Cinderella's Guardian

by Khloe Wren

  ~ * ~

  Conner held himself very still. For the first time he was buried deep in his mate's core. Her tight muscles rippled around him and she tried to move her hips, but he couldn't let her yet. He was too close to the edge. He nipped her neck gently before raising up to speak in her ear.

  "Don't move, baby. I need a moment. You feel so good, even in my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined how good this feels."

  She stiffened beneath him slightly and he peppered her face and neck with little kisses.

  "You say that like you've never done this before."

  "I haven't. I haven't wanted to before you, and I knew you were out there."

  "You were waiting for me?"

  "Something like that."

  Not wanting to lose the moment with talk of virginity, Conner didn't give Tina time to respond. He took her mouth in a passionate kiss at the same time his hips began moving. His first strokes were slow and easy. She felt so good. Her tightness pulled at him as he entered and retreated. She whimpered into his mouth as her grip tightened on his shoulders. Her nails bit into his skin. Not hard enough to break through but hard enough to let him know exactly how much she was enjoying what they were doing together.

  It didn't take long until he couldn't stand the slow pace. Gripping her hips, he thrust harder, faster. Tingling sparks flew throughout his body, racing down his spine. Her muscles were rippling, tightening around him. Heat tore through him as he came inside his mate for the first time with a roar. He did his best to tamp down the noise; the entire hospital didn't need to know what they were doing. The release was so intense, it felt like he was entering paradise and coming home rolled into one.

  Tina's fingers threaded into his hair, tilting his head from where it lay on her shoulder. She gently kissed him, feather light caresses that traced his cheekbone down to his mouth. He allowed Tina to control the kiss. She opened up to him so sweetly. He slipped free from her body as he pulled back from her lips. Raising his hand, he ran his fingertips down her face. Part of him still couldn't quite believe she was real and beneath him.

  "That was incredible. You are incredible."

  Her breathy words brought a grin to his face but it soon dropped and his chest tightened as her eyes shone with tears, "I didn't hurt you did I? Was I too rough? Oh damn, your shoulder. I should have been more gentle. I'm sorry, baby doll."

  Tina cut him off with a kiss, unlike her previous gentle one, this was deep and passionate.

  "You didn't hurt me, I'm just overwhelmed. What we just did was amazing and the fact you waited for me… What if we didn't meet for another ten years?"

  "I would have found you before then. I would have come searching for you. I wouldn't have stopped until I'd found you and I wouldn't have ever strayed with another woman. You have and always will be the only one for me."

  Conner moved off the bed and scooped Tina up in his arms. He headed toward the bathroom with her securely in his arms—right where she belonged.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I'm taking care of my mate, I'm going to wash you clean, then tuck you in. Then, I have to go. I've had a lot of time off from the station. Tonight, there isn't anyone to cover for me. A lot of the guys head up to the International Bethotte Rally to help with traffic control and other stuff. Normally, it isn't a problem but you get a few guys come in sick once the teams have headed off, and we come up short."

  He could read Tina's emotions clearly on her face, she looked sad but resigned.

  "That's okay, Conner. I understand you have a job to do. I've really appreciated all the time you've spent with me these last few days."

  Conner sat her in the shower chair gently. He kissed her softly before he set about cleaning them both. He was really going to miss her tonight.

  ~ * ~

  Finally. She'd found the document. Robyn hadn't thought she'd need to use the Medical Power of Attorney so she'd put it away. Frustratingly, she hadn't been able to remember where she'd stored the damn thing. Closing the drawer on the filing cabinet in her salon's office, she went to her bag and put the document inside. She was locking the back door when her phone rang. She looked at the screen, and her whole being tensed. Dale.

  "Hello, Dale. What can I do for you?"

  "You can start by explaining why you've been preventing Tina from having a social life? She's an adult, Robyn. She is allowed to go on dates and have freedom."

