Page 28 of Heart of a Hero

Nora’s arms wound around my neck, pulling me down for another kiss. This one was slower, deeper, filled with promise and unspoken emotions. I savored every moment, committing it to memory -- the feel of her body against mine, the taste of her lips, the little sounds she made as I explored her mouth.

When we finally parted, we were both breathless and flushed. I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, marveling at how beautiful she looked with her lips swollen from my kisses. “That was…”

“Amazing,” Nora finished for me, a shy smile playing on her lips.

I nodded, unable to keep the grin off my face. “Yeah. Amazing.” I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her. “And it’s just the beginning, Nora. I promise you that. As for Rex, you don’t need to worry about him.”

I’d make sure of it, one way or another.

“How can you be so sure? You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

I’d met men like him before. Hell, my dad’s club had been fighting against them since long before I was born. Didn’t matter that the Swift Angels hadn’t been able to find anything concrete. It wasn’t like we all had a lot of time on our hands, and my days off were now spent with Nora and Taylor.

I tightened my arms around her, drawing her closer. “I know enough. And I’m not afraid of him. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if it means putting myself in harm’s way.”

She shook her head, her fingers clutching at my shirt. “I can’t ask you to do that, Dawson. This isn’t your fight.”

“But it is,” I insisted, my gaze locked on hers. “From the moment I met you, I knew I wanted to be a part of your life. And that means being there for you, no matter what.”

Nora’s breath hitched, and I saw a tear slip down her cheek. “I don’t deserve you.”

I brushed the tear away with my thumb, my heart aching for her. “You deserve everything good in this world, Nora. And I’ll spend every day proving that to you, if you’ll let me.”

She nodded, a watery smile spreading across her face. “I’d like that.”

We stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. But before I could convince her to be part of my world in a more permanent way, I needed to be completely honest with her. Which meant telling her more about my parents, and the Dixie Reapers. I wanted to bring it up, but it didn’t seem like the right time. I wasn’t sure when I’d get the chance.

“So, I guess this means we’re official now, huh?” I asked, with a slight smile.

Nora giggled, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I guess so. Boyfriend.”

The word sent a thrill through me, and I hugged her tighter, never wanting to let go. “Girlfriend,” I whispered back, savoring the sound of it on my tongue.

It wasn’t like I’d never dated before, but this time it was different. Nora was special to me. Both her and Taylor.

Nora pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine with a newfound vulnerability. “You know, when you stood up to Rex like that, pretending to be my boyfriend, it made me realize how much I’ve been longing for someone to protect me, to make me feel safe and cherished. I stood up to him on my own before, even left him, but I’ve felt… lonely.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so instead, I kissed her again. Holding her close and laying claim to her in the only way I could think of. Her body molding perfectly to my own. The kiss deepened, our tongues tangling in a passionate dance that left me aching for more. I groaned, pulling her even closer, my hands roaming the soft curves of her waist.

Nora’s fingers threaded through my hair, tugging gently as she pressed herself against me, a soft moan escaping her lips. The sound sent a jolt of desire straight to my cock, and I knew I was teetering on the edge of losing control.

Reluctantly, I pulled back, resting my forehead against hers as we both struggled to catch our breath. Being with Nora was different from anything I’d experienced before. It wasn’t like I’d been a virgin before I met her, but this was more than just sex.

Nora’s eyes shone with a mixture of joy and desire. “I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

“Me neither. And I want to feel it again and again, for as long as you’ll have me.”

Nora’s smile faltered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. “But what about the baby? And my past? I come with a lot of baggage, Dawson. Are you sure you want to take that on?”

I took her hands in mine, my gaze locking with hers. “Nora, I want all of you, baggage and all. The baby, your past, your future… I want to be a part of it, if you’ll let me. We can take things slow, figure it out together. But I’m not going anywhere, unless you tell me to.”

A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away. “I don’t think I could ever tell you to go. You’ve become so important to me, Dawson. More than I ever thought possible.”

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close as I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re important to me too, Nora. And I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy. You, Taylor, and the baby.”

We stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s embrace. As we held each other, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of us in this perfect, peaceful moment. Nora’s body molded to mine, her head resting on my chest as I gently stroked her hair. The scent of her shampoo, a subtle hint of lavender, filled my senses, and I found myself never wanting to let her go.

But the sound of a car door slamming outside jolted us back to reality. Nora tensed in my arms, her breath hitching as she pulled away slightly, her eyes wide with fear. “What was that?”

---