Page 31 of Emily's Essence

“Wouldn’t it be easier for me to sleep on that side since I pee more than you?”

He arranged her with her back against his chest. “No, I want to be between you and the door.”

“Why?”

Damn, she was so innocent in ways. “In case there’s a threat, babe.”

She looked over her shoulder at him with a frown of concern on her face. “But you might get hurt.”

“If one of us is going to get hurt, it will be me because I’m bigger and stronger. I can take a hell of a lot of damage before it takes me down.”

“I hate thinking about that kind of stuff.”

“That’s fine. That’s my job, so you don’t have to,” he said.

“So, what changed? You wanted me gone yesterday.”

He ran his fingertips down her cheek. “I never wanted you gone. I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

“But, if I wanted to go, there’s nothing you could do about it.”

He smiled. “There’s plenty I could do about it, babe. But I have to tell you that I’ve never had a relationship with a woman, so I’m going to make some mistakes and say things that will piss you off.”

“Seriously. No relationship?”

“Never, ever.”

“But you’ve … you know, with women?”

“Do you mean fuck?”

She cringed, making him smile.

“Yes.”

“Yes, babe, I’ve fucked women. But that’s all it was. I’ve never cared about them, and I have never slept with one. You’re the only woman I’ll ever care about.”

“What if you decide you don’t really want me?”

“I can’t see that happening,” he said.

“But what if?”

He rolled his eyes. “I really don’t know. I don’t want us even to think that way.”

“But…”

He turned her on her side. “Enough. Go to sleep. We have plenty of time to hash all of this out.”

He heard her sigh, but she didn’t say anything else.

Several minutes later, when he heard her breathing deepen, he closed his eyes and slept.

Chapter Fourteen

Emily walked into the kitchen with Hawk hot on her heels and a scowl on his face. He wanted to keep her in bed all day so she could rest, but she told him she’d go bonkers.

When he tried to insist, she told him that was fine. They could stay in bed all day. It would give them hours and hours to talk about their relationship. She had to hide her smile when he abruptly gave in but said he’d be watching her.

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