Page 47 of Riot

“It’s alright.”With you I feel I can talk about anything.“I wake up sometimes after really bad nightmares. I didn’t wantyou to be scared, or to freak you out, I maybe downplayed it a little.”

She frowns. “Okay. But I mean, if you wanted to go back to your place…”

I shake my head. “I don’t.”

“But you might feel more relaxed.”

“I won’t.” I turn to face her, so we’re both on our sides. “But it’s nice laying next to you.”

She strokes my face and I close my eyes to her warm touch. I’ve fucked plenty of women, but I’ve never let anyone touch me like this. I’ve never really enjoyed a woman this intimately. I certainly don’t talk and tell them about my nightmares or my pathetic life story. With Halo, nothing is off limits. I feel like I can tell her anything.

I didn’t even think I liked to be touched, not like this, but as her hand caresses my face, I want more of it.

“If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

I swallow hard.Do I?We just had an amazing night, well, not the rescuing Cookie part, but I suppose that could be seen as a win since he’s safe now. “It’s shitty, trust me. I have issues, but none of them involve makin’ you sad hearin’ about how crappy it was.”

“When you’re ready, I’m all ears. I’m a good listener.”

I smile. “I know. You’re a good multi-tasker.”

She purses her lips. “Are you saying that because I squeezed your dick, sucked it and played with your balls at the same time?”

“My, my, the shy little woman is certainly comin’ out of her shell.”

She bites her lip. “You bring it out in me.”

“You sayin’ I’m a bad influence?”

“No.” She pauses, then gestures between us. “This is nice.”

“It is. And I want you to know somethin’. You can always be yourself around me, Halo. You don’t ever have to hide anythin’, got me? I’m also a good listener. Granted, I might get distracted by that beautiful mouth of yours, but nothin’ you say will make me think differently of you.”

This time, she presses her lips to mine. “Like this?”

My dick stirs between us and she giggles. “Yeah, like that.”

She kickstarts my heart when she whispers, “I want you to know you’re safe with me.”

I pull back, sure I’ve misheard. My frown must tell her all she needs to know about my confusion. I mean, I’m the dude, but shit do I like hearing her say that.

“I know you said I’m safe with you,” she goes on. “But I’m not going anywhere, Riot. I really, really like you, and we don’t have to play by anyone else’s rules.”

I swallow hard. Oh, she’ll run a mile when she hears what my dad did. I shudder at the thought of my angel being afraid of me. It also might turn her off when she learns why I chose using guns as a career. What if she thinks I’m an animal, like him? I couldn’t bear it.

I’ve also never had a woman tell me to my face they really, really like me, so this is refreshing. I love how shy but also how bold she can be. She just can’t help being so goddamn sweet, it’s in her nature.

I tuck her hair behind her ear as I study her sweet face. She looks like a slice of heaven. Her hair all mussed from our sex. Her lips pouty and swollen from how much I’ve kissed her. She’s perfect. Her pretty blue eyes stare back at me like she’s unafraid of me, but also like she doesn’t know what to do with me. It’s the story of my life.

“You sure about that?”

She nods. “Positive.”

I don’t want to upset her, so I’m not gonna tell her shit about any of that. It’ll just be between me and my nightmares.

I smile. “Someday, babe, but not tonight.”

After a few moments she slides her head back down to the pillow. “How do you think Cookie’s doing?”

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