I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,59

my shoulder knowing at any time what happened today could happen again, and I might be alone.”

I lifted my hand to her cheek, brushing strands of hair away from her face. “You will never be alone again.”

“I don’t know if that’s reassuring or creepy.”

Our quiet laughter was the only sound in her silent room.

“I wish I could tell you what to do, but it’s your decision to make. If you go home, you’ll be more contained. Here, you’re out in the open, whether we secure areas or not.”

“Are you trying to make me go home?” she asked.

“I just want you to do what makes you feel safest.”

“I feel safest when I’m with you.”

I closed my eyes. How could she say that after I almost let him get to her? The events of the day weighed heavy on my mind. Seeing the guy running into the woods. The gunshot. Seeing Kresley go down. Her trembling body when I pulled her up.

“Stop whatever you’re thinking right now,” she said.

I opened my eyes and stared into her pretty blue ones. “That’s my line.”

She grinned. “I like your lines.”

I brushed my thumb over her cheek, so soft and delicate—so Kresley even when she was being tough.

“As long as they’re not lines meant to push me away,” she amended.

I found it difficult to hold her gaze, but I forced myself to. Forced myself to be honest with her. “I want to see what this is,” I admitted, knowing I never should have let it get this far. But it had. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it now. I was in too deep. We both were. “I was wrong to push you away. That was about me and not you.”

Her heartbeat accelerated, and I could feel it against my chest.

“That makes you happy?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“You might find that you don’t even like me once you get to know me better,” I said.

“I know you.”

I scoffed.

“Well, since we’re being honest—”

“Uh oh,” I said. “Should I be scared?”

She nodded. “That girl at the bar…?”

“Was just some girl who planted her ass next to me. I was there to watch you.”

“It was your night off.”

I rolled my eyes. “There’s no night off when it’s your safety. And full disclosure. I wanted to hurt any guy who got near you.”

“Like Chris?”

“Fucking Chris needs to stay away from my girl.”

Her eyes widened and I loved that my words affected her like that.

A brief silence passed between us and I could see her wheels at work. “Will you tell me what makes you cry out in your sleep?”

Fuuuuck.

I knew my dreams would come up, and I really wanted to come clean to her. But I didn’t feel comfortable laying it all on the table when she’d just been through hell. This night was about making her feel better. Making her feel safe. Not about me and my fucked up dream. “I must’ve been having a nightmare,” I said, hoping that would be enough of an answer to appease her for the time being.

“That didn’t sound like a one-time nightmare. That sounded like something that happens often. Something that you were remembering.”

Dammit.

I looked away from her expectant eyes. She’d had a shit day and still wanted to know about my demons. But I knew tonight wasn’t the time to unload all my baggage on her.

“You don’t have to tell me,” she finally said. “But know I’m here when you’re ready.”

I met her gaze. “Tomorrow.” I tightened my arms around her. “I just really need to kiss you right now.”

Her lips curved up in the corners. “And I just really need you to.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. They were minty and soft, and I knew we both needed to get lost in this kiss until everything else disappeared into a distant memory. This kiss wasn’t meant to lead to sex. That was the furthest thing from my mind tonight. We both needed to feel safe. To feel like we were home. And having Kresley in my arms was definitely beginning to feel like home for me. The only home I’ve had in a long fucking time.

I pulled away first. “You know this goes against everything I teach new recruits.”

“Kissing the client?”

“Falling for the client,” I admitted.

I watched her swallow down hard and realized that she hadn’t seen that coming.

“I plan everything,” I explained. “I think things through. I consider multiple outcomes to every situation in order to do my job well. But you. You walked