Protect Me (13 page)

“Wow,” she finally says, breathlessly.
 

I lean forward and place a gentle kiss on her swollen, lush lips. “Watching you come like that was amazing,” I tell her between kisses.
 

“Next time, maybe you will join me?” she asks hopefully.
 

“Yes,” I tell her matter-of-factly. “But, not tonight. Tonight was about you. Soon, though. Very, very soon. Next time I start to strip you naked, I won’t be able to keep my own clothes on.  Next time, when you come apart in my arms, I’m going to be right there with you, going over the edge together,” I say with my
lips pressed firmly to her neck. I lick and suck on it for a few more seconds before I pull away. If I don’t pull away now, I never will.
 

I sit up on the ground and give Lia a tug until she’s up and sitting between my legs. She leans back, relaxing her back to my chest, and we both take in the warm, summer night. This is damn near perfect. The only thing that would make this night better is to relieve some of the pressure in my pants. Hell, that’s what cold showers are for. And I have a feeling I have more than one cold shower in my future this evening.
 

When Lia’s body becomes heavy and her breathing evens out, I know she has fallen asleep. I hold her in my arms for a few more minutes - hell, I hold her for another thirty. I just sit there, completely relaxed and lost in thought. I think about what my life could be like if I’d let someone like Lia in. What would it really be like to come home in the mornings after working a twenty-four hour shift and having her in bed waiting for me? Could I take the chance on letting her inside my bed, my life, and my heart? Damn it if I don’t want to find out.
 

After sitting on the ground for another half hour, contemplating my life and getting no real answers, I finally rouse her from a peaceful sleep. Her heavily lidded eyes look at me with so much…what? Trust? Could be. Desire? Definitely.
 

I gaze down at her for several moments before I
say, “Ready to head back, beautiful?”
 

“I guess,” she whispers in a sleepy voice just as a yawn takes hold.
 

“It’s late and you have to work in the morning,” I say as I stand up just before helping her up. I throw my t-shirt over my head and grab the chairs, tossing them inside the shack. When the lock is securely in place, I take Lia’s hand and lead her towards the car.
 

Once the gate is locked and the car is out on the highway, I throw my arm around her shoulder. She snuggles closely against my side, her head securely in the crook of my arm.
 

This is fucking heaven, right here.
 

When I pull into the parking lot behind the bakery, I don’t shut off the car before hopping out and retrieving Lia from the passenger side. She digs for her keys as we walk up the metal staircase leading to her apartment. She places the key inside of the lock and gives it a turn. With the door open, I slowly spin her so that she’s facing me. Her tired eyes hum to life as I caress the sides of her neck with both hands. I feel her tense, again, but only for a split second. It’s so quick I almost wonder if I imagined it.
 

I lower my lips to hers and savor the feel of them against me. This kiss is gentle and the perfect way to end our night.
 

“Night, Lia,” I whisper against her lips.
 

“Good night,” she whispers back.
 

I slowly pull away, giving her neck one last touch, and slowly descend the stairs. When I get halfway down, I turn to make sure she’s inside, but Lia is standing in the doorway, watching me go. A small smile spreads across her face as our eyes lock. I feel the corner of my mouth creep upward as I give her a final wave goodbye.
 

Lia turns and closes the door, engaging the lock in a loud thump that echoes in the quiet of night. I slip down the rest of the stairs and get inside my waiting car. I back out of the parking spot and give one final glance up to her apartment. Her small shadow stands in the dimly lit window, her hand touches the glass. It’s one of the many images from this evening that I will take to bed with me tonight.
 

I head towards home with thoughts of Lia front and center in my brain. Her laughter throughout dinner. The way the moonlight glowed off of her skin. The feel of her silky body. The sounds of her coming while lying on my t-shirt. Her snuggled against my chest while she slept. Her goodbye kiss just before she watched me go.
 

Yeah, I’ll be definitely thinking about beautiful Lia tonight.
 

After I take a very cold shower, that is.
 

Come Friday, I’ve spent the better part of my free time hanging out with Nate. We text while he’s at work, in between his duties at the fire station, while waiting for a call. We talk when he’s driving home and I’m setting up the kitchen for the morning shift. We even had dinner on Wednesday night when he brought over submarine sandwiches and my favorite guacamole dip from the local deli.
 

It’s almost noon when Erin blows into the bakery, bags of food in hand.
 

“Hey, girl,” she says with a friendly smile.
 

“Hi. What are you doing?” I ask as I wipe the glass display case down with a wet rag.
 

“Well, it wasn’t that long ago that I was the new girl in town. So, I thought I’d bring by some lunch and chat,” she says as she heads back to the table in the corner that the family uses as their table.
 

I throw the rag up on the back counter and follow the spitfire little redhead towards the table. “I’m sure Avery would be okay with me taking a few minutes,” I politely reply.
 

“Don’t you worry about Avery. She knows I’m
bringing lunch. She’s on her way back from the bank,” Erin says.
 

“Well, if you’re sure she won’t mind,” I mumble as I slowly pull out the chair in front of me. I feel like I’m doing something majorly wrong. Sitting on the job.
 

“Josselyn was going to try to get away too, but she called a bit ago and said they had a major materials shipment mix-up. So, she was sorting out the drama,” she replies with a smile as she lays the chicken salad sandwiches out in front of us. Josselyn started working in the office for the family construction company a few months back.
 

“So, how are you adjusting to Rivers Edge?” she asks casually as she drop a straw into her cup of lemonade.
 

“Good. I like it here,” I tell her. I don’t get attached to the area I’m in. I try not to even pay that close attention to whatever small town or big city I’m in. I’m just stopping by, on my way through. But, Rivers Edge holds something special here and his name is Nate.
 