  Robyn unlocked and slid into her car before she responded. Damn it, someone had told Dale about Conner. Clenching her free hand around the steering wheel tightly, she went into damage control, "I was protecting her. She's so vulnerable in the chair. I didn't want some boy taking advantage of her." She lied smoothly, sure her tone indicated no hint of dishonesty.

  "Conner White is a good man, Robyn. We went to school with his father. You know that no child of Jake's would be anything other than honorable. You're hiding some other reason."

  The anger in Dale's voice brought an ache to her chest. How could she turn this around?

  "Conner just feels sorry for her, he'll break her heart. He's been brainwashing her for weeks. I've tried to protect her from him, save her from his mind games."

  Dale's sharp voice cut her short. "Stop lying! I'm so tired of your lies. I never should have left Tina in your care. I never thought you'd have been so cruel as to treat her like this. I'll be back in Rosebery early tomorrow morning. Make sure you and all your things are out of my house. I'll have Jake send Conner over to take care of Tina if she gets out of the hospital before I'm back."

  Panic rose inside her, boiling up until it consumed her.

  "No. I belong in that house. With you-"

  "Do you hear yourself? Hear how crazy that sounds? That house is mine and Tina's. We're the only ones who belong there. And you and me? That has never, nor will it ever, happen. I've never felt like that about you."

  "I. Am. Not. Crazy."

  Her grip on her phone tightened until she heard a crack and the call ended. Stunned, she pulled it from her ear. The phone now sported a large crack across its dark screen. She tried desperately to turn it on but to no avail. Her body began to rock in the seat. She shook her head. "He didn't mean it. We belong together. He needs me."

  Part of what he said replayed through her mind, bringing her head up and sharpening her focus.

  "I have to get Tina out of the hospital and back to the house before he calls Conner in."

  With renewed purpose now she had a goal. She headed over to the hospital. It didn't take long in the midweek evening traffic for her to get there. With her ammo—aka Medical Power of Attorney—fisted in her grip, she stormed into the cream brick building and straight to the office of the head of the hospital. Dr. Maynard would listen to her. He was a sensible man.

  "Dr. Maynard, I found the document I spoke to you about earlier."

  She smiled sweetly as his surprised face turned up from his desk toward her. "Robyn, I didn't hear you come in. What document would that be?"

  "You know exactly the document I'm referring to." She paused to place the legal document in front of him. "Signed and legal, it gives me full say in Tina's medical treatment." She allowed him a moment to look over the papers, "and I elect to take Tina home. Now."

  Dr. Maynard gave her a serious stare. She held his gaze, making sure to not even flinch. Her insides were churning, her plan ended once she got Tina home. Then what would she do? But she pushed the rising panic down. If the good doctor here saw any of that, he'd never release Tina.

  "Okay. We were planning on releasing Tina in the morning, you sure you can't come back then? Give her one more night with medical supervision."

  "I'm sure, Doctor. I'll be with her twenty-four/seven to make sure she's recovering well."

  He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'll need to fill out the paperwork. If you would go out to the waiting room, I'll get everything sorted."

  With a grin, she thanked the doctor and headed back out to the waiting room where
she sat and flipped through a magazine to pass the time. Her smile faded as the minutes crept by. What was she going to do once she got Tina home? She needed to prove that Conner was up to no good, had to prove she'd been protecting Tina all this time. Maybe if Tina told her dad Robyn had been doing a good job...but how to get her to do that...

  Someone clearing their throat brought her from her inner thoughts. She tossed the magazine she'd been holding and strode over to the nurse who stood in the doorway with a clipboard.

  "Here are the discharge papers for Tina Anderson. Please sign where indicated."

  Robyn barely scanned the page before signing them.

  "Done."

  "If you'd like to bring your car around to the doors, we'll bring Tina out for you. A nurse is just helping her get dressed."

  "A nurse? Conner isn't here?"

  A wave of relief swept through her. She didn't want to have to deal with trying to separate Tina from Conner, or that redhead who was here earlier. Robyn was sure if Kit was here, she'd already be out here giving her hell.

  "Not just at the moment, I believe he had to work tonight."

