Page 8 of Protector Next Door
“He circulated this picture of me in just, like, a bra thing and shorts. It wasn’t meant for anyone’s eyes but his, obviously. But we were kind of in that stage where you’re in the process of breaking up and you just want the other person to do it so you try to make each other crazy. It’s a total coward move, Iknow.”
“It’s not cowardly,” he says, skipping over the part about the photos,thankfully. “It’s not perfect, but everyone makes mistakes. How old was this guy, yourage?”
“Um,” I say, biting my lip, “he was actually in his mid-thirties. I was twenty and he was thirty-four, thirtyfive.”
“Ok,” he shakes his head, “someone that age should definitely know better than to pull thisshit.”
“I guess I never thought of it likethat.”
“It’s okay,” he offers. “We’re going to take care of it. For now, let’s just forget about it and have a niceevening.”
He grabs the TV remote and I take a sip of my beer, sitting back down. For a minute he’s just flipping through the channels and then he’s draping his arm over the back of the couch, his fingertips inches from my cheek. It’s enough to get me riled. I shift in my seat and clear my throat to ease some of thetension.
“You okay overthere?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m justthinking.”
“Listen, there’s something on my mind too,” he says sternly, flipping the TV off and tossing the remote aside. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, fingers knotted together. Lecture time? Please, no. “I’m sorry again for how I spoke to you earlier. I was frustrated. I’ve always cared about you, and I can’t help but think that…I don’t know, I wasn’t aware of the situation with your ex. I’d hate for you to think I was trying to control you or engage in the kind of asshole behavior you described your ex pulling. So yeah, please know that I’m not just sorry for talking to you like that. I’m also sorry if it brought up any negative shit foryou.”
“Oh my god, no, Xander.” I draw one of my knees up under me and scoot a little closer to him. “Not at all. To be honest, I kind of likedit.”
His jaw ticks and he gives me a subtle little sexysmile.
“Didn’t take you as a glutton for punishment,” he says, sinking into his seat a little and taking a swig of hisbeer.
“I mean, you know,” I say timidly. “I just mean having someone who takes charge is a nice, refreshing change of pace for me. I liked it. It made me feel cared about. That’sall.”
His gaze shifts to mine and I feel that same flood of sensation and emotion I felt back at my house. His eyes drink me up and I feel a flame of white heat lick at my belly from the inside. His nostrils flare as he lets out a sharp breath and puts his hands on hisknees.
“I have to go to bed,” he says as he begins tostand.
“Wait,” I whisper, reaching up to touch his arm. “I liked it, Xander. The way you looked at me. It felt good. It made me feelsafe.”
I rise to my feet as he turns to face me. And suddenly, somehow, I’m up on my toes to kiss him. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m brushing my lips against his. After a split-second of resistance, he opens up for me, nestling his lips against mine and then opening them more, resting his hand on the back of my neck with a frustrating mix of equal parts conviction anddisbelief.
He pulls me onto the couch with him and nestles me close to his chest. His hand glides up the back of my scalp, making a moan slide from my chest and onto his lips. I feel him catch it and smile before he deepens his hold on me - fromeveryangle. His hand on the back of my neck holds me a little stronger, his other hand finds the curve of my waist, and his tongue goes a little bitdeeper.
How does he knowexactlyhow to kiss me? How does he knowexactlyhow to make me turn to putty in his hands? For a moment I believe that there’s a greater force at work. I don’t know why a higher power would be interested in me making out with my dad’s friend, but this feels divinelyinspired.
Shit. I am making out with my dad’s friend. I break away from his lips and he catches my eye, pulling me back to his lips after the most briefinterlude.
“You are so fucking sexy, Samantha,” he mutters against me, kissing down to my chin, to my neck. A breath catches deep in my throat and makes me exhale with a shakyshudder.
“So are you,” I laugh-whisper into the air. He pauses and takes the deepest breath, breaking away from mesoftly.
“I don’t know if I can do this, Samantha.” He reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, making me melt under his touch. “It’s notright.”
“What’s not right about it?” I can’t help myself. If he’s going to tell me this can’t happen, he should have a good reason. “The fact that I’m too young for you? The relationship you have with myfather?”
“No,” he says, looking me square in the eyes.“I don’t want to take advantage of the situation you’re in. You are depending on me right now. It wouldn’t be right. It would confuse you. And I don’t want to be like any other man you’ve been with. I’m not perfect, but I think I’m better than them. I wouldn’t hurt you. I’m sure of it. And that means I can’t let thishappen.”
“I could leave,” I say, the words coming faster than I can control them. “I could call a cab and I could check into a hotel. I don’tneedto rely on you, Xander. Iwantto rely on you. I want to be here. I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a woman. I can make my ownchoices.”
He smiles and pulls me onto his lap and his fingers tease me through my shorts, making a dull ache spread through me. His fingers go up and over the top of my shorts and then down again to tease me through mypanties.
“I cannot believe how fucking wet you are,” he rasps in a dark whisper against my ear. His fingers make slow, soft circles against my clit through the fabric and I feel my mind go blank as white heat slowly crawls through my veins. He pulls me closer so I’m pressed up against his cock through hispants.
He dips up and then down again, this time inside my panties, and lets out a deep, low chuckle when he feels that I’m bare. Two of his fingers slide my lips apart while another traces soft, tight circles over my clit. He brushes his lips against mine and tortures my clit with slow movements. His cock twitches under my ass and I groan softly as I wiggle againstit.
