Page 20 of Guarded By the Bigfoot
But I knew one thing.
I wasn’t going anywhere.
10
BROCK
Parker slept beside me, one hand pressed against my chest, right over my heart. The simple touch sent waves of contentment through me. Her dark hair spread across my pillow like midnight shadows, catching the early morning light that filtered through the windows. Even now, hours after we’d come together, the intensity of her touch took my breath away.
I hadn’t slept. Couldn’t sleep. Not with the weight of everything pressing down on me. The monitoring crystal on my bedside table pulsed with a soft blue glow, displaying real-time data from the Veil. Each fluctuation made my fur stand on end, sending ripples of unease through my body. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Parker’s face.
She looked so peaceful, so trusting. The fierce ARC agent who’d stormed into my life was still there, but in sleep, her walls were down. Every protective instinct in my body screamed to keep her safe, to shield her from what was coming. But Parker Woods wasn’t the type to be sheltered, and that truth both terrified and thrilled me.
The monitor flashed red before settling back to blue. My muscles tensed, but I forced myself to stay still. I felt her stir, responding to my tension even in sleep. She mumbled something, burrowing closer to my warmth. The trust in that simple gesture made my heart clench.
If things went wrong at the Veil, there’d be no coming back.
No. I couldn’t think about that now. Couldn’t let myself dwell on what might happen when I faced the Dreadnull and whatever else was intent on creeping in. Instead, I focused on memorizing every detail of her face. The slight curve of her lips, the faint freckles across her nose, the way her eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks. If these were to be our last moments together, I wanted to remember everything.
The monitor flashed again, more insistent this time, and Parker’s eyes fluttered open. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep but sharp with awareness, met mine. A soft smile curved her lips, but I felt her concern.
“You didn’t sleep,” she said, her voice soft. Not a question.
“Couldn’t.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger against her skin. “Someone had to keep watch.”
She pushed herself up on one elbow, the sheets sliding down to reveal bare skin marked with my touches from the night before. The sight still made my breath catch.
“Any changes?”
“Stable. For now.” I gestured to the monitor, which pulsed with an ominous rhythm. “But the fluctuations are getting stronger. More organized.”
I shifted to face Parker as she sat up, pulling the sheet back around her. The morning sun turned her skin to liquid gold, every mark I’d left on her neck and collarbone a reminder of our night together. Her eyes met mine, filled with questions she wasn’t sure how to voice.
“Tell me what this is between us,” she said, her voice soft but determined. “I need to understand why everything feels so... intense.”
I reached out, trailing my fingers along her arm. The touch sent electricity through my body, making my heart race.
“It’s deeper than just wanting each other. When I’m with you, it’s like finding a missing piece of myself I never knew was gone. Every emotion, every sensation is heightened because we’re connected on this profound level.”
“So when I feel this pull toward you...”
“I feel it too. That energy drawing us together, making it impossible to stay apart.” I cupped her face in my hands. “But it’s more than physical attraction. When you’re hurting, I hurt. When you’re happy, that joy fills me up, too. We’re equals. Partners in every way.”
Her fingers traced the line of my jaw. “I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s terrifying and amazing at the same time.”
“What we have is rare,” I said, leaning into her touch. “Most people go their whole lives without experiencing this kind of connection. You’re extraordinary, Parker. Your strength, your fire, they call to everything I am. And I felt it on the mountain when I found you.”
She smiled, a mix of wonder and vulnerability in her expression. “So I’m stuck with you then?”
“Forever,” I promised, pulling her closer. “If you’ll have me.”
Parker’s laugh filled the room, a sound that made my heart skip.
“Forever’s a long time, especially with someone as stubborn as you.”
“Me? Stubborn?” I said. “I’m a perfect example of flexibility and compromise.”
“Says the guy who insists I’m in constant danger and won’t let me help.”