  "How convenient. I'll go and get my car."

  Pulling her keys free of her pocket, she couldn't believe her luck. She'd have hours before Conner would show up. Surely she could suitably scare Tina into helping her with Dale by then.

  ~ * ~

  Conner and Nick were rolling up the hoses and checking over the truck. They'd just returned from a small grass fire and were going through all the normal checks. Dominic came barreling into the garage from his office.

  "Conner, you gotta get your ass over to the hospital. Like yesterday."

  The hairs on the back of Conner's neck rose.

  "Why? What's happened?"

  Nick took the hose from his hands and Conner jogged over to his brother.

  "Robyn's lost the damn plot. Dale rung her, told her to get out of the house and that he'd get Dad to send you over to watch Tina if she was released from hospital before Dale flies in tomorrow."

  "What has she done?"

  "We don't know, but Dale told Dad she was talking crazy before the phone cut out. He tried to call her back but it was turned off. Dale thinks she's smashed her phone in a rage. He's really worried Tina's in danger. You need to get there to keep her protected. As soon as my shift finishes, I'll head over to back you up."

  Dom slapped Conner's shoulder as he sprinted toward the locker room. He didn't stop to change, just grabbed his keys and phone then ran to his car. He drove to the hospital in record time then sprinted into the entrance and headed to Tina's room, Clint's sharp yell drew his attention.

  "Conner, wait!"

  "What is it, Doc? Make it quick, I gotta get to Tina."

  "That's what I want to talk to you about, she's gone."

  Conner spun on the other man, "What? How could you let that bitch take her?"

  Clint's hands rose in a gesture of peace. "I had no choice, Conner. You know I wouldn't have released her to Robyn if I could have avoided it. Legal documents can't be easily argued with."

  "How long ago did they leave?"

  "About an hour ago."

  Conner didn't hang around to hear anything else. He raced out to his car and headed to Tina's house, fighting the urge to shift the whole way as he pondered what the hell Robyn had done to his mate in the past hour.

  He pulled up across the road and killed the engine. He sat and watched the house for a minute. How was he going to do this? He couldn't just go knock on the door and demand Robyn leave. Especially, if she had completely lost her mind.

  His instincts went off and his nostrils flared. Smoke. The slightest hint of it was in the air. He wrenched open the door and took a deep breath in. Definitely smoke. He grabbed his mobile out and rang the station.

  "Rosebery fire station."

  Joel. Great, he was always quick off the mark and didn't muck around with small talk.

  "Hey Joel, Conner here. I'm outside Tina's place on Pitt Drive and I smell smoke. You haven't got any reports since I left have you?"

  "No, nothing's come through."

  A loud whoosh filled the air and he all but dropped his phone when the window of the front bedroom shattered and flames licked out into the night air. Within seconds he could see fire through the glass of the front door. Shit.

  Running around the side of the house to the back, he yelled down the phone line to Joel, "Joel, get everyone out here now. Tina's house just went up. Pitt Drive. Front window just blew out, looks like the front rooms are alight. I'm going in the back."

  "Conner, don't be a fool, man. Wait for backup. You know better than to run into a burning house on your own!"

  "Tina's in there. Most likely, without her chair. I can't not go. See you on the other side, Joel."

  He ended the call and slipped the phone back in his pants pocket as he reached the rear of the house. Putting all his strength behind it, he kicked in the back door, not bothering to waste time checking if it was unlocked. Following her scent, he raced toward Tina. A loud crash sounded as he skidded to a stop in front of Tina's bedroom. With smoke stinging his eyes, he opened the door. "Tina! It's me, Conner. Where are you baby?"

  He caught a small sob from over near the window and turned to see that she'd crawled over to the small glass panel. His brave girl was trying to save herself. Another whoosh sounded and a flash of intense heat blasted him from through the doorway. He stripped out of his turnout coat as he ran to her. He quickly got her dressed in it before he scooped her up.

  "I'm going to have to sling you over my shoulder. It's the easiest way for me to carry you and run out of here. Keep your head down, shut your eyes and hold your breath. I'll get us out of here."

