson. I think we've all earned pizza tonight, don't you?"
"Yes, please."
We collect Carson, who is beyond excited to see Drake. It warms my heart. I feel the last of my worry and guilt drain from me as Drake loads Carson up into his car, which he insisted we take. I didn't protest. He's right, I'm not in the right state of mind to be driving.
Two hours later, Carson is tucked into the guest bedroom at Drake's house, sound asleep. Drake offered to come over to my little cottage, but I could tell he would rather have us at his place. Truthfully, even though I know Joseph is in jail at least for the night, I knew I would feel safer at Drake's.
"What are you thinking about?" he asks, handing me a cup of hot chocolate before joining me on the couch.
"Just how thankful I am for you. I didn't know people like you existed," I tell him truthfully.
"People like me?"
"Perfect," I say with a smile.
He chuckles, the sound traveling through me and warming me up more than the hot chocolate I'm sipping on. "I'm not perfect, Melissa, but I'm trying real damn hard to be everything you need."
His words bring tears to my eyes. Instead of saying anything, I just nod my head. Drake gives me a soft smile full of so much love it makes my chest ache. He surprises me by lifting my legs up and stretching them out so my feet are on his lap. I twist in my seat, resting back against the arm of the couch while he proceeds to rub my feet.
"This is all I've wanted to do since the moment I saw you," he murmurs.
"Rub my feet?" I ask with a laugh.
"Rub your feet while you drink hot chocolate," he clarifies.
"Really?"
