Home. That sounded amazing.
“Fine,” Citrine said. “But I’m going to call Robbie. She needs to explain this, right now. She isn’t in trouble, but she can’t just go running off…”
Kelsey gave Sever a sympathetic look as they passed him, and the giant man gave her an answering nod.
Adrien was going home with her. She had an apartment. She had a man who only wanted her, and the two of them could be alone.
Somehow that was the most desirable thought of all.
Seventeen
When they got back to Kelsey’s apartment, Adrien made sure she didn’t have any injuries and then insisted on her changing and getting comfortable and sitting on the couch while he took care of ordering them dinner.
“I’m really fine,” she said.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I mean, I care that you’re fine, but it doesn’t change how protective I feel over you. You were nearly hurt, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it without doing something awful, and—”
She stood up and went to him, wrapping her arms around him. “You’re fine. I’m fine. We’re both okay, thanks to Robbie.”
“That’s the other thing that’s bothering me,” he said. “What on earth—” He cut himself off. There was no point talking about this. Even if Adrien now suspected Robbie was a shifter or something supernatural, he couldn’t exactly tell Kelsey that when she had no idea such things existed.
He was sure Citrine was wondering the same thing.
How was it possible, though, that Robbie had been able to hide it from them? That was a mystery.
Still, as curious as he was, for now, the drama was over, and Citrine and Robbie could work out the rest between them.
He just wanted to spend the night winning over his mate. He wanted to win her that much faster so he didn’t have to be in the club any longer. So he had his powers to protect her. So she wouldn’t be in danger.
He slowly pulled her arms from around his waist and led her back to the couch, gently urging her to sit. He liked being able to see her there while he waited by the door for the food.
When she was fed and happy and they were relaxing together, he would finally, hopefully, calm down.
Dinner was delivered, Chinese, and he served it onto plates and brought it over to her so they could eat together in front of the TV.
As they watched a game show that he deemed far too easy and she laughed beside him, enjoying her food, he slowly felt his heart return to a steadier state.
They were both fine. He was just surprised by how worked up he’d gotten seeing that other woman try to hurt her. His fear for her was proportionate to how precious she was, and he couldn’t stand for anyone to harm a hair on her head.
She was his mate, and he had to protect her. He needed it more than he needed to breathe.
“You okay over there?” she asked, setting aside her plate. “You’re looking intense again.”
“Just thinking about what happened,” he said. “I’m sorry, but I found it disturbing.”
“I’ve never had someone be protective of me before,” she said, twisting her fingers nervously. Her green eyes were so honest and clear as they met his. “I like it.”
He grinned. “I’m glad. I like doing it.” He reached over to take her hands, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles gently.
She shivered and bit her lip, looking into his eyes.
“I can think of some other things I’d like,” she said.
“Again? Already?” He laughed. “Well, I can’t really refuse you, but what do you want?” He made sure his own plate was out of the way on one of the side table and got on his knees, facing his mate, entwining their fingers between them.
“More,” she said. “Ever since you touched me, I’ve been wanting more. It’s not like me. I’m not… greedy. I usually have to worry about surviving. I had no idea how greedy I could be once things were going well and I was with a man I… trust.”
He rolled his lips together nervously. He hadn’t thought he would get another chance to be intimate with her so soon, and his heart was still racing slightly over everything that had happened.
But with even just her fingers creating ripples of warmth through him, he was in no way capable of turning her down.
He leaned forward, kissing her, and this time took control, his tongue swiping inside her mouth swiftly, exploring deep, catching her surprised moan.
He loved how quickly her body responded to him. How she moaned, her hands letting go of his to wrap around him, gently stroking his back.
Unlike the woman who’d been touching him earlier, every spot Kelsey touched felt like heaven. Every time he touched her, he was transported to a place that was neither here nor his old life, but somewhere higher, better, more amazing than anything he’d ever expected.