Page 115 of Bulletproof

When he put me down, I had trouble standing.

“You do the same thing to me,” he said, forearm pressed to the wall, his head leaning into it, taking a breath to calm his body down. “You make my knees go weak.”

“I do?”

“Every time you kiss me.”

He smiled down at me, and I noticed the brown stubble on his upper lip. Everything about the man was gorgeous, and as I touched his face, he closed his eyes.

“You love me.”

“I’m a stupid fuck who knows better than to leave you alone.” He released a deep breath. “It won’t happen again. We were apart for three years, and I hated every fuckin’ minute of it. You’d think I’d learn my lesson.”

“Oh God,” I said, but it wasn’t the good kind. I had just gotten a good look at the bruises on his face and the ugly patches on his chest and torso.

“I’m fine,” he insisted, leaning forward, rubbing his stubbled cheek over my smooth one before kissing the curve of my shoulder.

“Are you sure?”

“I promise,” he soothed me, holding up his hand for me because he knew it was important.

I sighed deeply. “Your ring.”

“Where it belongs,” he said.

I was thrilled to see the platinum band that matched mine back where it was supposed to be, fitting snugly on the ring finger of his left hand.

“It looks good.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Come get in bed with me.”

“Love to.”

I was so happy; I was sure I was glowing, but when I tried to pull him around the house after me, he wouldn’t let me.

“I thought you wanted to⁠—”

“Lemme meet your friends.”

“Sam,” I groaned, “you know they’re not my⁠—”

“Come on,” he cut me off, dragging me after him up the stairs.

As soon as we reached the patio, Hayes was there, walking over.

“Is this the detective, Jory?”

I nodded, my eyes all over Sam Kage.

“It’s a pleasure, Detective,” Hayes said, offering Sam his hand. “Hayes Fisher.”

“Mr. Fisher,” Sam rumbled as he shook the man’s hand.

Detective Kage towered over Hayes Fisher, massive in comparison, and I watched Hayes take in the wall of hard muscle that was my man.

“Hi.” Jaden was beaming, having bounded over, and thrust his hand at Sam, soaking him up, his eyes missing nothing. “I’m Jaden.”