Page 71 of Living Without

I averted my gaze to the side. What I wanted to do was so different from journalism, but I felt it would bring me peace to help others.

Saxon jiggled his legs under me. “Gorgeous?” Once he caught my eyes, he asked again, “What you wanna do?”

“I was thinking of doing something similar to Josie, only she wants to help young children. I would like to help women in domestic violence. Still I also want to help young adults, but then again…”

He jiggled his knee again. “Fuckin’ awesome you wanna help women and such out, but what will it entail?”

Shrugging, I said, “A diploma in counselling, a certificate IV in youth work, and a certificate in life coaching, and that should cover all my bases.”

“How long?”

“Another year and a half, maybe two. Depends how I can do it all while working.”

He gave me a squeeze and ordered, “Do it.”

Snorting, I said, “It’s that easy, hey?”

“Angel, what you wanna do, help women and children out when they need it most is a giving job. It’s gonna be fuckin’ hard though when you see cases you can’t find an answer to or they won’t listen to you.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“As long as you’re prepared for it and it’s what you want, then yeah, Nary, it’s that easy.” He kissed my neck, then nibbled his way up to my ear. It was there I froze from his next words. “My woman’s been through hell. She wants something different in life, she gets it. Nothing you wanna reach for is untouchable. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Saxon,” I said breathily. My hand slid up his chest where I took hold of his tee.

He shifted back to capture my misty eyes. “I believe you can do this, and when times are hard, I’ll have your back, angel. I’ll always have your back. Fuckin’ love you.” All I could do was nod. My bottom lip trembled and I watched his gaze roam my face. His eyes softened with tenderness as he slid his hand to my face and cupped my cheek. “Now, you gonna kiss your man before you start bawling?”

Narrowing my eyes, I snapped, “Saxon.”

He threw his head back and laughed. I waited until he’d calmed down and met my gaze again, only just as I was about to say something, he got there first with, “My angel goes from soft and sweet, to viper, in seconds.”

“Saxon,” I bit out.

He gripped the side of my neck, his eyes dancing with humour. “Wouldn’t want it any other way. I love your sweet side, but I fuckin’ love your bite. Now kiss your man before you show me your viper fangs again.”

“Sax—”

“Kiss me, woman, and I’ll even cook dinner.”

“Fine.” I glared and then smiled right before my mouth met his.

Chapter Twenty-Six

NARY

Something dragged me out of my sleep. I slowly blinked open my eyes to see the room still held darkness. Light spilled in from the hallway, I assumed from the bathroom. I must have left it on when I’d been to the loo. I wondered for a second if it was the light that woke me, only to suddenly freeze when a handinmy panties pressed against my mound. Saxon’s gentle snore behind me told me he was still asleep. He was unconscious and copping a feel. A wave of lust tingled through me when his hand pressed in tighter.

Still, I lay there and waited.

Waited for the panic to set in.

Waited for the dread to seep in.

Only, it didn’t happen. It didn’t happen as I knew it was the man I loved behind me. The man who with only a glance or touch drove my hormones crazy with need, a need to want more.

So nothing could take me away and place me back there in that hellish moment because Saxon Black, the man I loved and who loved me back just as fiercely, was there with me.

With his arm over me, he pressed himself in close to my bottom. It was then I felt his hardness. I stifled my giggle, knowing he would be shocked when he woke. Until then, I was more than ready to play.

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