Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“I don’t think that’s a good idea for me. It’s really generous of you both, and I appreciate the offer more than I can say, but it won’t work. Thank you, though,” I said, struggling to sit up on the bed away from Leo’s arms and chest.
“Why won’t it work?” Rafe asked. “It could be temporary if that’s what you prefer—to keep your independence or your privacy or whatever. Look, there’s a guest room. It’s full of boxes. We can put a lock on it for you. You’d have the key. We’re not trying to lure you into our secret sex dungeon or anything,” Rafe said, trying to make light of it. But Rafe was too serious for that, too sincere. I saw that he was really confused as to why I said no.
“We won’t threaten your dates or give them a hard time,” Leo said. “And if you decide to do it in the shower, just hang some panties on the door so we don’t interrupt.”
“I’m not dating anyone,” I stammered.
“Well, I hope not. Because if you were and he had let you stay home alone after that attack we’d have to go kick his ass to the curb for you,” Rafe said. “But what Leo said is true. We won’t get in the way of your personal life. Just let us keep you safe. Keep watch over you so you’re not alone until everything with Watts is resolved. It was him wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. I went to his trailer. He got mad because he’d told me never to come back unless I was returning his daughter. I ignored that and went for my scheduled visit to talk to him about showing up for his parenting classes and stuff. His eyes were really dark, like the pupils were too big. I was ready in a way, like I went over the stuff you’d taught me, Rafe. I pointed my car out toward the road, and I had my keys on me. I even got out of the choke hold. I ducked my head straight down—”I broke off crying.
Rafe gathered me in his arms and held me. He rocked back and forth, shushing me softly. I knotted my fingers in his shirt, slowly calming down.
“Come here,” Leo said. I looked up from Rafe and went across the bed into Leo’s open arms. He hugged me, kissed the top of my head. “I’m going to let you take a nap and think it over. I’d stay in here and hold you, but I know you wouldn’t be able to resist, and you’d try to seduce me. So don’t make it weird. I’ll see you when you get up,” he said. I gave him a watery grin. “There’s that smile, Lexi. We care about you. Just let us take care of you for a while, okay?”
I shook my head, didn’t turn to watch him leave. I was alone with Rafe, the strongest, safest person I knew. I turned back to him, threw my arms around his neck.
“I don’t know what to do. I can take care of myself. I always have. I don’t need anyone to watch out for me. But I don’t want to hurt your feelings when you’ve been so good to me,” I admitted, “It’s just—no one’s ever wanted me wanted me around. Not even when I was a kid.”
“You’re wanted here, by us. We both like having you around. You know Leo’s full of shit, and he would never in a million years do anything to make you uncomfortable. Neither would I. We just want to take care of you, protect you. You’ve got this scrape on your face that’s the least of your injuries—and I can’t stand it. Come here,” Rafe said.
He brushed his thumb over the scrape on my cheek, kissed it softly. “I want to take away everything that hurts you. Starting with the idea that you’re not wanted. I want you here. We want you. So let us do this.”
Rafe stroked my hair, kissed my cheek again. I melted under the simple, platonic gesture, like I was some waif starved for affection. Except I wasn’t a waif. I was a woman. A woman with inappropriate horny thoughts about her best friends. Both of them. And if Rafe didn’t stop kissing my wounds tenderly, I was going to run screaming into the bathroom and barricade myself in there. He lay down on his side facing me, beckoned me to join him. I kept six inches between us on the bed, propped my head up on my hand. He touched my face, trailed his fingers down my neck so carefully and softly I thought I might moan. His hand rolled across my shoulder and down my arm. He took my hand in his and kissed it.
“We’re here for you if you need us. I just want you to know that. Now get some rest. You don’t have to give us an answer now. Do you want me to stay with you until you go to sleep?”