Her Dominant SEAL(31)
He strode over, looked down at her, and tried to use his size to intimidate her. “Too damn bad. They’ll have to figure something out.”
“Drake,” she drawled out his name, and he knew he was in trouble. “I’m not one of your sisters. I can think for myself.”
“Honey, you’re out of your mind if you don’t think they think for themselves. They tell me to go to hell on a regular basis. But they also know when I’m right.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “Will you let me show you something?”
She gave him a dubious look but finally nodded.
He coaxed her back down the hall, avoided the bathroom, until they stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom.
“Look at your face, Honey. What are those little children going to think when they see your owie? They’re going to be worried and scared. You can’t go to school looking like that, now can you?”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” He hated the look of vulnerability that crossed her face.
“No, it’s not bad. You did great. You got them with the hairspray, didn’t you? I saw the can lying on the floor. I bet you got them good.”
“I got off a spray in the first guy’s eyes before he hit me,” she said in a wobbly voice.
Drake hugged her. He saw how they looked in the mirror and smiled. Her auburn head reached his chin. She felt good in his arms.
“You’re right, I look awful.”
“Hey, I didn’t say that. You look beautiful.”
She tilted her head up and gave him a wry smile. “Don’t bullshit me. I look terrible.”
He kissed the tip of her freckled nose. “Beautiful.”
“You’re a nice man.”
Drake chuckled. “I think that’s the very first time I’ve been called that.”
“Then people haven’t been looking very close.” She gave his waist a squeeze, then stepped back. “I have to call the school. I guess it’s for the best. I need to get that window fixed and the bathroom door is off its hinges. I’ll have to find a handyman.”
“I can fix those.”
“Don’t you have other things to do?”
“I’m sticking close to you. You’re a target. You’re now part of the Avery clan. The good part of the family tree,” he said bitterly.
“Hey there. You’re not responsible for what your father does.”
“And his cousin. I have a lot of bad blood running through my veins.”
She thrust her hands on her hips. “Would you say that Piper has a lot of bad blood?”
Drake resisted the urge to squirm. Damn, she had that schoolteacher look down pat.
“No, ma’am.”
She tried to smile, but winced. He hated that. She was injured because of his father.
She touched her cheek, then gave a wan smile. “The wince kind of weakened my position, right?”
Very gently, he cupped the side of her face. He allowed himself the luxury of letting his thumb trace her bottom lip. “Two men broke into your house and beat you. You are now under my protection.”
“Drake.” She looked down, then her eyelids fluttered upward, and she stared at him. “I can’t bear the idea of being someone’s responsibility. I had enough of that growing up. I have to stand on my own two feet.”
He looked at her. He had to fight every fiber of his being that wanted to tell her to just suck it up, but he could see she wasn’t just giving him lip service. This was vital to her. But she was his responsibility.
“But you are my responsibility.”
“Okay.” Her shoulders slumped, and she tried to pull away.
Then the lightbulb went off. “I’m a dumbshit.” He pulled her back into his arms, and she gasped. He loosened his hold, and she sighed in pleasure. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, not your feelings or your body. Karen, I meant it you’re definitely my responsibility. I take them really seriously. So, you’re kind of a personal responsibility. Not a work one. Not a family one. Does that make sense?”
“Kind of.”
“Damn, woman, I don’t know how in the hell you’ve gotten under my skin in just one day, but you have.”
“I have?”
“Oh yeah, Baby.” He lost himself in those hopeful gold-flecked eyes. “I don’t know what kind of spell you’ve cast on me, but damn woman, you’re powerful.” Ever so gently, he traced the side of his knuckles along her cheek.
“Now call your school.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re bossy?” she said in exasperation.
“It’s been mentioned a time or two.”
She shook her head, and his hand dropped from her face. “You worry about getting my house fixed, I’ll handle my class. Anyway, don’t you need to check in with your sisters?”