Page 137 of Heir

Wordlessly, he carried me to the bathroom.

The bath was half filled now, and he sank us both in the warm water.

I snuggled closer to him, letting out a moan of pleasure at the warm water on my sore muscles.

Kai watched me with an amused expression on his face, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

I sighed contentedly.

“Happy?” he asked.

I nodded. “Just hold me like this for a minute, Kai.”

“I’ll hold on to you forever if you let me,” he replied, his voice hoarse.

I stilled, keeping my gaze straight ahead at the droplet of water on the tile. I didn’t think I was breathing until that droplet slowly dripped down.

“What?”

He tightened his hold on me, making me feel safe.

“You’ll let me hold on to you forever, won’t you, pretty girl?”

“Forever’s a long time,” I said quietly.

He kissed the side of my cheek. “I know.”

I smiled a little before relaxing back into his arms.

I didn’t want to leave.

Not with all the problems that awaited us out there.

“Do you have to go to work today?” I asked.

“No, I’ll be working from home. But I meant what I said. If I have to go in, I’m taking you with me.”

“Really?”

He nodded against me. “Really. Unless I know there will be something dangerous going on, you’ll always come with me.”

I turned around and looked at him. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“I don’t want you walking into dangerous situations either.”

He cupped my cheek. “I can take care of myself. And you. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

But how did he expect me not to worry? That was like asking me not to breathe. A slight panic came over me at the thought of something happening to him.

I couldn’t—

“Hey, listen to me. Look at me. Do you really think I can’t take care of myself?” he asked, his voice penetrating through the panic.

“You’re not invincible. You’re not a god, even if you look like one.”

He grinned. “You think I look like a god?”