Defender (Seattle Sharks 9)

I took it, my fingers tingling from the slight touch, the easy pressure in which he held my hand and guided us toward Langley and Axel.

Axel, who glanced over his shoulder and flashed me a look like we shared a secret.

And as I realized how different their touches were—one comforting and platonic verses the heat now coursing through my veins—I realized Axel had known exactly what he was doing moments ago. As he had known why I was distracted in the one place I should be totally consumed.

My heart warmed for the giant, him now taking a solid place in my circle, earning more of my trust and respect. And the man next to me? Holding my hand so he didn’t lose me in a crowd?

Well, he had already carved out a spot the second he’d told me I needed an anchor in the world.

* * *

“You didn’t!” I grinned up at Nathan, who wore his own smirk as he motioned for me to go in ahead of him.

It had been almost two months of beautiful, blissful moments with Nathan—squeezed between games, ice time, work at the lab, and research. And with only brief moments of panic that I was totally settled and comfy in this happiness, this relationship that Nathan and I had created around ourselves despite the risks, despite knowing I was moving soon and he wasn’t.

Despite the words Nixon had whispered in my ear at Christmas—the words that haunted me in those moments I sat still enough to leave my mind vulnerable.

You’re going to get him killed.

I swallowed the cold chill that raced down my spine, focusing on the way Nathan beamed at my side.

I walked into the museum—the glass door held open by a loan staff member—and spun around when I noticed the lack of patrons. “You didn’t rent out the place, did you?”

Nathan thanked the staff member, who nodded at him.

“It’s Valentine’s Day,” he said, his hand on the small of my back as he guided me toward an exhibit. “And I know you. You’re not a dinner and a movie girl.”

I sucked my teeth. “I would’ve been perfectly content with ordering in and watching Netflix.”

“Sure,” he said, stopping us inside the first room. “But this is much cooler. You have to admit it.”

I focused, my mind clearing as I surveyed the expansive room filled with display cases. Some original artifacts, some replicas, but all focusing on one heritage. Nordic. I interlocked our hands. “Sweden was fun,” I said, my heart swelling at how detailed the night already was, how much thought he’d put into it.

“Could’ve been more fun,” he whispered into my ear, his chest against my back as we looked at a display case filled with ancient stone axes and tools. Warm chills raced along the edge of my neck and down my spine.

“Really?” I asked, straightening just enough to graze my body against his, all the while remaining focused on the axes before me. “How so?”

Nathan trailed his fingers down my arms and up again, in slow, teasing strokes that told me exactly where else he’d like to be touching me right this moment. Heat pooled low in my belly, my thighs clenching. “I could’ve kissed you in a hundred different places in that country.”

A small breath escaped my lungs, his whispered words paired with light, damn near chaste kisses on my neck. “I could’ve held you all night and laughed with you all morning.” Another trail of kisses, a wicked flick of his tongue, and I was arching back into him, feeling the hard length of him pressing into my behind. “If I would’ve known then…we would’ve had more time.”

Ice cold water doused the fire burning inside me, as it did every time I was reminded of our inevitable expiration date.

Nathan rested his chin on my shoulder, the tall man having to bend to do so. A quiet calm resonated from him, soothing the panic creeping up my throat. I shoved it—like every other thought I had when it came to having to leave him when I moved—down in the mental safe I locked all those thoughts in.

“This reminds me of Axel,” I finally said, and Nathan stiffened behind me.

“Not the response I was expecting when I mentioned Sweden,” he said, but there was a light teasing to his tone.

I spun around, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Nathan Noble,” I said, smiling. “You aren’t jealous, are you?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Of course, not. Why would I be jealous of my girl thinking about a giant Swede wielding one of these massive axes?”

I laughed, dropping my forehead against his chest. He smoothed his hand down my long hair.

“I only meant the man looks like a warrior,” I said, then cringed. “I mean…he’s protective and otherworldly. Lukas has it too.”

“You don’t think I could hold my own on a battlefield?” Nathan nudged me so I’d look up at him, nothing but mischief in his eyes.