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“I’m safe,” she repeats, her throat bobbing as she swallows.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
She shakes her head.
“Do you want me to go?”
She shakes her head again. “No. Please don’t leave me, Herc.”
“I won’t,” I breathe out, rubbing my thumb in a soothing motion over her cheek. “I’m right here.”
Her gaze doesn’t leave mine as her breathing levels outand her eyes start to flutter closed. Feeling like a creep watching her sleep, I move to leave, but as I remove my hand from her cheek, she reaches out and grasps my hand. Without opening her eyes, she pulls back the covers, sliding over, and murmurs, “Please stay with me.”
I freeze. I haven’t shared a bed with anyone since Ellie. My gaze washes over her, from her dark hair fanned across the pillow, to the oversized Taylor Swift Reputation tour t-shirt that’s bunched up around her stomach. I swallow as I take in the simple black cotton briefs she’s sleeping in.
“Please, Herc?” She tugs gently on my wrist, and I avert my eyes, crawling in next to her and pulling the blankets over us. I stare up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the swirling feeling in my stomach as Lily curls up with her back to me.
I’m pretty sure this girl is going to be the death of me.
SIXTEEN
LILY
HARLEY’S GONE FROM my bed the next morning when I wake, and part of me wonders if I dreamed him coming to me in the middle of the night. But for the next three nights, when the nightmares startle me awake, Harley’s there, comforting me. It has become our normal for him to crawl into my bed in the middle of the night. We don’t speak; he’s just there, a protective presence watching over me. Nothing is said about it during the day, and if Tom has noticed anything, he keeps it to himself.
On the fourth morning when I wake to an empty bed, I realise that there was no nightmare last night. Feeling well rested, I roll over onto the other pillow and breathe in Harley’s masculine scent. The silent protector vibe is quite the turn on. He’s been such a gentleman about it. Apart from the first night when he brushed my hair back off my face, he hasn’t touched me. When I wake from my nightmares, he’s just there, sleeping peacefully next to me. It’s enough for meto calm my breathing and fall back asleep–nightmare free.
I can’t help the grin spreading across my lips as I think about the way his hair flops effortlessly over his forehead, framing his ridiculously good-looking face as he sleeps. I’m not going to lie: I was attracted to him the moment I saw him at Dukes in Sydney. When he saved my life, my heart was racing from more than just the near-death experience. It was reckless for me to ask him out for drinks that night, but I was just so drawn to him.
It wasn’t the first attempt on my life. My father has a lot of enemies, and after my engagement to Declan was announced, the number tripled. But since escaping to Blue Haven, I feel like I can finally breathe. I can walk around town without having to look over my shoulder.
My thoughts drift back to the guy who has made me feel so safe. Harley Breed is incredibly complex. He’s broody and quiet but also incredibly kind and thoughtful. He constantly looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he never accepts any help from anyone else despite being the first to selflessly give up his time to help others. Case in point: letting a random stranger move into his house.
Warmth pools in my belly, and I rub my thighs together, seeking relief. Thinking about Harley wanting to protect me is a major freaking turn on. His scent settles around me as I bury deeper into his pillow, and I close my eyes, allowing my hand to drift over my breasts. My nipples harden, and I suck in a deep breath. This is so wrong, but it also feels so good. I moan softly as my hand moves lower, trailing along mystomach and breaching the elastic of my cotton underwear. My fingers circle my clit slowly before slipping lower. My breath hitches as I glide them through my slick entrance.
“Oh God,” I groan, my hips rotating as my fingers dip in and out of my warm heat, imagining it’s Harley stroking me.
I’m so turned on from my thoughts of my housemate, and I reach up with my spare hand to pinch my nipple hard as the throbbing between my legs intensifies and my release builds. I crook my fingers, hitting my g-spot, and my body starts to tremble. My feet slide against the sheets, failing to find purchase as my orgasm has my vision blurring.Holy shit!I haven’t been able to get myself off that hard without my favourite toys since I discovered self-pleasure.
When your father doesn’t allow you to date because your virginity is worth more to him than you are, you learn to take matters into your own hands… literally.
I lay there staring at the ceiling as my breathing regulates, and that’s when the guilt washes over me. I just got myself off to thoughts of Harley. What am I even thinking? He’s still dealing with his breakup with Ellie and everything else he has going on. I’m the worst person.
Pushing down the horrible feeling that has completely obliterated my post-orgasm bliss, I roll out of bed and stumble out of my bedroom. I bump into Tom on my way to the bathroom.
“Morning, Tink,” he says with a yawn. “Have a good night’s sleep?”
My cheeks heat, and I wonder if he knows that hisbrother has been sleeping in my bed the last few nights. “Fine,” I squeak out. Then I follow up with, “Tink?”
“Tinkerbell.” He gives me an amused grin. “The fixer.”
My brow furrows. “I don’t understand…”
He shakes his head. “Nevermind. I’m running late this morning, so I’m going to make some breakfast and head off. You hungry?”
It takes me a second to realise he’s asked me a question because I’m still trying to work out what he means about me being a fixer. “No, thanks,” I say when he arches a brow. “I’m going to have a shower, and then I have to head to work myself. I’ll just grab something to eat before my shift.”
“No problems. Want me to hang around and give you a lift?”
