Page 59 of Protected from Malice
“I’m okay,” she finally says. “Or as okay as I can be, considering.” Stepping back from me, she takes my hand andpulls me over to the bed. Once she sits, she pats the mattress beside her and looks up at me expectantly.
As if I need more invitation than that?
“It sucked,” she continues once I’m seated. She edges closer so our legs are touching. “I won’t pretend it didn’t. I haven’t seen Indy look that upset since—” A small sigh escapes. “Not since he woke up in the hospital and found out about his arm.”
“Eden.”
“Hurting him like that… it was awful.” She turns to me with moisture shining in her eyes. “Like I punched him in the gut. And thesoundhe made…”
“Youdidn’t hurt him,” I insist. “None of this is your fault.”
“I know. Rationally, I know. But still. I can’t help feeling guilty. Poor Indy’s been through so much. And now this.”
“Eden.” I take both her hands in mine. “I know you want to protect Indy. And you have. You’ve been there for him in a hundred different ways. Taking weeks off to be with him in Germany. Then again in DC. All those fundraisers you organized on your own. And I know you’ve flown out to visit him nearly every month since then.”
“He’s my brother, Rafe.”
“He is. And you’re an incredible sister. But maybe it’s time for you to let him protect you.”
Her teeth dig into her lower lip. “Does that mean you don’t want?—”
Ah, fuck.
My arms come around her, gently hugging her against me. “I will always be here to protect you, Eden. No matter who else is around. That’s a promise.”
A beat later, I’m gripped with uncertainty.
What am I thinking; hugging her without asking first?
Just because she said it was fine doesn’t mean?—
Then she hugs me back.
Her head comes to my shoulder.
Her breath brushes against my neck.
Like before, she leans into me, giving me her weight.
It’s not a quick, friendly hug, like the ones I’d allow myself in the past.
It’s trust.
She’s trusting me to support her.
My hand comes to her nape, working out the stress knotted into her muscles.
Eden sighs. Her body relaxes.
The feel of her breasts pressing against my chest tempts my mind into wandering to more dangerous places.
Places where I’m not here for her protection, but simply because she wants me here. Where I could kiss her. Explore the feelings I’ve been ruthlessly tamping down since the first time I met her.
But that’s not reality. Not now, at least.
And holding Eden is a temptation that’s almost impossible to resist. I will, of course. I’d rather die than do anything to hurt her, or push her into something she’s not ready for. So it’s with reluctance that I finally release her and lean back to inspect her face.
She looks okay. At least, she’s not crying. Or visibly upset. If anything, she looks happier than when I came into the bedroom, so that’s a relief.