“What else do you like? Something in the form of a hot, six foot, beefcake of fireman?” she asks with an ornery smile.
 

“Nate is very nice,” I say in a small voice. I hate being put on the spot. Don’t draw attention.
 

“Nice,” she snorts. “Nice as in has a great ass when he’s walking through the bedroom naked?”
 

“Please, dear God, tell me that you are not
talking about one of my brothers,” Avery says as she walks through the back room and towards our table.
 

“I was just trying to get the goods from Lia on Nate. I bet he has a great ass,” Erin says casually. “Jake’s ass is magnificent and they are brothers.”
 

“Blah, blah, blah, blah,” Avery says as she stuffs her fingers into her ears.
 

“Seriously, Lia. Have you seen that man’s back?” Erin asks as she fans herself.
 

“You mean with the big tattoo across it? His muscles make me want to massage his back…with my tongue,” I reply with a giggle. Giggle! Who would have thought I would turn into a total starry-eyed schoolgirl when I talk – and think – about Nate.
 

“Yes! Jake has a couple of tattoos and, frankly, it makes him hotter,” she says before taking a bite of her sandwich. “I want to bite his chest every time he removes his shirt.”
 

“Oh my God, kill me now,” Avery mumbles as she inhales her sandwich.
 

“Oh, don’t be like that. You have your own hot piece of man-meat waiting for you at home,” Erin says with a wink.
 

“Yes. Yes, I do,” she replies with a big grin.
 

“I’m surprised you’re not pregnant again,” Erin says before stuffing more chips in her mouth. Seriously, where is she putting all of this food?
 

“Ryder’s only five months old. We want to wait
just a little bit before adding another baby,” she says with a far off, happy look on her face.
 

“Well, at least there’s plenty of practicing until then,” I tell my boss. Not like I know about practicing or anything. Monday night with Nate at the creek was the first time I was brought to orgasm without manual stimulation. I haven’t had the big “O” with a guy since the early part of my relationship with Garrett, and even then it was mediocre.
 

“Oh, there is plenty of practicing,” Avery replies with a beautiful grin that hints at dirty thoughts.
 

“So, the reason I stopped by was because I wanted to ask you something, Lia. The girls and Mrs. Stevens are getting together tomorrow night for my bachelorette party. We are doing a spa night at the Stevens’ house with dinner and plenty of wine. I want you to come,” she tells me before stuffing the last bite of her sandwich in her mouth.
 

I practically choke on the much smaller bite I just took. “You want me to come?”
 

“Well, yeah. You’re new in town and I like you,” she says with another friendly smile.
 

“Yes, you have to come,” Avery adds.
 

I think about it for a few moments. I really do want to go. I can keep a low profile starting Sunday, but Saturday night, I want to hang out with the Stevens ladies and enjoy myself. It’s been so damn long since I’ve enjoyed the company of true friends. People who
didn’t have an agenda or want something from me. And frankly, it’s been so long since I’ve felt comfortable enough to just hang out. Let my hair down. Be me.
 

Do I even really know who
me
is?
 

“Okay,” I reply. “I’d love to go.”
 

Both ladies at the table give me big smiles.
 

“I’ll text you the details,” Avery tells me.
 

“Are you going to eat that?” Erin asks, eyeing what’s left of my chips.
 

“What is wrong with you?” Avery asks, raising an eyebrow at Erin.
 

“Nothing, I just skipped breakfast. Jake woke me up before work today,” she says with another big grin.
 

Avery and I both laugh at Erin’s dreamy look. You can tell she’s either reliving her wake-up call from Jake or she’s planning her own ‘welcome home’ for this evening.
 

The three of us make small talk until it’s time for Erin to head back to the library. Avery and I get to work restocking the glass case until the clock hits two o’clock. As we do most days, I leave at this time while Avery mans the place until it’s time to close at four. I quickly grab my purse from the backroom, throw Avery a wave over my shoulder as she tells me to expect her text, and head out the back door.
 

When I reach the top of the stairs, I dig through my too-large purse for my keys. It takes me longer than normal to find them since they slid down into one of the
side compartments. I make a mental note to get a smaller purse on my next trip to St. Charles. The last thing I need is to not be able to get inside my apartment quickly…if I should ever need to.
 

I slide the key in the lock and give it a turn. I start to step inside when this uneasy feeling washes over me. I stop in my tracks, half inside the apartment, with the screen door against my back. Something feels…wrong.
 

I glance around the apartment from the doorway, yet nothing appears to be out of place. The cereal bowl and spoon are still sitting next to the counter by the sink. The small pile of clothes is still in front of the closet where the washing machine and dryer are housed. The small light above the sink is still on. Nothing appears disturbed, yet the apartment feels different. Off.
 

A noise sounds behind me causing me to startle. I drop my purse, contents spilling on the floor around me, as I whip around and come face to face with Maddox Jackson.
 

“Hey, sorry to scary you. I was talking to you as I walked up the stairs, but you didn’t seem to hear me.”
 

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I say as I bend down to pick up the contents of my purse. “I was just…” my voice trails off as I look around the quiet apartment.
 

“Is everything alright?” Maddox asks from his squatting position right next to me. He looks around the apartment and then returns his chocolate brown gaze
back to me.
 

“Yeah, of course. I just… something just… felt off,” I say as I stand up and look around the room again.
 

“Hey, why don’t you stay right here, and I’ll give your apartment a quick check,” he says as he steers me back to the top landing of the staircase.
 

Maddox makes quick work of checking all of the rooms and closets. Of course he finds nothing, silly. You’re completely overreacting and now Maddox probably thinks you’re crazy.
 

“I don’t see anything,” he says as he returns to the door.
 

“I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m probably overreacting. I’m so sorry to have made you come up here and check out the place,” I say, feeling completely embarrassed and small.