Page 20 of Too Sweet
Jesus...
What am I going to do with you, baby?
My lungs decompress, squeezed by an invisible iron clamp when her heart picks up rhythm under my fingertips, matching the frantic beat of mine.
“You’re panicking,” I say, my voice steady even though my stomach twists like a wrung-out towel.
“Calm down, Bug, you’re fine,” Cody adds, reminding me of his existence. “He won’t hurt you.”
Protectiveness goesbanginside me, swelling, growing, and spreading through my structure. No way in hell I’ll ever hurt her. She knows I won’t.
At least, I hope she does.
“You need to stay calm, Mia,” I continue. “Fear will choke you. You won’t break free if you’re not thinking clearly. Take a deep breath for me.”
She does, slowly filling her lungs. I breathe with her until we both calm the fuck down.
“Good. You’re fine. I’ll let you go if you ask.”
“Let me go.”
I do. Immediately. Scaring her is the last thing on my list. My legs open, and arms rise, but she doesn’t budge.
“Okay. I just had to check,” she says. “You can continue.”
And I do.Immediately. Hungry for that peaceful trance-like state when she’s safely tucked against me.
Seconds later I’ve got her immobilized, my chin on her shoulder this time, so she doesn’t crush my windpipe with the back of her head. “Now, think.” I tighten my hold around her fingers. “You can’t move your arms or legs. You can’t shove me away. What can you do?”
“Um...” She considers her position, trying to wriggle free like she did with Cody, but it’s useless.
Now that she’s flush against me, I feel her with every fiber in me. I’m not letting her go until I absolutely have to.
“I can hit you with the side of my head.”
“No. Don’t ever try that. It could work, but you’ll black out if you hit your temple against the wrong spot.”
Instinctively my thumb grazes hers in an odd, mechanical reflex.
I shouldn’t do that.
Where is this urge to soothe her coming from?
I’ve always been grossly overprotective, but it manifested in unhealthy jealousy, rage fits, and fist-throwing at anyone who said one wrong word to my ex. I never soothed Kaya unless she was bawling her eyes out. Even then, I didn’t do a good job because I was more annoyed than concerned.
Not now. The need to keep Mia calm fastens itself around my throat so tightly I’ll choke if she’s not at ease.
“Accept that you can’t hit me,” I continue. “You have to be more creative.”
It takes a moment, but she tilts her head, accidentally brushing those full, soft lips against my jaw. “I can bite you.”
“Good girl.” I inhale a subtle deep breath, shepherding the desire rekindling in my gut. “Bite hard enough, and the guy will let go. It’s a reflex. Hands go where it hurts. Once you can use your hands, you know what to do, right?”
She nods, and very reluctantly, Ilet.Her.Go.
“Fine,” she tells Cody, back on her feet. “We can practice tonight but promise you’ll take me to the arcades this week.”
“You know any more moves like that?” Colt asks me, creases lining his forehead. “Anything we can teach her?”
