Page 115 of Ruthless Protector

I tightened my arms around his neck, and rode him, my mouth against his, breathing each other in as I rolled my hips, his hands on my ass as he fed me his growls of pleasure.

I started shaking again as the intensity of my orgasm flew through me, so hard and fast it took me by surprise. Jude growled again and he was coming with me.

When I finally had the energy to lift my head, I kissed him. “You changed my life, you know that?”

He hugged me to him tighter. “You made mine worth living, beautiful.” His brown eyes softened. “Thank you, for letting me love you.”

Then he kissed me again.

Epilogue

Jude

Twelve months later

I shut my bike off and winced as I swung my leg over the seat. The skip Van and I had taken in tonight had given us a fight, and he’d brought along several of his friends. My ribs had taken a hit by some little prick with a two-by-four. Nothing broken, but it hurt like hell.

All that pissing around meant I was late home, and I felt like shit because I’d promised my girls I’d be home by seven-thirty so we could eat together, and it was now close to ten.

I took the stairs as quietly as I could. I didn’t want to wake them if they were already asleep.

The last year had been the best in my life, so much had changed.

Willa and I had done some grief counseling; she also needed to talk to someone about what happened that night. Our losses had been huge, but talking to someone, talking about our guilt, how to deal with the way we felt, it had made such a difference. It had made us even stronger, when I thought that was impossible. And Tilly, that little girl, our little girl, had grown in confidence. Christ, she shone so bright, she lit up my world.

I’d also converted the apartment on the first floor into a hair salon for Willa as a surprise, it hadn’t been easy, but it had been so damn worth it. I’ll never forget the look on her face, her reaction. Just thinking about it still took my breath away. She’d built up her client list over the last twelve months and was now in hot demand.

Trent was back inside and would be for a long while yet. Jennifer was as well, and was never coming out. So everything right now was fucking perfect.

Well, almost perfect. I hated disappointing my girls, and with this job, it happened more than I would like.

I unlocked the door, moving too quick, and gritted my teeth when pain shot down my side. My ribs felt like someone had been playing them like a xylophone, only with a sledgehammer.

I shut the door and when I turned back, Willa was standing there, Tilly at her side, both looking at me with identical frowns creasing their foreheads.

I straightened, not wanting to alarm Tilly. She didn’t like it when I got hurt. “Sorry I’m late,” I said, kissing the top of Tilly’s head, then tugging Willa closer and planting one on her soft lips. “Things took a little longer than expected.”

Tilly rolled her eyes. “You hurt yourself again, didn’t you?”

I tried to think of something to say. “No, I was just…”

“Save it,” Willa said. “Ruby called and told me to get the ice packs ready.”

Goddamn it, Ruby. “It’s nothing really,” I said, as Tilly took my hand and led me to the living room.

Willa disappeared into the kitchen.

Tilly’s eyes narrowed. “Did you get hit by one of the bad guys?”

“Yeah, but it was a cheap shot,” I said, grinning to lighten the situation.

“Did you at least kick his ass?” she asked.

I chuckled and tugged her in for a quick hug. “Oh yeah.”

“Nice,” she said, and leaned against me. “Willa said I could stay up until you got home. Guess that means I have to go to bed now?”

Willa walked in with an ice pack. “Sure does, kiddo.”