Protecting My Hart (Protectors Series Book 1) (21 page)

Hartley’s arms slip around my waist, I feel her lips press against my chest. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, Hart, I am.”

“Everything OK?”

“Yeah, just wanted to come back home to you.”

“I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me too. Go back to sleep, Tesoro.”

“Happy dreams, Slyde.” Her words are broken with sleep.

“Happy dreams, Tesoro, Te amo.”

“Amo.” She barely states before falling completely asleep. She said
Amo…
Does she even know what she said? Regardless, I smile. I know she does, but just can’t admit it yet, and that’s OK. She will eventually. I’ve always wondered if she knew what I was saying. I don’t think she does, otherwise I don’t think she would have run. She would have told me what was going on, and she sure as hell wouldn’t be doubting herself or us right now. She’s never asked, and that makes me curious too. Perhaps a discussion for a different day. Tomorrow, we have to discuss the card and why she wouldn’t use it. I have got to figure out a way to make her understand that she belongs here with me, that she is my girl. She and Ethan are my family and that what I have is hers now. I know that all of this is very overwhelming for her, but the sooner she understands, the less guilty she will feel, and the happier she can be. She can start to let go of the fear, the uncertainty. She needs to start seeing this as her home, at least for now. I will move to wherever she wants. My home is with her, and I want her to feel the same. I want her to feel happy, safe, and cherished. Hopefully soon she will feel it. Exhaustion has overcome my body, and my eyes can barely stay open, so with a small kiss to the top of Hartley’s head, I settle in further and close my eyes, keeping my arms secure around her. I’m home.

Warm lips drift across my skin, causing tingles to spread, slowly pulling me out of my sleep. Inhaling as I wake up, I breathe him in.
He’s home. Holy shit, he’s home.
My eyes fly open and meet his deep blue ones.

“You’re really back.”

“Yeah, Tesoro, got in late last night. I don’t have to be back for a couple days, and I couldn’t sleep there knowing you and Ethan were just an hour away.”

“I thought it was just a dream.”

“A good dream I hope.”

“Yes, of course it was. But it wasn’t a dream ‘cause you’re here.” I smile at him.

“I am.” He smiles back while l lift my lips to his and kiss him gently and briefly before falling back into the bed.

“What did you do yesterday, Tesoro?”

“Beamer took us to the store. Ethan needed a new jacket; his zipper broke, and I couldn’t fix it. He also got a new monster truck toy that he absolutely loves. I’m sure he will want to show you when he wakes up.”

“Mmm, I can’t wait to play with the truck with him, but right now I think you and I should play.” His grin widens, his eyes darken, and my breathing falters. Slyde’s lips press against mine, his tongue licking my lips before slipping between them and consuming my mouth. His hands glide down my body before slipping beneath my shirt. His lips move to my neck, and I moan. He moves his hands across my skin skillfully awakening every inch of me. My hands roam across the bare skin of his back, my fingers tracing the lines of his muscles, relishing the feel of their movements. I’m lost in the sensation of his skin touching mine, in the magic his lips create. My body has surrendered completely to him. I’m not even sure when it happened or how, but we are both completely naked. I feel him hard, hot and throbbing, and his piercing, that delicious sexy piercing, teasing me. My body remembers its power, remembers exactly what Slyde can do and is screaming for him to do it.

“Please,” I rasp. “Slyde, please,” I beg and try to pull him to me. He holds strong, my eyes find his, which are staring back at me, and he drops to his forearms pressing his body to mine, effectively pressing me further into the bed. He leaves a soft kiss on my lips as his hips roll allowing him to thrust into me slowly and deliciously, that beautiful piercing scrapes along the nerves inside me, causing moans of pleasure to pass my lips. Feeling him possess me in this way brings so many emotions and feelings rushing forward, and I’m not ready to deal with them. They are too scary. With Slyde, sex isn’t scary or painful; it’s not a punishment nor is it something that is done to me. With Slyde and only with Slyde, is it pleasurable, enjoyable. It’s unlike anything I have ever felt. I feel so connected to him and not just physically. Like this, the rest of the world ceases to exist. When we are like this, even if it’s just a short amount of time, I can allow myself to believe that this really could be my future. Slyde’s pace is slow and deliberate, bringing me higher. His lips lazily capture mine, stealing my already shaky breath. His lips pull back from mine and I whimper at the broken connection. He thrusts again pressing deep, and I moan at being filled. His hand grasps my chin softly pulling my eyes to lock on his intense gaze.

