Page 7 of A Veteran's Protection
LEXI
The man, Aiden, shakes his head. “You can’t stay in there. Not even for one night, firefly. It’s not safe.
His concern is sweet, and so is the fact that he’s known me less than five minutes and he’s given me a pet name. But there’s nothing sweet about the ache between my thighs and the dirty thoughts that have been running through my mind since he strolled out of the night and took up a spot around my bonfire.
The man is sex on legs. He’s tall and broad, and the way he moves like he owns the space, even on my property, is annoyingly sexy. His dark hair is cropped short, and there’s a hint of stubble on his chin, which I long to run my hands over and feel between my thighs.
I have never in my entire life had thoughts like this about a man, let alone done the things I’m imagining with him. Luckily, it’s dark, and the fire is warm. I don’t want him to notice the blush creeping up my neck as I imagine him kissing me.
I should be wary of a strange man in a strange town, but I’m not getting creepy vibes from Aiden. All I’m getting is sexy, hot stranger looking at me like he wants to devour me vibes.
“You can’t stay here,” he says again.
And I get that the house is crumbling, and there’s no electricity, and I’ve had to clear all this junk to make a space on the floor. But I don’t want to tell him I have no other option. I can’t afford a hotel, and the only other place to sleep is my rental car, which is so small I’d have to sleep with my feet poking out the window. I know because I already tried.
Also, who is he to come here and tell me what I can and can’t do? Even if his commanding vibe is sexy as hell.
“It’s my place.”
He takes a step toward me so his chest is right up next to mine. The air goes out of my lungs, and my nipples harden as heat floods my body.
“You’re not staying here, firefly.”
His voice has a finality to it, like he’s used to being obeyed, and it sends a delicious shiver right down to my aching nipples.
His gaze penetrates mine, and behind the desire burning in them, I see genuine concern. Maybe Aiden is more than a hot stranger who emerged from the dark. He seems to care about my safety. And I’ve never in my life had someone do that before.
Ignoring my aching nipples, I listen to my gut, which tells me to trust this stranger with the truth.
“I have nowhere else to go.”
My shoulders slump as though someone has lifted a weight off them. Speaking it out loud makes me feel vulnerable, but it’s also good to share the burden. I arrived here thinking I’d be able to crash in my new property, and instead, I’m having to burn the termite-infested furniture just to clear a space on the floor.
His gaze darkens, and his hand cups my chin. “You’re coming to my cabin.”
“What?” I squeak.
I can’t go to the cabin of a man I just met in a town I don’t know. It’s madness; that’s how people get murdered.
“I have a cabin not far from here. We’ll let this fire burn out, then I’ll take you home.”
“But …” He puts a finger to my lips, and I gasp at the roughness and warmth of his skin. His fingers are thick and his palms callused.
All sensible thoughts about why this is a bad idea flee my mind, and all I can think about are his hands running up my thighs and what he could do with those thick fingers.
“No excuses. I’m taking care of you now.”
Oh, wow, did he just say he’s taking care of me? I’m not sure if he means take care of me because I have no place to stay or if he wants totake care of mein all the ways that my finger-fucking fantasy are imagining right now.
My body yearns for one, and my heart yearns for the other.
“Um …” My mouth is dry, and I seem to have lost my ability to speak.
I’ve been on the road for two days taking the cheapest route possible, which involved far too many detours and bus changes. I’m tired and hungry, and a hot man has shown up offering to take care of me. It’s too good to be true.
Frowning at my uncertainty, Aiden steps even closer.
“You got a boyfriend who wouldn’t like you staying in my cabin?” His voice comes out as a growl, and his eyes flash in the firelight.
