Page 27 of Heart of a Hero

Rage surged through my veins, hot and unstoppable. I stepped forward, crowding into Rex’s space. “Watch your mouth, asshole. You don’t get to talk to her like that.”

His nostrils flared, his fists clenching at his sides. “You think you can tell me what to do, pretty boy? You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

No, he was the one who had no clue who he was fucking with right now. A war raged inside me -- respectable firefighter and son of a Dixie Reaper. If he dared to say another word to Nora, I wasn’t sure which side would come out to play, but I was betting on the latter.

My heart pounded in my ears, adrenaline coursing through me. I knew I should back down, defuse the situation. But the thought of this piece of shit laying a hand on Nora again made it impossible to think straight.

Behind me, I heard Nora’s shaky intake of breath. “Rex, I’m serious. Leave now, or I’m calling the cops.”

His eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. “You’re gonna regret this, Nora. You think you can just replace me? You’re nothing without me.”

I stepped forward again, this time pushing him farther back from the doorway, my voice low and threatening. “She said leave. Now.”

For a moment, I thought he might take a swing at me. His whole body vibrated with barely contained violence. But then, with a final sneer, he turned and stalked down the walkway, his footsteps echoing like gunshots in the silence. Looked like he might have been drunk or stoned, but not enough to realize he’d be fighting a losing battle.

I watched from the doorway until he disappeared into the stairwell, my heart still racing. Then I turned to Nora, gathering her shaking form into my arms. “It’s okay,” I murmured into her hair. “He’s gone. I’ve got you.”

But even as I said the words, I couldn’t shake the feeling this was far from over. That Rex’s threats weren’t just empty words. I’d do whatever it took to keep Nora safe, no matter the cost. Any cost. Even if it meant going to my dad for help.

Nora clung to me, her face buried in my chest, and I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breathing. The adrenaline was starting to fade, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. I wanted nothing more than to whisk her away from all of this, to someplace safe where she’d never have to face that kind of fear again.

But I knew it wasn’t that simple. Rex’s words echoed in my mind, a sinister promise of retribution. I tightened my arms around Nora, my jaw clenching with a fierce protectiveness. He’d have to go through me first.

“I’m sorry,” Nora whispered, her voice muffled against my shirt. “I never meant for you to get dragged into this. When you offered us a place to stay, I should have declined. Should have figured something out on my own.”

I pulled back slightly, cupping her face in my hands. “Hey, look at me. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m here because I want to be. Because I care about you. Besides, do you really think I’d have let you walk off, knowing you had nowhere to go?”

Her eyes searched mine, a flicker of hope amidst the fear. “But what about what you said before? About pretending to be my boyfriend? You just made him even angrier. Now he’s going to target you too.”

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was it. The moment of truth. “I wasn’t pretending, Nora. I meant every word. Being your friend isn’t enough. The longer I’m with you, the more I care about you, and the more I want from our relationship. So if any of that scares you, tell me now.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, slowly, a smile bloomed across her face, radiant and beautiful. “Really?”

I nodded, my thumb brushing away a stray tear from her cheek. “Really. I know the timing is kind of crazy, but I can’t help how I feel about you. And if you’ll have me, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

Nora’s arms tightened around my waist, her head nestling into the crook of my neck. “I’d like that,” she murmured. “More than anything. But I feel like I’m getting the better end of the deal.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, a fierce joy welling up inside me. It wasn’t going to be easy; I knew that. Rex was still out there, a looming threat on the horizon. For now, in this moment, knowing she was mine would be enough.

She leaned back and licked her lips. “Does that mean I can have a real kiss now?”

She wasn’t only giving me permission but asking for one. I couldn’t begin to describe how it made me feel. My only fear was that I wouldn’t be able to hold back and would push for too much too fast.

My heart raced as I gazed into Nora’s eyes, seeing the desire there that mirrored my own. I cupped her face gently in my hands, my thumbs caressing her cheeks.

“Are you sure?” I whispered, wanting to give her one last chance to back out.

Instead of answering, Nora leaned in, her lips meeting mine. The world fell away as I lost myself in the softness of her mouth, the sweet taste of her. My hands slid into her hair, cradling the back of her head as I deepened the kiss. Her lips parted on a sigh, and I took the invitation, my tongue sweeping inside to tangle with hers.

Nora’s fingers clutched at my shirt, pulling me closer as she pressed her body against mine. Heat surged through me, and I groaned low in my throat. I backed her up against the wall, pinning her there with my hips as I devoured her mouth. She tasted of peppermint and promises, and I couldn’t get enough.

My hands roamed down her sides, feeling the curves of her body through her thin shirt. Nora arched into me, a soft moan escaping her. The sound sent a jolt of electricity down my spine, and I kissed her harder, pouring all my pent-up longing into it.

We broke apart, both of us panting. I rested my forehead against hers, struggling to catch my breath. “God, Nora,” I murmured. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

She smiled up at me, her eyes dark with desire. “Me too,” she admitted. “I was just afraid… afraid of ruining what we had.”

I brushed my lips against hers again, softer this time. “Nothing could ruin this,” I assured her. “What we have is special. And I’m not going anywhere.”

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