“You have a visitor,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the door. “Bones thinks she came by so I could help her fix her laptop.”
“Yeah? And how’d she get in my room?”
“Pop-A-Lock?” he suggested.
I glared at him with my dry eyes that burned like a motherfucker. Did he expect me to believe she called a fucking locksmith, and he wasn’t the one who let Lacey inside my room? This kid was a character, bitchin’ about getting mixed up with me and Lacey but then he picks my fucking lock and covers for her.
Idiot.
“Thanks,” I muttered as he stepped aside, allowing me room to open the door. He patted me on the back as I drew in a ragged breath and watched him walk down the hallway.
I opened the door and was greeted by the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.
I guess the devil wanted to fuck me a little harder, sharpen the blade before he twisted it deeper.
Lacey was sitting on my bed with her bare legs crossed, wearing nothing but one of my black t-shirts. She turned her head, brushed her long wavy hair away from her face as she smiled sheepishly at me.
“Welcome home,” she started.
I didn’t respond as I kicked the door closed and dropped my bag on the floor. I didn’t bother to brush away my hair that fell wildly around my face, hiding my bloodshot eyes.
“Black— “
I cut her off, lifting my finger to my lips to silence her as I started for the bed.
For her.
I shut my mind off.
And motherfucked Boots all the way to his grave as my knees hit the edge of the bed and I watched her crawl toward me.
I wanted to do the right thing but everything in my being told me this…her and me, we were the right thing.
We were everything.
I reached for her, taking one hand and draped it around my neck before taking the other and doing the same. Then I let my hands travel down her sides, gripped her hips and tugged her body tightly against mine.
I hoped my actions conveyed my feelings because I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Not when I’d have to take them back.
I dipped my head, shaking my hair away from my face pressing my cheek against hers, taking in the intoxicating scent of her perfume. My mouth moved along her jaw, teasing her chin before finding her lips.
It started off slow, just lips touching lips, until we both realized that didn’t even scratch the surface of what we needed from one another.
Bruised.
Swollen.
Her lips parted and invited me to taste everything I missed.
I slid my tongue inside of her mouth, my hands moved south, lifting the hem of the shirt and cupped her bare ass cheeks, digging my fingers into the mounds of flesh.
She fisted the hair at the nape of my neck and matched my rhythm, grinding against me as she angled her head and took what she wanted, using my mouth to quench her desire.
I dragged myself away from her mouth, torturing us both as we stared at one another.
I drew a breath, letting go of her and taking a step back.
“I need to take a shower,” I stated, reaching behind me and pulling my shirt over my head. Lacey gnawed on her lower lip as she nodded, reaching for me and unbuckling my belt.
“You do that,” she said finally.
“Don’t move,” I ordered, as she pulled my belt from my loops and twisted it around her wrist.
“Yes, sir,” she murmured, her lips curved revealing her perfect smile.
Goddamn.
I unbuttoned my jeans, drawing down the zipper half way before I found the will to turn around and walk into the bathroom.
I turned the water on, glanced in the mirror and pushed the hair away from my face to stare at the beast looking back at me—the weak monster who didn’t have the heart to break Lacey’s after breaking so many before her.
It used to be so easy.
Until I cared.
Until I found the heart I wanted to claim more than the body that housed it.
“You’re a motherfucker,” I said back to my reflection.
I finished stripping and stepped into the shower, letting the water rain down.
I needed to shower with holy water. Maybe that would cleanse my soul and ease my conscience because I wasn’t going to do it.
I wasn’t giving her up.
I’d do whatever the fuck I had to do to keep her safe and keep her with me.
Let that cocksucker try to do something to my girl, I’d make that motherfucker squeal like a bitch.
W-A-R, motherfucker.
It’s on.
Bring it.
I’ll be ready.
I’ll be waiting.
Because a long time ago I vowed I’d never let anyone take what was mine again.
You can say whatever you want about me, call me a junkie, tell me I’m worthless, but I’ve always been a man of my word.
When I made Lacey mine I took a silent oath to protect and honor her until my dying day.
As long as I have a pulse that girl will have someone who will cherish her life.
Some people need guardian angels.
And some need a knight cloaked in leather.