“Hart, why didn’t you use my card?”

What?
His words penetrate the haze-filled pleasure in my brain. I feel my body stiffen. He wants to talk about this now?
Seriously?

“Slyde, please,” I try to beg him before the haze lifts completely, but it’s no use, it’s almost gone.

“Tesoro, why didn’t you use my card? I gave it to you to use, yet you didn’t, and I want to know why.”

“I didn’t need it.”

“Try again, Hart,” he states rolling his hips, causing his piercing to graze over the super sensitive nerves hidden deep.

“Slyde,” his name is a whimper on my lips. My entire body is aching with need for him. I feel desperate, yet he wants to have this conversation. I don’t understand.

“Beamer said you found some clothes you liked but put them back to buy Ethan the monster truck.”

“I didn’t need them.”

“Hart…” He moves again, and my body bows into him.

“I told him he could pick out a toy. I couldn’t tell him no because of the price. I had enough money for the jacket and the toy. That’s all that mattered. Please, Slyde!” I buck my hips up, trying to get some friction. I get a little but not enough. The frustration builds higher.

“Did you want the clothes?” Slyde pulls back and thrusts back in deep.

“I didn’t need them.”

“Did you want them?” He thrusts again.

“I don’t need them.”

“Did.”

Thrust.

“You.”

Thrust
.

“Want.”

Thrust
.

“Them?”

Thrust
.

“YES!” The tortured cry is forced from my throat. At this point my body is on a razor edge. I’m trembling with need, a need only Slyde can fulfil, yet he’s playing some game.

“Why didn’t you use my card?”

“I didn’t have it,” I admit softly. He’s obviously not going to let this end until he gets the answers he wants.

“Did you forget it?”

“No.”

“So you left it behind on purpose.”

“Yes.”

“Why, Hartley? I gave it to you for a reason.”

“It’s not your responsibility, Slyde, to take care of me and Ethan. My son needed a jacket so I bought it. What I want doesn’t matter. I’m already disrupting your life. I’ve invaded your home, and dragged your friends into my problems. All I do is cause people problems. I’m causing you issues being here, and that’s your money, you need it, you worked hard for it, and I’m not about to spend your money on silly stuff I don’t need.” Tears spill from my eyes as reality comes crashing down around me again, and I turn my head away from him.

“Hartley, look at me,” he states softly. I refuse and shake my head. His hand cups my cheek, turning my face back to his. I feel his lips against my cheeks, kissing away the falling tears. “Open your eyes, Tesoro,” his voice coaxes and I slowly comply. He kisses me softly. “First off, you are not disrupting my life, you have not invaded my house, you haven’t dragged my friends into anything and you sure as hell are not causing problems.”

“Yes I—”

“Quiet,” he interrupts me. “Tesoro, I want you here, you and Ethan both. I need you both to be in this house. I need you both to be happy. In order for me to be happy, I need you and Ethan in my house. I don’t know what problems you think you are causing, but it’s simply not true. I came alive again when I found you, and my only problem is my fear of losing you again. As for Beamer and Kash, they are here because they want to be. They are my brothers; I’d do anything for them and they’d do the same for me. You and Ethan are my family, and my brothers will protect my family. There’s nothing I could do to stop them if I wanted to. That’s how we are. As for my responsibilities, well, I don’t care that you think you’re not a part of them. You are. You and our son are my responsibility, and that is never going to change. I know that you don’t have any idea how to let someone take care of you, but that’s not going to stop me. You’re my girl, Hart. I will take care of you. The money linked to that card is
our
money, so spend it.”

