The Badass Protector

COLT

Of course, she left.

SHE COULDN’T just wait until I woke up, could she?

How dumbass of me to believe she enjoyed what we shared last night? I thought it was amazing-like brain-plaguing-mind-blowing amazing.

Iris’ warm body sprawled around me, her hair spread all over my pillow with her breath tickling my neck, and my arm wrapped over the curve of her waist-that was what I imagined waking up this morning-not a cold and empty space beside me.

Her gun on my nightstand was gone. Nothing was left aside from the smell of post-sex on my bed and condom wrappers on the floor to remind me that last night was real, and I could still feel being inside her-how good she felt, how sweet she tasted, how her moan sounded like, the stung and bruises she left on my shoulders and back.

Frustratingly, I put my jeans on and sat back on the edge of the bed, picking up wrappers and tossing them onto the bin by the foot of my bed.

I rubbed my beard, feeling the emptiness in my chest once again. When I found someone I wanted in my life, they left without a thought.

What changed her mind? I thought we were on the same page and wanted more than just sex. Wasn’t I enough?

I was about to grab my gun when a knock came at the door. It was still early for anyone to go unless it was an emergency, then the knock turned to pound.

Groaning, I grabbed my gun and slid it to the waistband at my back. I was halfway when the door swung open, then Iris appeared, carrying a plate of breakfast and a steaming tumbler in the other hand.

My heart started to pound. She then got in and kicked the door shut with her foot.

I let out a deep sigh of relief, and a small smile curved up my lips.

Iris paused. She must have noticed me. She looked at me with her wide blue eyes and glowing cheeks. “Hey. You’re up?”

“And you left.” It came out with a little bit of sarcasm.

Thankfully, she didn’t give a shit. “To get us breakfast. I helped Anna prepare. Then I left once we were done.”

“Hmm.” I went back to bed, and Iris followed me.

“Baked beans, mushrooms, and pancakes without egg and milk.” She placed the plate and the coffee on the nightstand.

“And you call it a pancake?” I inwardly chuckled at my idiocy.

“You okay?” she asked.

I felt the concern in her voice, so I lifted my chin. “I thought you left me.”

“I didn’t wanna wake you up, and I was just planning on bringing breakfast for us.” She paused. “Wait a sec. What do you mean I left you? Like I left you, left you? Why would I do that?”

I held her hand and allowed her to sit on my lap. “I care about our group. They’re like a family to me. I’m afraid of disappointing them or putting their lives in danger. I failed to protect my brother, and it made me helpless, weak, and hopeless at the same time.” I withdrew a deep breath before I went on.

“After his death, I was torn between staying and running away, but I held onto his last wish. And I couldn’t leave Gael with his condition, and he still believed in me after what happened. Then I promised myself to focus on keeping them safe because I couldn’t afford to fail twice. It was hard to see the sadness on their faces, Iris. Then the blue-eyed twig came along. Something inside me stirred and told me to protect her, but my heart said I wanted to care about her too, and I cared… more than I was supposed to. I know it doesn’t make any sen-”

“It does.” Iris lifted my chin, then cupped my face. “I care about you, too, Colton.” She smiled. “More than I wanted to, and I didn’t regret any of it for happening so fast. I like you. I like kissing you and everything about you. Can’t you see it? I made a move last night.” She leaned down, pressing her lips against mine.

I kissed her back, grabbing the back of her neck in a firm and possessive way-it was a kiss of comfort and reassurance.

She pulled her lips, kissing my forehead, my nose, and back to my lips again. “Does that kiss prove something to you?”

Nodding, I met her gaze. “Yes, but don’t leave me again, please? I don’t like the feeling of being left by someone without a proper goodbye. I don’t wanna wake up alone again. It scares me.”

“You don’t have to be scared anymore, Colton, because I’m not going anywhere.” I could feel the sincerity in those words, and I felt relieved.

I grabbed the plate. “Let’s have breakfast.”

We ate, sharing a light conversation.

“I wish we met before the plague. I want to take you to dinner with me.”

The tumbler stopped midway to her lips. “What made you think I like to have dinner with you?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You seemed to be the type of woman who loved wine and candlelight.” It was hard to think clearly when she grinned, and her eyes gleamed wickedly. “Oh, is it because there were still a lot of men out there for you to choose from?” I chuckled and ran my thumb on her bottom lip.

Her tongue darted out to graze my skin, and by that-it sent ripples of pleasure right to my other head. I gripped her hips to press on my hardening cock. Her eyes quickly darkened. I took the tumbler from her hand and placed it down while keeping my gaze on her.

She hastily unbuttoned my jeans, slipping her hand inside-I was already damn hard it hurt.

I kissed her hungrily, possessively, and wet. She tasted like coffee, and I love coffee.

She mewled.

Iris freed my cock, palmed, and pumped a few strokes while I slipped my hand through the waistband of her cotton shorts.

Fuck! She was already soaking wet. I plunged my finger inside her hot sex, and her head fell back with her mouth dropped open. She looked beautiful as she rocked into my finger, stroked my length, and rubbed the pre-cum with her thumb.

I thought I’d lost my mind. I thrust my tongue into her mouth in tandem with my finger and her hand. I released my hand, wrapped my arms around her body, and pulled her on top of me.

“Condom, twig.”