MY PROTECTOR: The Valves MC

by Kathryn Thomas

  She nods in understanding and doesn’t push him. It’s something that no other girl would do, give him space to tell his story at his own pace. Most women wanted to pump him for information, as if the more secrets of his they knew, the stronger the hold they’d have on him would be. It is just one of the many ways that Adriana is different from everyone he has ever known.

  “How’s your mom? And Kay? She must be, what, like twenty, now?” Adriana had never met Grayson’s family; it was one of the many ways that he had kept his distance from her. It touches him to know that she remembers details like the age of his sister.

  “Twenty-one next month, I can’t believe it. It’s like it was only yesterday that she was an obnoxious twelve year old, trying to get me to teach her how to drive!” He smiles at the memory of that day, when Kay hadn’t taken no for an answer and made him teach her how to reverse the car into the driveway.

  “It’s nice to see you smile, Gray. You should do it more often.” Adriana nudges him playfully, and he has to stop himself from pulling her into him.

  “I smile!” He protests, laughing and feeling more carefree than he has in years.

  “No, I’m not talking about that BS grin that you give to all the girls. I’m talking about a real smile, like the one you’re wearing right now.” Adriana nods, beaming back at him. “You know you can be pretty handsome when you’re not so preoccupied with glowering like you’re thinking about punching someone.”

  He looks at her open-mouthed. Women tended to just take him at face value; he’d forgotten that Adriana wasn’t like anyone else. “So you think I’m handsome?” He winks at her devilishly, making her laugh again. It’s such a great sound; he knows he wants to be the one to make her laugh all the time.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  ADRIANA

  Adriana blushes prettily and shrugs to cover her embarrassment. “I think you know the effect you have on women.” She gestures towards the girls along the beach that make no effort to pretend that they’re not staring openly at Grayson as he walks with her. She wonders what they must think of her, probably that she’s nowhere near pretty or interesting enough to hold his attention. They’re not wrong and a surge of jealousy catches her off guard. She has no reason to feel jealous. She has no claim on Grayson; she never has.

  “I’m not interested in the effect I have on other women. What effect do I have on you, Adriana?” He’s stopped walking and has stilled her with a hand on her arm. There he goes, saying her name like it was a song, and she feels the butterflies in her stomach flap their wings like crazy.

  She doesn’t want to answer. She’s incapable of lying to him, and she doesn’t want to give him that power over her, not again, not when she’s worked so hard to put herself back together like a broken china doll. There’s something that she’s desperate to ask him, something that feels like it’s about to burst out of her at any second, something that she’s wondered for a decade. But now that he’s in front of her, it’s harder than she could imagine to ask it.

  “Tell me.” His voice is tender, as he ducks his head, forcing her to meet his eyes.

  That’s what undoes her; it’s the warmth in his gaze that gives her the confidence she needs to address the elephant in the room, the one that’s been in the corner of her eye since she’d seen him again. She takes a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “Why did you leave? You disappeared without a word, without telling me where you were going. I waited for you, believing that you would come back, that you wouldn’t have just left like that. But you never did.” She feels her voice breaking, as she remembers the hopelessness, the disappointment that had crushed her day after day until she realized that he wasn’t ever going to walk her home again.

  Grayson rakes his fingers through his curly brown hair, looking like he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’s agitated, pacing in front of her, turning away from her and then facing her again, like he can’t decide what to do. He looks like he’s fighting with himself, something that she recognizes from the rebellious kid that he’d been all those years ago.

  Eventually, he seems to come to some kind of a decision, and he faces her, just far enough so that she’s out of reach. “I’ve thought about that last day, hundreds of times, thousands.” He takes a deep breath, preparing himself for what he’s going to say. “Trust me when I say that I had to leave. I knew that I didn’t have any kind of future, that I didn’t have anything to offer you.”

  Adriana shakes her head, his explanation is nowhere near good enough. “That’s it? You had a crisis of self-confidence!” She barks a laugh, but there’s no humor in it, only bitterness. “I cried for months, Grayson, for months. I wondered what the hell I’d done wrong to make you leave.”

  He takes hold of her arms, her skin singing at the contact. “You didn’t do anything. I didn’t leave because of you. It was because of me. I was a screw up, and there were things that I had to do, things that I needed to do, that I couldn’t involve you in.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” Adriana sighs in frustration, wishing that having him so close didn’t make her brain turn into the same consistency as her hospital’s mashed potatoes. “Why didn’t you at least tell me that you didn’t want to see me again?”

  “Because I was a coward.” Her head snaps up at his words, not expecting him to accept responsibility for what he had done. “And it wasn’t that I didn’t want to see you. I knew that if I did, then I wouldn’t have the strength to walk away from you again, and I couldn’t allow that.” His eyes are burning with intensity, and Adriana feels herself taking a step towards him, needing to be closer.

