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She needed that warmth.
“I’m going to kill that bastard. When I find out what he did and who he is, I’m going to murder him.”
Thank God he was never likely to run into Steven.
Because she knew that he meant every word. And that kind of scared her to death.
18
Hannah ran the vacuum up and down the carpet. This carpet really had seen better days. She didn’t even want to know what half of these stains were.
Raid had headed out to the shop. Apparently, he wanted some snacks. Like there wasn’t enough food in the house. The man was a bottomless pit. She guessed that run this morning made him hungry.
While he was out, Hannah had decided to make herself useful. She was getting tired of feeling like she was going nowhere. A hamster stuck on a wheel.
Running and running, but never reaching a destination.
She was due back at work tomorrow, so she might as well get some cleaning down now.
Suddenly, the vacuum stopped. She spun around to see Raid glowering at her, holding the plug up with one hand.
“Hey! I was using that! What do you think you are doing? And how come you’re back so quick? Where are your snacks?”
“I forgot my wallet. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, giving her an angry look.
Huh? Why would he be mad about her vacuuming?
“Vacuuming. The apartment needs cleaning.”
“If the apartment needs cleaning, then I’ll do it.”
What was happening right now?
“Why would you clean my apartment?”
“Because you recently fainted. And we still don’t know why. You’re exhausted, so you should be resting.”
Her entire body softened. “Raid, I’m not ill.”
“You don’t know what’s wrong. And you won’t until the blood tests come back. So, until then, you’ll do as you’re told and take it easy.”
“Do as I’m told? Are you for real right now? Raid Malone, you can’t tell me to do what I’m told.”
“I’m your guardian, remember?”
“I still haven’t officially agreed to that.” She gave him a cool look. He was taking this guardian stuff far too seriously. “I might need to call Jake and tell him that you’re not my guardian.”
“You do that, darlin’. Doesn’t change anything.”
“He could arrest you,” she threatened.
“Nah, he won’t.”
“Why? Because the two of you are friends?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “No, darlin’. We’re not really friends. Jake’s arrested me at least five times.”
“He’s done what?” she asked, gaping at him.
“Uh-huh. He loves arresting me. Then he gets to call Alec to tattle. Once, he called West. That asshole left me in jail all night.”
“What?” West left him in jail all night? Jake arrested him? Anger filled her. “How dare they!”
Raid gave her a surprised look. “Are you angry with them, baby?”
“I am! I’m going to give them both a piece of mind when I see them next.” Then she realized what she’d said and how ridiculous she sounded. She shot Raid a look, prepared to see him laughing at her.
But his face had gone all soft. His eyes were warm pools as he watched her. “You care about me.”
Rats. Shit.
“Even if I have to wait for you to admit it, it will be worth it. Because you do care about me, don’t you, Hannah?”
“I can’t have you!” she cried.
“Why? I told you that I don’t need normal. Or is it because you think you’re dirty?”
She gaped at him. Then she stumbled back, dropping the vacuum. She moved so suddenly that the room spun.
She was going to be sick.
Suddenly, she was picked up and held against a warm, broad chest.
“Let me go.” Her voice was strangled. Filled with anger, horror, and fear.
He knew.
How did he know?
Panic grasped hold of her chest. She couldn’t breathe.
“Breathe, baby.”
Yeah, she’d like to do that. But it wasn’t happening. Her lungs had seized and she couldn’t get a breath in.
He knew.
Oh fuck. He. Knew.
“Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to just blurt that out. Fuck, breathe, Hannah.”
She was aware of him sitting on the sofa with her on his lap. He placed his hand over her chest.
“Please, baby, please. You’re going to pass out if you don’t breathe. Please. Just take a breath in for me. Do it for me.”
She couldn’t. She couldn’t do it.
“Fuck!” The word snapped through the room, a bolt of fury pushing it. Then he turned her to face him, her legs straddling his thighs as he cupped her face between his hands. “Listen to me, Hannah Megan McLeod. You’re going to breathe right now.”
Then he pressed his lips against hers.
It shocked her. At first, she thought he was trying to give her a form of mouth-to-mouth. But his lips moved against hers, and her mouth dropped open with a groan.
Lord, that felt good. She gasped in some air as she fell into the kiss. He shifted her, so she was lying sideways across his lap, her back cradled by his arm as he kissed her long and deep.