“
We
don’t have money, and I can’t spend your money. I didn’t work for it. It’s not mine, and you need it.”

“Yeah, Hart, we do. The account that card is linked to, is ours. There is more money in that account than you could possibly spend.”

“What?” the shock in my voice is so thick, I’m not sure the word actually made it out.

“This house is paid for; I don’t owe anything on it. My bills are minimal because I’m never here. I own my bike and my truck. There’s nine years’ worth of paychecks in that account. I live off what I make with JD. The money in that account is for us, for when I finally found you again, we could start over anywhere you wanted to go and build a life together. That money is as much yours as it is mine, and I want you to use it.”

“But, Slyde, what happens when all of this is over? Ethan and I will have to leave and all of this is gone. Don’t you get that? I can’t let myself think that this is reality. This right here is just a dream, and eventually I will have to wake up, and waking up means that dreams end.” I can barely choke out the words, my heart aching knowing that this is all just temporary.

“Hart, why would you have to leave?”

“’Cause, you’re not going to want me to stay anymore.”

“Tesoro, have you been listening to anything I have been saying to you? This is not a temporary situation, this is not a dream. You and me, right now, this is real.” Slyde pulls his hips back and thrusts back in deep. “Feel me, Hartley.” He thrusts again. “Feel me, Tesoro. This is real. I want you in my house for the rest of my life. You’re it for me, Hartley, and if you think for one second that I’m going to let you and my son leave again, you are gravely mistaken. I love you, Hartley, and I am going to love you, take care of you, and protect you until the day I die. You will understand this, simply because I’m not going to stop telling you until you believe it with every inch of your heart, mind, body and soul, that you belong with me.”

His words sink in and they take hold mixing with all the emotions that I’m not so ready to deal with, breaking me. Shaking with tears and not knowing how to process all of this, I just simply wrap my arms around him and cry. Slyde rolls to his back, taking me with him and sits up, never breaking our connection and making me need him even more. His arms stay wrapped around my back, and I cry and moan into his neck. I move my hips and grind against him; he kisses my shoulder as I move again, grinding into him.

“You belong with me, Hartley,” he whispers, and tears continue to fall freely as I move against him.

“Slyde…” I rasp.

“I love you, Hartley.” His voice still soft. I hold him tight, and tighter, as I feel my release closing in.

“Slyde…”

“You belong with me, Tesoro. Let go, I promise I’m right here to catch you. I will always catch you, Hartley,” he pants out, and I can feel the tension in his body, and I know he is close. Every one of his words penetrates the shield I’ve put in place, breaking it down little by little, and there is nothing I can do to stop them. Slyde pulls me to him one more time, and I break.

“Slyde!” I cry out softly into his neck.

“I’ve got you, Tesoro,” he growls, and I feel him thrust once more before his release takes over his body, jerking beneath me, inside me, while I grab and clench him. Both of us are breathing hard, but neither of us lets the other go. I try to press against him as much as possible, and his grip around me tightens, bringing me even closer.

“Te amo, Hartley. Te amo, tu es Mi Tesoro. Siempre y eternamente,” he states sincerely and kisses my head, my cheek, and my shoulder. There are those words again, and I don’t know what they mean. I’m scared to find out, but I need to know. Lifting my head, my eyes lock with the most perfect shade of blue. His hand rises to brush away the tears that continue to fall.

“What did you say?” I ask softly.

“When?”

“Just now, you keep calling me, Tesoro. You keep saying amo, what do those words mean?”

“I have been wondering when you were going to ask me.” He smiles and gives me a gentle kiss on my lips. “Tesoro is a name. Well it’s my name for you, and no, it’s not your name translated into Spanish either. Tesoro means treasure. I call you treasure and when I say mi Tesoro, it means my treasure, because you are. Te amo means I love you. Siempre means always and eternamente means forever, so Te Amo Siempre y eternamente, means I love you always and forever.”