Page 43 of To Hold and Protect

“Is that what we’re going to do?”

“A girl can hope. But first, I wanted to tell you that Everly invited me to her birthday party. I told her I’d come. Is that okay?”

“Of course. She told me she asked and that you’ll be there with bells on. Now she wants to wear bells on her birthday, too.”

She laughed. “I keep forgetting that kids take things literally. Now I have to go buy some bells. I’ll get some for her, too. What about you? You want bells?”

“I want you.”

Chapter Nineteen

Willow had never been this aroused in her life. The way he said he wanted her—his voice low and growly—almost sounded as if his life depended on it. And the way his fingers felt on her skin as he trailed them up her leg... She was ready to tear off her clothes right here on her porch for all the neighbors to see.

“Let’s go inside,” she said.

He stood, grabbed the baby monitor, then held out his hand.

She put her hand in his. “Is Everly okay alone in your house?” Was a baby monitor good enough for him to be gone?

“Kade and Harper are home, but if she wakes up, I want to know. Once she’s asleep, though, she never wakes up until morning.”

“Okay, good. The house is a mess from all the construction, so—”

“Don’t care. All we need is a bed.”

“That’s good because I’ve got one of those.”

She’d had her contractor haul out her uncle’s bed because she just couldn’t bring herself to sleep on the ancient mattress. The new bed was a king, and she’d ordered new sheets, pillows, and a comforter for it. She was glad she had now. The main bedroom was the only room in the house that wasn’t torn apart. They were saving it and the attached bath remodel for last.

Ember had followed them in, and when they reached the bedroom, she walked the perimeter of the room, checking things out, then went to the blanket Willow had placed on the floor earlier in case the dog came with him tonight.

“You want something else to drink?” She’d moved the microwave and a mini fridge into the bedroom since the kitchen was down to the bare bones.

“All I want is you.”

“What a coincidence. I want you, too.”

He moved to the side of the bed. “Come here, Willow.” When she was standing in front of him, he traced the words on her T-shirt with his finger. “Promise not to kill me off?”

“As long as you’re nice to me.” Because the words were over her breasts, the trail of his finger across her shirt sent a delicious shiver through her. The smile on his face said that he knew exactly what he was doing to her.

“Is that really what you want? Just nice?” He flattened his palm just above the curve of her breast.

“No, nice is boring. I want awesome.”

“That’s the answer I was hoping for. Can I undress you now?”

“Yes, please.” A hundred times yes.

“Lift your arms. Let’s get this shirt off so I can see you.”

She held up her arms, and he pulled the T-shirt up and over her head, then dropped it on the floor. Bared to him made her feel a little shy and a whole lot turned on.

“No bra. If I’d known that, I would have copped a feel.”

His grin reminded her of a mischievous boy up to no good.

He lowered his hands to the button on her jean shorts, and while he lowered the zipper, he kept his eyes locked on hers. A man had never undressed her before, and she liked it, especially the way his brown eyes darkened to the color of espresso as he lowered his gaze.

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