  “And now? Do you want to walk away now?” She looks up at him with her heart in her eyes. She knows that she should be trying to protect herself, that this man has the ability to crush her in one fell swoop, but she’s spent so long trying to push her feelings back into their box that she’s so tired of it all.

  Grayson lays his hand against her cheek, and she leans into his touch automatically. He doesn’t answer with his words, but with his body. He guides her closer to him, settling her head against his chest, as he encircles her in his arms. Adriana can’t help but let a little contented sigh escape her as she lets him hold her, and she snakes her arms around his muscular torso, pressing herself into his body. She doesn’t know how long they stay like that, but she does know that she doesn’t want to let him go, not ever.

  They spend the rest of the day walking along the beach, talking about their lives. Grayson seems genuinely interested in her work at the hospital—and impressed. It’s nice for her to be able to talk so openly and freely about a job that she loves. She asks him about fighting, about why he enjoys it, but when she asks him how he got into it he clams up, diverting the conversation in another direction. There’s something that he’s hiding from her, but she can’t expect him to open up to her about everything instantly; it had been a long time.

  “Walking me to my door, it’s a little like déjà vu.” Adriana smiles up at him, as they finally get back to her apartment. They’ve spent the entire afternoon together, and she doesn’t want it to end. “Do you want to come in?” She looks up at him shyly from under her lashes, holding her breath for his answer. “For coffee,” she qualifies hurriedly.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  GRAYSON

  “Coffee sounds great.” Grayson follows her inside, he doesn’t add that he’s so geared up that if he drinks any caffeine he’ll probably be climbing the walls.

  “I’ll give you the grand tour.” Adriana throws her jacket over the couch. “Kitchen,” she points to the tiny area wedged between the couch and the front door. “Living room. Bedroom.” She nods towards the door at the back of the room. “I guess that’s the whole tour!” She shrugs, smiling. “Like I said, it’s small, but it’s mine.”

  Grayson looks around at the apartment. Small would be an understatement, but the place is full of personality. The bright splashes of color on the walls make it hard not to feel your mood lift
as soon as you walk in. It’s the same effect that Adriana has on him, her brightness and life makes him feel lighter, instantly.

  “It’s great,” he assures her, seeing her blush and feeling inordinately pleased that his opinion means so much to her.

  “So, how do you take your coffee?” She heads over to the kitchenette, fiddling with the coffee filter, her back to him.

  Grayson catches sight of a flyer he recognizes on the countertop. He goes to pick it up and looks between it and Adriana, raising an eyebrow. “This looks familiar.”

  Adriana blushes, avoiding his eyes. “That kid I told you about, the one I stitched up, he gave it to me. I meant to throw it away.”

  Grayson lays his picture back down and walks around to stand in front of Adriana. “But you didn’t throw it away.” He hooks his finger underneath her chin and lifts her head up so that he can see into the green eyes with flecks of gold that shine like the sun. “Why?”

  “I just couldn’t. It was nice to see your face.” Adriana bites her bottom lip and that’s what undoes him. He swoops down to her mouth, pulling her lip with his teeth and then kissing her. His body had been humming since he’d held her in his arms and having his mouth on her feels so good and so right he moans in spite of himself. He’s rock hard in his jeans; he doesn’t remember the last time that had happened just with a kiss. Of course, he does; it had been the last night he’d seen her. The Adriana Effect, he thinks.

  He feels Adriana’s shock, as she remains still for a few moments before she lets herself go. Then, she delves her fingers into his curly hair, pulling him closer towards her, greedy for him. She opens her mouth to him, letting him taste her, his tongue flicking against hers. He turns her, pushing her back so that she’s caught between the counter and his body, and she arches underneath him, pushing her hips against his. Her eagerness fuels his desire. He runs his hands along her back, wanting to touch her everywhere, to feel her skin.

  He summons the energy to pull his head back from hers, and the little sound of protest she makes in the back of her throat makes his hard-on throb. “Bedroom.” The word is said breathlessly. It takes a supreme force of will for him not to take her right here, but he knows that she deserves more than that. She deserves romance and tenderness and respect, and he wants to give all those things to her.

  Adriana’s eyes are hooded with lust, but she seems to come to her senses once his mouth isn’t on hers anymore. “Are you sure this is what you want? That I’m what you want?” She barely breathes as she waits for his answer.

  Grayson smiles tenderly at her, wondering how she can possibly question how much he needs her. She truly doesn’t understand how beautiful, how desirable, and how perfect she is, and that only makes him want her more. “Adrie,” he looks at her seriously, “I don’t even drink coffee.”

  She laughs as comprehension dawns on her face, and Grayson’s heart skips a beat at the sound. If making her laugh feels this good, what’s it going to be like to be buried inside of her? The thought of that makes his already swollen cock even harder. Without hesitation, Adriana takes his hand and slips out from underneath him, his body immediately missing the contact. She leads him through the door and into her bedroom.

  The bed is covered in clothes and Adriana shrugs, looking nervous again. “I had a little trouble deciding what to wear.”

