I notice the blood is beginning to leave her face.
Alarm blares through me and I push off the wall, crossing toward her quickly. “Peyton?”
“I’m sorry,” she says, squeezing her eyes shut. “Now that the adrenaline has worn off, I’m feeling a little shaky.”
I catch her as soon as her knees begin to buckle, bringing her up against my chest roughly to keep her from falling.
Two things occur to me at once.
One, if I could go back in time, I would snap Tony’s neck for scaring her like this. Of course her nerves are shot now that some time has passed. That bastard was twice her size. Obviously his intentions for trying to force himself on her in the middle of the night weren’t honorable. She’s probably in the process of realizing exactly what could have happened if she wasn’t so brave.
Two, from this moment forward, I’ll never be able to survive without her in my arms. Jesus, she’s so goddamn sweet. She fits me like we were carved for one another, her head tucking right beneath my chin, her breasts and pelvis settling into me like a missing puzzle piece. It feels so good, I’m seeing double.
“This is humiliating,” she grumbles. “I teach kindergartners for a living. I’m supposed to be a little tougher than this.”
A kindergarten teacher in the arms of a felon. Former mob muscle.
Somewhere out there, fate is laughing hysterically.
“You are tough, honey. That was you tonight who ran away. That was you who survived the fear.” A little bit of the tension leaves her and she sighs, snuggling into me somewhat, turning my heart upside down. “You know…” My voice is deep and hoarse, so I struggle to clear it. “You know, we’ve established that if anyone messes with you, I’m going to kick their ass. Staying here with me might make you feel safe, instead of scared.” I inhale the vanilla fragrance of her hair. “But if that’s not enough, I could install a lock on the inside of your bedroom door. You’d have the only key.”
Her breath warms my neck for long moments. “Granger, are you doing all of this because you want to sleep with me?” She looks up at me and I permanently drown in her wide hazel eyes. “I don’t think I’ll want a man’s hands on me for a while after…tonight. I get nervous just thinking about it.” Pink spots appear on her cheeks and she can no longer look at me straight. “I don’t have any experience to begin with, so…”
Christ. A virgin.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. Maybe because I come from a world where innocence is taken away at an early age. Not just for females, but for everyone. There’s no such thing as being naïve. God, I should have known she’d still have her cherry, though. It’s in her shyness. It’s in her guileless expression.
It’s in the way she presses into my erect cock like she has no idea what it is or why it’s bulging up against my zipper, just dying for a shot between her legs.
“No experience, huh?” I choke out, ordering myself to keep my hands off her ass. “I don’t have a lot, either. What I have done is not worth remembering.”
I’ll never remember anyone but her.
I’ll never want anyone but this girl. Every second I stand holding her gets her deeper into my blood. My bones. I just need her to stay.
I’m not sure how I’ll handle it if she doesn’t, but it wouldn’t be the last time I see her. The idea of never seeing her again is laughable. I’d be trailing her the second she touched the sidewalk outside my building.
Trailing her.
Following her.
My dick gets stiffer at the prospect of protecting her even when she doesn’t know I’m there. Watching her every move.
“Do you think we could be friends?” she asks, peering up at me.
Being friendly is the last thing I think about when I look at her. I want to rope her wrists to my headboard and fuck her into next week. And when I’m done, I want to rock her like a baby, run her a bath, buy her presents. Take pictures of the love marks I leave behind on her skin. Dress her up and pose her for me. God, I don’t know if that makes sense and I don’t care. But none of this is going to happen any time soon. She’s too spooked over what happened…and if I want her to trust me, I’ll have to put my lust in check and play the long game.
Whatever gets me near her. Whatever gets me access.
“Friends? Nah.” I tilt her chin up and smile. “We’re going to be best friends.”
Chapter Three
Peyton
With the last of my students scurrying off toward their parents at pick-up time, I return to the school building with a smile on my face. There is nothing more satisfying than teaching children, watching their little faces brighten during the surprise twist in a story. Or when they take the morals about kindness they learn throughout the day and employ them with each other. Sharing, giving, caring.