Page 15 of Protect Me

But he never falls into truly deep breathing.He is on alert even when he is supposed to be resting and rejuvenating.

I relax myself, but I don’t truly fall asleep, either, when after only a couple of hours, Shane comes alert in an instant, eyes opened wide, and turns to face me.

“You’re up,” he says, sounding surprised.

I smile.“Someone had to protect you while you slept,” I say, gesturing to my friend, the Taser I’d put on the night table.

“Tough and smart,” he says, his blue eyes twinkling.

I grin.“And so far so good because nobody’s found us.”

“So either we dropped the tail, or we got rid of whatever they were using to track you.”

I sigh.“Or we got lucky for now and we shouldn’t jinx it.”

“I don’t believe in luck.”

I can’t help but smile at his serious tone.“I like that you’re careful.”

“It’s my job.”

I don’t care about the reason.“Well, it makes me feel safe, and I need that right now.”I prop my head in one hand.“Youmake me feel safe,” I admit.

“I donow.”

I narrow my gaze.“What do you mean?”

“There was a time I didn’t.I know it’s ridiculous all these years later, but I owe you an apology.I shouldn’t have—”

“Kissed me?”I blurt out.Shut up.Let him finish his thoughts,I warn myself.Hear the man out.Don’t blow it for once.

His lips turn up in a grin.“Oh, I definitely should have kissed you.I just shouldn’t have tried to take it further.”

“And I shouldn’t have overreacted, but…it was my first time.”

His gaze softens.“I figured you’d never had sex before.”

My cheeks burn, but I force myself to correct him.“I’d never been kissed before.”

His eyes open wide in utter shock.“Oh, man.No wonder you freaked out.I had no idea.”He reaches out and places his hand over mine, warm and comforting, alleviating my embarrassment somewhat.

“Why would you?You were so much more experienced than me in every way.And you were eighteen.I thought you were thanking me for helping you pass chemistry, but I didn’t want my first time for more than a kiss to be out of pity.”

“Pity?”He shakes his head, and before I can blink, he moves near, his lips close to mine.“There was no pity in that kiss.”His gaze meets mine.

“But… I thought you didn’t really wantme.”

He raises an eyebrow.“You thought I didn’t want you?”he repeats in obvious disbelief.“Do you still think that?”

I pull my bottom lip into my mouth before releasing it again.His stare tracks the movement.

“I don’t know,” I whisper.

“I do.”And before I can breathe, his lips capture mine.

A sweep of his tongue, a low groan at the first touch, and I know.This isn’t a teenage kiss.This is hot and electric.This is everything.

His lips are soft one minute, rough and demanding the next, and for a woman with some experience but not much, I revel in the dominating way he takes control.Much the same way he’s called the shots from the minute I arrived at his house, he dictates this kiss.