  Grayson smiles at the thought of her wanting to look her best for him. “You look beautiful.” He locks eyes with her. “You always do. You always did.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  ADRIANA

  His words bring so many emotions to the forefront that she feels like she’s being overcome by a tidal wave. All she wants right now is to turn her brain off, to stop analyzing everything, to let herself feel, and to just be with Grayson, the man who she measures all other men by.

  “Kiss me.” Her words are a demand, not a request, and Grayson doesn’t need her to tell him twice.

  His lips are on hers immediately, probing with his tongue, tasting her. A moan escapes her throat, as he pulls her tighter against him. She can feel how hard he is through his jeans, and the knowledge of how turned on he is just makes her more excited.

  His hands slide along her sides, skimming underneath the hem of her tank top. She shivers, as he strokes the soft skin there, and she lifts her arms, signaling for him to undress her. She thinks she hears Grayson gasp as he looks down at her, but her head is so full of her own need that she can barely process what’s happening. All she knows is that she wants to be skin to skin with him, that she needs to touch him.

  She’s impatient, pushing his t-shirt up over his shoulders, running her hands along the ridges of muscle and the tattoos that cover his body. Her fingers run over tiny marks on his chest and arms. They’re almost made invisible by his tattoos, but she’s seen enough scar tissue at the hospital to recognize it anywhere. She knew that his father used to beat him and his mother, but she could never have imagined how badly Grayson had been hurt. His scars tell a story, and it’s one that brings tears to her eyes.

  “Gray, I’m so sorry.” She whispers the words as she touches the marks on his body one by one. She feels him stiffen under her hands.

  “Don’t be. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I just want you.” His last words are a growl. He reaches for the waist of her shorts, unbuttoning as fast as he can, as if he can’t wait. She wriggles out of her pants, standing in front of him in her purple underwear. She sends a prayer of thanks up that good lingerie was something that she had always invested in; it made her feel confident, but confidence escapes her standing half-naked in front of Grayson.

  “You’re so sexy.” He looks at her reverently, like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

  He lays her down onto the bed, not taking his eyes off of her for one moment. She squirms a little under his gaze, as she tries to convince herself that this is actually happening, that this head-spinningly gorgeous man is in her apartment, in her bed. He unzips his jeans and drops them down, his boxer shorts straining against his erection. He lies on top of her kissing her softly at first and then deeper, more possessively.

  She responds without hesitation, her arms around his hard shoulders, luxuriating in the feel of him against her. He ducks his head down, feathering kisses down her neck to the curves of her breasts. He unclips her bra expertly, cupping her breast and then bending down to take her already puckered nipples into his mouth, sucking on one and then the other. Her back arches, pushing herself harder against him. As his teeth graze against her sensitive nipples, she feels an answering pull in her pussy. He’s making her so wet.

  “You’re so goddam beautiful, Adriana.” Grayson’s voice is husky and full of desire as he comes face to face with her, covering her mouth with his. One hand is sifting through her dark hair, pulling it free from the band she had used to try to tame its wayward nature. The other hand travels over her breast, down over her flat belly and down, further down, to the heat between her legs.

  “Gray.” His name is a plea in her voice, as she silently asks him to touch her.

  He watches her, as he slides his hand into her panties, touching her swollen lips, feeling the wetness that he’s created there. He strokes her, making her squirm in pleasure underneath him. “You’re so wet, Adrie. You feel amazing.” He looks at her in awe.

  Grayson probes between her thighs, parting her and sliding one digit inside and then two, making her sit up sharply, clinging to his shoulders.

  “Grayson, please, I need you.” She can barely get the words out; she wants him so badly.

  His eyes shine like she’s just said exactly what he wanted to hear. He tears her panties off, his muscles bunching with the effort of trying to control himself. He steps out of his boxers, staring down at her with an animalistic look in his eyes then something like realization slices through the moment.

  “What?” She looks at him nervously, wondering if this is the moment when he decides that he doesn’t want to make love to her after all.
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br />   “I didn’t bring any rubbers; I didn’t exactly plan this.” He scratches his head looking rueful.

  “You don’t need one.” Her response surprises even her. She’s never had sex without protection, but there’s something about Grayson that makes her want to be skin to skin with him, that doesn’t want there to be anything between them, separating them. Besides, she knew that athletes like fighters got tested all the time.

  “You’re sure?” Grayson’s concern for her, to make sure that this is what she really wants is touching. Most guys wouldn’t even have bothered to double check.

  “Grayson.” Her tone is impatient, as she reaches out for him, not wanting to waste another moment debating.

  The need in her voice acts like a mirror to his own, and he lays down on top of her, supporting himself on his hands. He looks straight into her eyes, and she feels something stir in her chest, something that she couldn’t, or perhaps wouldn’t, put a name to. She reaches between them to take hold of his swollen shaft, not even slightly phased by the size of him. She wasn’t even thinking about the logistics, all she was thinking was how much she wanted him.