Chapter 23
Hannah
Wow, I’m flattered.
Still reeling from “linner,” I think about how unlikely it is that I’ll ever enjoy being wrong. We pull into the front of my house, the bike gliding over the sloped sidewalk and into the half-empty driveway. It’s already getting dark, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m glad I didn’t walk home.
Swinging my leg off the bike, I realize Sarge and I have spent the last two days together.
Two days alone with a man who, by all accounts, is still a stranger.
And yet... he doesn’t feel like one anymore.
With every passing hour, that wall of unfamiliarity thins, and in its place is something far more dangerous.
It scares me, just a little. But damn if it doesn’t also comfort me more than I care to admit out loud.
“Do you normally have a lot of free time?” I ask as I unfasten my borrowed helmet and hang it from his handlebars.
He lets out a quick, short breath. “No, not exactly. Why do you ask?” Leaning the bike on its kickstand, he begins to remove his fingerless gloves, making me think he might be staying for a bit.
I run my fingers through my wind-tangled hair, trying to smooth out the brown strands. My hair may be stick-straight, but it’s long and fine, making it prone to tangling.
“You haven’t left my side since the night before last,” I say, trying to sound casual, “even when I tried to run away.” I laugh out.
“I can’t ignore that you’ve stayed with me when you must have other things to do.”
He either doesn’t have much going on or he’s put it all on hold for me. It’s sweet that he’s spent so much time with me, but I don’t know how I feel about him putting other things aside because of me. I like the idea of him being a jobless deadbeat even less.
“I told the guys I needed to be with you right now; no one questioned it. They’re working on figuring out why you were targeted, and they sure don’t need my help with that.
” He puts his gloves in a saddlebag and stalks toward me like I’m prey.
“I don’t need to be anywhere but here, with you, until morning. ”
I instinctively take a step back, but he’s quicker. He reaches out, placing a hand on the back of my neck, bringing his face within inches of mine.
“I meant what I said, Hannah. I want to break down that impenetrable wall you’ve built and show you what being with a real man is like.
” His free hand moves a stray strand of hair away from my face, eyes locking with mine.
“Now, if you’re done trying to run from me for the night, I’d like to come inside. ”
Deciding to press him on the job subject later, I narrow my eyes at him, and against my best efforts, this damn grin keeps tugging at my lips. I hate that he can get under my skin like this, but I also love it, too.
“Well, since I’m off work until tomorrow night... I don’t really have anything better to do,” I roll my eyes, teasing.
“Wow, I’m flattered.” His hips press into mine, voice low. “Is that the only reason you can think of to spend more time with me?”
His hand trails up the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair. A shiver snakes down my spine.
“Because,” he continues, “your body is telling me there are other reasons. The way you relax into my touch, how your pupils dilate when I work my fingers into your hair.” He fists my hair, tugging my head back, lips hovering just above my collarbone.
“The way your breathing quickens when I touch you.”
My whole body melts at his words. I’m completely at his mercy. I can feel the pull between us growing—magnetic and inevitable. His hands move with purpose, yet there’s a deliberate patience in the way he practices control.
I feel both safe and on edge at the same time. Something inside my naive brain tells me Sarge won’t hurt me. I don’t understand where this thought materializes from; men have royally screwed me over historically. Hell, even my dad left me before I was born.
“You like this, don’t you?” His voice is low, edged with amusement and something darker, possessive.
I try to speak, but am lost for words. The only thing I manage is a breathy, “Maybe...”
A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe, huh?” His hands glide down my sides, tracing the curve from shoulders to hips. “Let’s see if we can change that to a yes. Maybe even a yes, please.”
My pulse hammers, every nerve alive with fire. I want to pull back, to remind myself of boundaries.
But I can’t.
Not when his touch feels like it was made for me, like every move he makes is designed to unearth something I didn’t know was buried.
His beard brushes across the shell of my ear. “I can feel how you want me, Hannah. I can feel it in every shiver, every subtle shift of your body into mine.” He nips at my earlobe. “When are you going to let yourself have what you want?”
I swallow hard, caught between surrender and restraint. And for the first time, I wonder if maybe... I don’t want to resist.
“That’s awfully bold of you, Sarge. I just met you.” I’m proud of myself for standing my ground... for now.
“Does just meeting me somehow affect your wanting of me?” he asks, both hands moving to the small of my back, eyes resting on mine. “Can I at least come upstairs and watch over you for the night? It’ll make me feel better.”
“Watch over me, huh? That sounds... both creepy and charming.”
He raises an eyebrow, mischief glinting in his eyes. “So what you’re saying is, I’m charming.”
I laugh softly, tipping my chin up. “That would be all you hear.”
His arms tighten around me, making me all the more aware of the heat between us. “So... is that a yes?”
I swat his shoulder playfully. “Yes, it’s a yes.” I take his hand in mine, and we stroll toward my front door.
He chuckles, leaning in just enough for his breath to tickle my ear.
“I was hoping you’d say yes,” he murmurs, “because I really didn’t want to sleep outside. Not nearly as comfy as your office chair.” He winks, the corners of his mouth quirking up.
“Sarge, sleep outside? Seriously? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” I ask, staring at him in disbelief, shaking my head.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he leans into the door jam as I unlock the deadbolt. His gaze cast down at me with that maddening mix of cocky and sincere.
“Not at all,” he says. “I meant what I said when I told you I’ll spend forever trying to make up for what happened to you. That starts with keeping you safe.”
I step aside and open the door, letting myself in first as he follows. The warm air from the house brushes past, encouraging the electricity between us. I glance at him, biting back a grin, my pulse quickening.
This feels different from before. The last time I woke up with him in my house was because he had gotten there while I was unconscious. I didn’t have a say in what transpired. I didn’t invite him in.
Now, everything feels heavier, more intentional, because I am willingly inviting this man into my home. He is the first man to ever be inside my house since I’ve been on my own.
My face fails me at hiding my uncertainty and nerves.
“I want you to know, I’m not letting you in just to sleep with you.” I declare, half-teasing, half-serious, trying to hold my ground even as my body betrays me with every subtle shiver.
He tilts his head, cocky and smug in the most infuriatingly sexy way.
“Oh, no. We will also be getting some sleep. Sleep is important,” he says, the corner of his mouth quirking into a provoking half-smile.
“I never said we’d be doing anything extracurricular in the sheets to begin with. Do you find this all amusing?”
“Amusing? No, no. Absolutely not.” He says with a shake of his head, holding his palms out in mock defensiveness. “Now, let’s go upstairs into your room, where we will most certainly not be having sex.”
Looking up at him, it’s now my turn to cross my arms over my chest. “You do find fun in this, don’t you?”
Leaning in until we are nose to nose, his voice drops to a low rumble, “Oh, I’m just getting started, Hannah,” eyes glinting, that low, dangerous playfulness threading through every word.
Before I can stop it, a smirk touches my lips, and my heart skips a beat. I can’t help but wonder what kinds of trouble he’ll pull me into, without ever touching a thing I’m not ready to give.
Even gliding past him, ascending the stairs, I can feel his gaze tracking every move, stalking, waiting. A thrill snakes up my spine. I shouldn’t be this affected. I shouldn’t want him. And yet... I do.
I’m nervous about where this might go, but curious enough to want to find out. You only live once, right?
Halfway up the steps, I turn so I can see him over my shoulder. “You coming?”