Chapter 10
Ten
June
“Do you want to get back into bed and sleep some more? Or maybe you’re hungry. I can make you some lunch. Your meals are all off schedule, I bet, but you need to eat. How about some canned soup? It’s fast and easy. Chicken noodle?”
He’s so attentive that he’s rambling. “That sounds good.”
“Clothes first?” He wiggles his brows. “I mean, I’m good with you wearing my T-shirt all day, but I bet you’ll eventually want to put on clothes before you teach your class.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes. My students are a bit young for their teacher to show up with high beams.”
He snickers. “My men are too young to see your high beams, too. I’d have to gouge their eyes out if they saw you like this.
And I suspect we’ll have a few visitors this afternoon, so yeah…
Maybe more clothes.” He sighs dramatically and turns me toward the bed.
“The only consolation in this plan is that I get to dress you.”
“You’re so crude.” I giggle.
“I am. Yes. Not going to deny it.” He sits on the edge of the bed and picks up a thick sweatshirt. “How about this?”
I roll my eyes. “It’s a bit warm for that, don’t you think?”
“But it has good coverage,” he points out. It’s clear he’s being possessive and silly. He’s fighting the urge to grin.
“You’re not going to be one of those guys who thinks everyone is after his girlfriend, are you?”
He freezes for a moment before his gaze jerks to mine.
Shit. I just called myself his girlfriend. I’ve been here like half a day. What’s wrong with me?
He grabs my hips and pulls me in between his legs, not letting go of my gaze. “Say it again.”
I slowly smile. Apparently, he’s not mad. “What? The sweatshirt looks a bit warm for this weather?”
He tugs me close, smashing me against him. I’m confident his erection is pressing against my belly. His lips come to my neck, and he playfully bites me. “Say it again, or I’ll give you a hickey where everyone can see it.”
I shove at his face. “Including my students. Blade…”
He licks my neck. “Five seconds, or you’re going to need makeup on your neck before your class starts.”
“Blade!” How does he make me laugh and cry over and over?
His teeth graze my skin right before he sucks.
I try to wiggle free. “Uncle.”
He tips his head back. “Oh, Little girl. I have the perfect name for you to call me, but it isn’t Uncle.”
My heart rate picks up. He’s so serious all of a sudden. And then he resumes kissing my neck. “Say it.” His fingers start tickling my waist.
“Fine. Girlfriend. How could that possibly please you?”
“Oh, it pleases me immensely, Little one. And I’m not worried about my guys making moves on you.
They wouldn’t dare. There are things about me I have not yet told you.
We’ll get to them later. For now, suffice to say, you don’t have to worry about any of these clothes.
Pick out what you want, and I’ll put it on you. ”
I cautiously lean around him and pick up a V-neck white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, panties, and a bra.
I would push him out of the room, but the truth is, I can’t dress myself.
I’m sure when my arm stops throbbing every time I try to use my fingers, I’ll be able to dress myself again, but right now, I could really use the help.
It would take me half an hour and I’d be exhausted.
Shivers wrack my body when Blade pulls his T-shirt over my head, leaving me naked. He backs me up a bit so he can bend down and help me into the panties. When he rights himself, he’s staring at them. “Sexy as fuck, honey,” he murmurs.
I flush. Not just my face but my chest.
He grabs my hips, bends his head, and reverently kisses both my nipples, making me gasp and rise onto my toes. I’m so turned on that I can’t breathe, and it seems like my bra isn’t going to fit. My breasts feel heavy.
Blade slides the straps over my shoulders, though, tucks my girls into the cups, and reaches behind me to fasten the hooks. “Equally sexy,” he says.
He pulls my shirt on next and holds my jeans so I can step in. I’m humbled when he has them fastened.
“I should have chosen something easier. You’re going to get very cocky when I realize I can’t pee alone in these.”
“Oh, trust me. I’ve already thought of that,” he teases. “Won’t be locking the door next time, will you, naughty girl?”
I sigh. We’ve crossed so many lines. It seems like I’ve known him for a month instead of a day, and yet there are so many things I don’t know. He’s a cryptic man with odd secrets. I’m not scared, but maybe I should be.
