Page 37 of Dangers of Love

I didn’t understandwhy Aline would – again – think I didn’t want her. I knew her family was really overprotective of her, but I couldn’t imagine that translating into any type of emotional abuse. She was a certified genius and one of the most selfless people I’d ever met. And she was gorgeous. The fact that she’d been a virgin – barely even kissed if Freedom had been right about that too – confused the shit out of me because she had to have had guys all over her.

Just the thought of any other man near her made my arms tighten around her. I still had my hand in her pants, could hear her ragged breathing slow and even out…and I was jealous of men I didn’t even know, men who might not even exist.

Men I didn’t want to exist.

I wanted to be it for her. The only man who’d ever know what she looked like when she came.

Shit.

The thought should have terrified me, but it didn’t. Even though I was painfully hard, I was content to stand here, holding her, rubbing her back with my free hand.

“That’s it,” I said quietly. “Relax. I’ve got you.”

I called her sweetheart, told her that I was here, that she wasn’t alone. I probably repeated myself, but I didn’t think she cared. I could’ve stood there all day, but a knock on the door broke into our little bubble, and a thought came with it.

“Dammit,” I muttered. “I completely lost track of time.”

“Who is it?” she asked as she straightened her clothes, her cheeks flaming with color.

“Cain and the guys,” I answered as I went into the bathroom to quickly wash my hands. “Apparently, before we left the office Thursday, I’d asked them to come help me get my things from storage. Cain brought it up yesterday when I called him to check in.”

As I walked back out to the bedroom, my phone started vibrating in my pocket. I answered it, giving Aline a smile as I headed for the door.

“I’m coming.” I didn’t bother with a greeting. “Don’t be an asshole.”

Cain laughed. “Takes one to know one, right?”

I hung up on him, and less than a minute later, opened the door to let the guys in. “You’re a riot, Cain.”

Dez whistled as he stepped inside. “Damn, army boy. I knew your type was soft, butthis?”

“Fuck you, Dez.” I flipped him off.

“No, thank you.” Dez winked at me. “You’re not my type.”

“Aline.” Bruce’s eyebrows went up. “We didn’t know you were here.”

Eyes went to her and then to me, apparently deciding I needed to offer an explanation of some kind.

“Hi, guys.” She stepped up next to me and slipped her hand into mine. “You all look like you’re feeling better than the last time I saw you.”

“Yeah, not all of us are as delicate as your…man here,” Dez said with a grin. “I mean, if he evenisa man.”

As soon as Aline wasn’t around, I was going to punch that smirk off his expression. And then I saw Aline’s face. It was pink, but she had that stubborn set to her jaw that I already recognized. The glint in her eyes was something I knew too.

“My degree is in education, not biology, but if you’ve ever seen him naked, you wouldn’t have a doubt in your mind that he’s all man.” She gave Dez an exaggerated up-and-down look, then added, “But I can understand your confusion if you only have your own…equipmentto judge by.”

Dez’s jaw dropped, and the other guys burst out laughing right along with me. Even Fever laughed.

Aline squeezed my hand, and I looked down at her. “I hate to do this now, but I’m scheduled to work at the boutique from two to seven, and I didn’t drive here. It’s already one-thirty.”

I frowned. Work? After the morning she’d had? “Did Martina know you had a doctor’s appointment today?”

“No, I didn’t tell her.”

“I’m sure she won’t mind if you call off.”

Aline gave me a strange look, as if she didn’t understand why it was a good idea for her to take a personal day. I didn’t know Martina well, but I had no doubt she’d do what was best for Aline.

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