  She gave him a sharp nod and he quickly maneuvered her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. He turned back toward the doorway—wishing her window wasn't so damn small. He took a deep breath, gripped her legs tightly and stepped through into the hallway. Flames blocked the front door. He quickly spun toward the rear of the house and bolted as fast as he could to get the hell out of there.

  He was steps from the rear door when another loud crash sounded. Searing pain radiated through his left shoulder as he was knocked to the side. He fell to his knees, dropping Tina as she screamed for him. He shoved hard at the burning roof beam that had him pinned against the wall, his supernatural strength allowing him to get free. In seconds he had his arm hooked around Tina's waist, hauling her up under his arm as he strode out free of the burning house. The sound of sirens filled the air and Conner had never been so thankful.

  He stumbled out to the swing and lowered Tina as gently as he could to the grass moments before his knees buckled and he crumpled to the ground with a growl of frustration. He shook his head as black spots swam before his vision. Agony radiated from his shoulder and bicep but he focused on Tina. She was dragging herself over to him, her full attention on his left arm. Her pain-filled gaze flicked to his.

  "Oh, baby, your arm. You need to lie down until the ambulance gets here. You're looking really pale."

  Leaning on his right arm he moved so his head was resting on Tina's tummy.

  "I didn't hurt you? I'm sorry I dropped you."

  "I'm fine, and you were knocked over by a burning hunk of wood, dropping me isn't your fault. You saved me. I would have burned to death if it weren't for you."

  "Where's Robyn? Did she do this on purpose?"

  "I don't know where she is. I heard her scream and run for the back of the house just as I smelled smoke."

  Conner couldn't help but growl, "She left you to burn? On purpose!"

  "But you saved me. It's okay. I'm safe now. Shhh."

  He nuzzled his face into her soft tummy, and relaxed into her as she stroked his face and hair. Without his consent, his eyes drifted shut. He inhaled Tina's citrusy scent as he floated away from the pain into darkness.

  Chapter Eight

  Briefly releasing Conner's hand, Tina swiped a tear from her
cheek. His color looked better but he hadn't woken up yet. He'd passed out with his head resting on her tummy. She'd never felt so frustrated at her lack of movement as she had in that moment. She could do nothing for him. Waiting for the ambulance and fire trucks to arrive she stroked his hair and face, but couldn't pull her stare from the horrific charred flesh on his shoulder and arm. Injuries he'd received rescuing her. If only he hadn't given her his thick protective coat. The one she still wore. Burying her nose in the heavy yellow material, she breathed deeply of Conner's scent mixed with smoke. It made her feel like he was embracing her.

  "Please don't cry. Your tears break my heart."

  She closed her eyes briefly before looking over at Conner in relief. He was awake. He was going to be okay.

  "You're finally back with us. You've had me so worried."

  He frowned for a moment. "How long have I been out?"

  Tina glanced at the clock high on the hospital room's wall. "Not really sure, I didn't look at the time when we came in. But it was more than three hours ago when we arrived."

  She lifted his hand and kissed his palm. She'd have loved to climb on the bed with him, but couldn't. Damn my useless leg! His thumb stroked her face, his calloused skin felt so good against her soft cheek.

  He gently chuckled. "Got myself my very own Cinderella."

  She frowned up at him. "How so?"

  "You're covered in soot and ash, like you would if you'd been sleeping in a fireplace. And Robyn's been keeping you locked up and making you work, just like Cinderella."

  She shook her head on a giggle. "Well, that's only fair since you're my knight in shining armor that keeps coming in to rescue me—gotta do the damsel in distress properly you know?"

  "So I'm not Prince Charming? Just a run of the mill knight, huh?"

  Tina smiled at her cheeky man. Only Conner could turn her tears to laughter so quickly.

  "You're pretty charming when you put your mind to it. I just liked the image of you riding in on a big stallion to rescue me in your armor better than the pretty boy, useless male the Prince Charming usually is."