Page 167 of Beyond Protection
"Equal everything. Fifty-fifty. If we disagree, we work it out." I kissed him lightly. "Real partnership. Not you running things while I write checks."
"Are you retiring? You mentioned retirement money."
"I'm thinking about it. I'm tired of performing. Done being a symbol." It was the truth lodged in my bones. "I want to build something real. With you."
"The Guardians," Eamon said.
I blinked. "What?"
"The name. We're not only protecting people. We're guarding them like your family guarded you. Like you guarded me. Like we'll guard each other."
Guardians.Not bodyguards. Something bigger. Presence instead of defense.
"The Guardians."
"Too on the nose?"
"No." My throat tightened. "Perfect."
"So we're doing this? Actually doing this? Together?"
"If you want to."
"I want to." He corrected himself with emphasis. "We want to. We're building this."
I leaned in. Kissed him softly.
When I pulled back, he was smiling.
"Your family's going to have opinions."
"Let them. This is ours first." I kissed him again. "We'll tell them tomorrow."
He shifted closer. "Mac?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to be with you. Not as patient and caretaker." He gazed into my eyes. "Us. Celebrating what we just chose."
Heat flared in my chest. "Yeah. I need that too."
His good hand came up. Cupped my face.
"How's your shoulder? Really."
"Good enough for this." His thumb brushed my cheekbone. "I'll tell you if it's too much."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
We undressed slowly. Me helping with his shirt and his jeans. Careful of the injury, but less scared now.
He lay back in only his black boxer briefs. Bandage stark white against his shoulder. His eyes were dark. Dilated and focused entirely on me.
I stripped down to my underwear. Climbed onto the bed. The fold-out's springs protested. Straddled his lap carefully, knees bracketing his hips. Mindful of everything that could hurt.
"Okay?" I asked.
