“Marco, put me down,” she squeals, but then she giggles when I toss her gently on the bed and sit down next to her.
“You’re insane. I can’t keep being your charity case. I don’t need some knight in shining armor to come and save the day,” she argues. “I can fight for myself.”
“Running is not fighting. Are you going to just keep running for the rest of your life? Not happening…not anymore. You’re here now. With me. I’m not letting you go.” I pull her onto my lap.
“What if he finds me?”
“He can’t hurt you now. I’ll protect you, whether you like it or not. We’ll face him together, and I don’t think the fucker’s going to like me very much. Did you forget I’m The Lion?” I give her a chaste kiss on her lips. “And you deserve to be treated like a queen.”
She scrambles off my lap and sits up on her knees, locking eyes with mine. “Why are you doing this for me?”
“I think I need you as much as you need me. I didn’t just find you, only to lose you. I won’t let that happen. You’re mine now. I’m claiming you.”
“You’re claiming me?” she chuckles, crawling back onto my lap, straddling me this time. She curls her arms around my neck, making my dick stand at attention.
“You have a problem with that?”
“For some dumb reason, I think I’m perfectly fine with it,” she murmurs.
“Good,” I say in a low, gravelly voice. I reach out and touch her cheek softly with my fingertips. Leaning down, I brush a soft kiss on her lips.
“Good.” She captures my mouth in a kiss: a deep, delicious kiss that vibrates through my entire body. “I want you,” she murmurs onto my lips.
I know what she wants. She wants me to make her forget. But I won’t, not tonight. Not when she’s in such a vulnerable state. Next time though…all bets are off, because I’m finding it harder and harder to resist her.
I force myself to pull back. “I want you more than anything, Mila,” I say inches away from her face. “But tonight we sleep.” This is not just about sex for me and I want her to know that. I lay her down on the bed and she glares up at me. “You’re adorable when you pout.”
“Screw you, Marco.”
I chuckle, climbing in the bed next to her. Not sure why I’m torturing myself by having her half-naked body pressed up against me all night. “Nothing bad will happen while you’re here with me.”
She snuggles into me, and even though I’m beyond physically attracted to her, all I want at this moment is to comfort her. It feels so good. Like everything in the world is right.
“Marco?”
“Yeah, Angel?”
“Thank you,” she whispers, and my heart swells.
“Mila?” I whisper a few minutes later.
“Hmmm.”
“I always wanted to do it on a waterbed. Maybe tomorrow we can…”
“Go to sleep, Marco.” She playfully punches my stomach, and I chuckle.
I hold her tight with a smile, humming Sam Cooke’s, “You Send Me” until I hear her soft snores, and I know she’s safe in my arms.
Exactly where she’s supposed to be.
Chapter Ten
My eyes flutter open as I stretch across the crisp sheets. I think I need to buy a sleep mask as the gloomy daylight filters through the three large windows, taking up the entire wall behind my head. My apartment has the same unobstructed windows, and when it’s sunny out, it wakes me at the butt crack of dawn.
I sit up, stretch, and wipe the sleep from my eyes, noticing the clouds rolling in and the winds starting to pick up. I plant my feet on the floor, still wearing nothing but Marco’s oversized, Marci’s T-shirt. I inhale a deep breath, his masculine scent lingering, but he is nowhere in sight.
I fell asleep with Marco’s arms around me last night and woke in an empty bed. I don’t know what I expected, but I’m disappointed he’s already gone.
The gym is closed today, and my anxiety is on high alert since the weather is supposed to get nasty shortly.
I search around the apartment, looking for something to tell me what time it is. It’s pretty clean for a bachelor pad. I notice the contrast between the dark oak cabinets and fancy stainless steel appliances. There’s a small microwave sitting on the counter in the kitchen, and the clock says it’s almost nine-thirty. I never sleep this late. Not that I need to wake up early since I don’t have to work today. I’m surprised at how long and peacefully I slept.
I survey the apartment, getting a good look in the light. It’s the first time I’ve been inside, and it’s almost identical to the one I’m staying in. The difference is all the brick have been refurbished and unlike my apartment, the bright and shiny hardwood floors are completed. Decorative lights hang from the high industrial ceiling pipes, making the decor rustic and modern.
There’s a large blue sofa in the center of the room facing the massive man television mounted to the wall. This place is beautiful, and you’d never guess it’s a loft apartment in a grungy, old commercial building.
I force myself to climb out of the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in and take a seat on the couch. I hug one of the fluffy, gray throw pillows to my stomach, recalling the events of last night. How Marco comforted me. All I wanted was him near me. The warm cozy feeling of his arms wrapped around me.
I can’t remember the last time I was in a man’s arms like that. He made me feel safe and protected, and I’m trying to think of the last time I felt that way, but I’m coming up empty.
I could tell he wanted me as much as I needed him. But he made no moves, even after I kissed him. I think he was too worried about my emotional state. He respected me and stayed the entire night, comforting me.
Jesus, when was the last time anyone did that for me? Not since my father was alive.
Being held so close in his arms, dare I say, I loved it? It’s been so long since a man’s held me in such an intimate way and didn’t demand sex. It felt so good.
I have to remind myself. I relied on a man once before, and he broke me. I swore I’d never do it again, but the feeling of being in Marco’s strong, protective hold last night made feel safe and warm. The sound of his heart beating as I lay on his chest was comforting. I felt protected and cared for. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. No one’s ever made me feel this good.
I’m lost in my head, trying to figure out what the hell’s going on between Marco and me when the front door swings open. Marco stands in the doorway holding a large cup of coffee and a small paper bag. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of black running shorts that sit scandalously low on his hips and an irresistible cocky grin. I’m so screwed.
“I brought you some breakfast.” My gaze skids down his bare chest as he steps toward me and places the items on the coffee table in front of me. “There’s an egg sandwich in the bag. One word, bacon.”
I bite my bottom lip, staring at him as I fiddle with the hem of my shirt, pulling it down to cover my knees. His typically unruly hair, that drives me crazy in a good way, is shorter now. Although the top is still a little longer, the blonde tips are gone. Enough to still run my fingers through. He’s clean-shaven, and I thought I liked his beard, but his face is so handsome without it. I can’t stop myself from staring. The man has no shame standing there, nor should he since his body looks like it’s been chiseled from stone.