Holding my good hand, he threads our fingers together and leads me back to the kitchen. “You stable enough to sit at the island? You make me nervous up there. You won’t fall, will you?”
I did tell him I’m clumsy. “I have been known to trip over my own feet, but I don’t usually fall off chairs for no good reason.”
“Okay…” He lifts me and sets me on the stool. “…but I think I’ll invest in a booster seat with straps anyway.”
“Hardy har har.” He’s joking…right?
He doesn’t laugh. He heads for the pantry and grabs a can of soup. “Chicken noodle?”
“Yes, please.”
“Crackers? Cheese? You need protein, Little one.”
“I like crackers and most cheeses. Not like pepper jack or anything.”
He dumps the can into a pan and turns on the burner before pulling out everything else and bringing it to the island. In seconds, there’s a plate of saltines and perfect squares of cheddar in front of me. The man cut them up to be the exact size of the crackers. He can’t possibly be real.
I stack one and take a big bite. I really am hungry. My stomach grumbles in pleasure.
A sippy cup filled with the same sparkling drink as earlier materializes next. This one is pink and has two handles. “Why on Earth do you have so many sippy cups, Blade?”
“Long story. Later.”
“You have a lot of stories to tell me later. Do you realize that?”
“Nope. I have one story to tell you later. It’s all the same story.”
Mmm. Interesting. I can’t piece it together, so I don’t strain myself trying.
I have a question about Pete anyway. “Do you think my ex will find me?”
“Nope.”
“He could probably get my number eventually and call me.”
“Mace is going to bring you a phone with a new number when he brings a computer up.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll keep your phone with me in case someone calls. I don’t want you to miss anything important, but I don’t want you to answer if Pete calls.”
“Thank you. That’s nice of you.”
“It’s not just me being kind, honey. Men like him have a way of talking their abuse victim into telling them where they are and coming for them.”
I stiffen. “I’m not that stupid, Blade.”
“I didn’t mean to imply you were, June. It wouldn’t take him much to get enough information out of you. You wouldn’t even realize what you’d inadvertently shared.”
“I wouldn’t take his call.”
He turns me to face him and wraps his arms around me. “Humor me on this, okay? I’ll feel much better if you don’t even have the opportunity for him to make contact with you.”
“Okay.” I run my hand up his chest and cup his face. “Thank you.”
He sets his forehead against mine. “June, you’re mine now. Not his. I will protect you with my life. He will never touch you again.”
I swallow. He’s so intense. And it’s so soon. But I’m feeling the same connection he is, so I don’t argue.
He releases me to pad over to the stove and dish up the soup. When he’s back, he sets it in front of him, fills a spoon, blows on it, touches it with his tongue, and offers it to me.
I lean in and accept the bite. After swallowing, I reach for the spoon. “I bet I can feed myself some soup. You can’t feed me every meal for six weeks.”
He smiles. “Watch me.” He offers me another bite.
I accept it but argue my case again. “Seriously, Blade. I’ve got to learn to use my other hand.” I wiggle my good fingers as if to prove they work. They don’t. Not really. But I’ll figure it out eventually.
“Maybe. But not today. Today, let me take care of you. Which reminds me, I’m pretty sure we did a job for an orthopedic surgeon about a year ago. I’m sure we have his number on file. I’ll have Rachell get you an appointment.”
“Rachell seems very kind.”
He smirks. “She does, but don’t be fooled. She’s former Army and highly skilled. She could disarm a three-hundred-pound man holding a machine gun if he posed a threat.”
I gasp. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“She’s barely bigger than me.”
“But she’s trained and a powerhouse.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed.”
“Yep. Now you know. You’ll always be just as safe with Rachell as any of my men.”
“Good to know. Eerie, but good to know.”
Before I know it, the bowl of soup is empty, and Blade points toward the plate. “Eat the rest of that, Little one.”
“So bossy.” I pick one up and take another bite.
“When it comes to your health and safety, I will be, Little one. Accept it.”
I don’t doubt him. And having someone keeping me safe and fed is foreign to me. But it feels nice. I could get used to this. Maybe I will.