Warrior's Hope (Dark Protectors #16)(53)

“I’m not leaving you.” His jeans were next, and she tried to look away, but there was a lot to look at in those dark boxers.

“Paxton.” She should feel foolish. Instead, she felt satiated, stunned, and still aroused. She shook her head, torn between reaching to take what she wanted and being the responsible person she needed to be.

He lifted her as if she weighed nothing, pulled the covers back, tossed her in, and curled in behind her. “We’re just gonna sleep, baby. We both need it.”

Had Paxton Phoenix just called her baby? She should not like that. Not at all. Yet pleasure unfolded inside her. Man, she was screwed up. She should make him leave. But as she settled into his magma-hot body, every muscle in her body relaxed and settled and submitted as if this was exactly where she should be.

She didn’t know what to say. What had just happened? She wanted to roll over, kiss him, and take care of the raging hard-on pressed against her butt. A shiver took her. His arm tightened like a band of iron beneath her breasts, and he pulled her closer to him, so much bigger and stronger than she’d ever be.

His lips wandered over the top of her head, and she felt that touch through her entire body. “Pax? I’ve never done that before.”

He paused. “Good.”

She shouldn’t care, but she did. “I’ve kissed people but not much more.”

His body was a shield around her. “Why not?” There was curiosity in his tone as well as a definite growl of possessiveness.

She swallowed, feeling way too vulnerable. “I guess I figured it would be like cheating on someone.” On her future mate. On fate. “Plus, it’s not like I’ve had a lot of alone time in my life.” She was quiet, her mind spinning.

His thighs were solid heated rock behind hers. “Ask the question.”

How did he know her so well? It didn’t matter. They weren’t dating and never would. She’d agreed to Drake’s terms. “You were good at that. Have you been with a lot of females?” She told herself, again, that it didn’t matter.

“No. Nobody.” His lips moved lazily down to her ear. “There’s only been you. My entire life.”

Her heart pretty much exploded—then ached. She wanted happiness, to be with him, but if she could save the world from another war, she had to do so. “Pax—”

“Go to sleep, Kyllwood. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.” His voice was already drowsy, and then he dropped into sleep, still holding her as tightly as she could ever want.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Paxton came awake instantly, as he always did, keeping his eyes closed and scanning the surrounding area for any threats. He was in a warm bed, and the scent of Hope was all around him—orange spice and vanilla bean. How she smelled like that, he’d never figured out. There was no bodywash or lotion that came close.

While his body was relaxed, his cock ached and throbbed. To be so close to her, all night, was more than his body could take. He took a deep breath, feeling her snuggled against him. In the night, he had rolled onto his back, and she had curled into his side, one thigh over his leg, her hand splayed on his abdomen. Her face was tucked into his neck, and she was breathing softly. She had all but wrapped herself around him during the night, as if she didn’t want him to go.

He had no intention of going anywhere.

He could hear the icy snow falling outside, and he could hear the guards near the lake patrolling the territory. The soldiers in the trees didn’t make noise, but he could sense them. Would they report back to Zane that he’d stayed the night? He didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t care.

Clothing rustled at the other end of the house where Libby must have been getting ready for the day. His hearing was shockingly good; it had saved his life more than once.

Slowly, the hand at his abdomen curled and traced his abs. “You stayed all night,” Hope murmured, her lips soft against his skin.

He was planning to stay forever, but he probably shouldn’t tell her that, at least not yet. She still thought she was going to go save the world on her own or with their mortal enemy, but she was wrong. That wasn’t going to happen.

She lifted her head and blinked, her eyes drowsy and her pert nose wrinkled. “We need to talk.”

Those were the last words he wanted to hear, but the first ones he’d been expecting. “Go ahead and talk.”

She licked her lips. His entire body shuddered, and he fought a groan. She sighed. “When I was in the dreamworld the other night with Drake, I learned a few things. When I told you that the Kurjan nation was at war, I was right.”

He was unable to stop himself from smoothing an arm down her back and curling it at her waist, pulling her even closer to him. She was so soft and small. He hated having to fight her to keep her safe, but he’d do what he needed to do. The idea that she’d met with Drake by herself irritated the hell out of him. She was fragile, possibly human, and she had to be more careful. He’d been as patient as he could be with her, but no more. She’d be tough to lock down. He’d do what needed to be done. “Good. If they’re at war, they’ll leave us alone.”

“They’re not leaving us alone.” She stretched against him like a little cat, nearly killing him. “Ulric is searching for enhanced females, and he was behind the attack on the Seven. Drake wants to take him out, and he is willing to help us to do it.”