Page 29 of Twisted Tate

Chapter 5

TATE

Iam already awake listening to Reese’s easy breathing. I don’t know what the fuck is happening to me.

Since I have been old enough to learn to fight and wield a gun, I have done important work for my father. I have brought down bad men and protected our family’s interests.

And yet nothing in my entire fucking life felt like it mattered more than holding this woman in my arms while she fought her demons.

That realization scares the shit out of me. I’ve never let anyone in like this. I’ve never given a shit about anyone outside my family. And within a few days, Reese has become something to me that I don’t know how to explain, even to myself.

My baby girl. I’ve never even called a woman that before. I doubt she even realizes that.

I don’t know if this is what happened to Fox, or my dad, but even if I wanted to stop it, I don’t think I fucking could.

No one has ever looked at me the way she did last night. Like I was the very air she needed. And I don’t know what the fuck to do with it, because if something happened to her, I don’t know what the fuck I would do.

She’s still asleep, curled against my chest with her face tucked into my neck. Her breathing is still slow and even, her body soft and warm. She hasn’t had a single nightmare since she fell asleep in my arms.

I gave her that. I don’t know why it matters so much, but it does.

My phone buzzed half the night and started again this morning.

I need to deal with it. I need to call Fox and figure out a plan that doesn’t end with me going to war against every Raven in Boston.

But not yet. I just want to hold onto what I can here at the cabin with her for a little bit longer before things get far more dangerous.

After another hour, she’s still sleeping. I figure I need a shower and a pot of coffee, so I can figure out what the hell I’m doing to ensure none of those fucks ever come near her again.

I ease out from under her carefully, trying not to wake her. She makes a soft sound of protest and reaches for me, her fingers brushing against empty sheets.

“Tate?” Her voice is rough with sleep.

“I’m here, baby girl.” I brush the hair back from her face. “Go back to sleep. I’m just going to shower.”

Her eyes flutter open. “What time is it?”

“Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to get up yet.”

She pushes herself up on one elbow, and the sheet falls away from her shoulder. She’s still wearing that tank top that does nothing to hide her tits, and my cock twitches.

Jesus, Tate. Think about anything else but how much you want her.

“I’m awake now.” She rubs her eyes and looks at me. It’s more like she’s checking out my body, and something in her expression shifts. “Can I join you?”

I should say no. I want her so fucking bad that I’m not positive I could keep my fucking hands to myself. She already knows what she’ll have to do if she wants me to fuck her, and if she says the words, it’s over. Not putting her naked body with mine in the shower would be the smart play.

But I’ve never been smart when it comes to things I fucking want. And I want her in the shower with me pretty goddamn bad.

“Are you sure about that, baby girl?”

It’s my last attempt to make certain she knows what she’s doing. I don’t know the rules for someone who’s been what she’s been through, but I know that I am still who the fuck I am.

“I’m sure.” She sits up fully. She seems lighter than she did yesterday, which I’ll take as a win given what we are going to have to overcome. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

“That’s not the fucking problem.”

“Then what is?”