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Dane

Holy shit. Holy. Shit.

She'd never… And she wanted to… With him!?

He cupped Lila's face and stared down at her, her lips swollen with his kisses, her cheeks burning, eyes afire, hair rumpled…she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, but he was going to have to soothe her pride pretty fast if he didn't want her storming out of there. He kissed her again, and she sighed into it, but he could feel the tension in it. She gripped his shoulders, but didn't let her hands play over him like she had.

"One day soon," he whispered into her ear between kisses, "I'm going to bring you to bed, and I'm going to show you how it's supposed to be. I'm going to show you how the world disappears, how I can play music on your body, how I don't need words to show you how much I…want you." He sucked lightly on her neck and she shuddered.

"Can you show me that now?" she gasped.

Fuck, this woman was going to be the death of him. Dane had to drop his head to her shoulder for a second and talk himself out of just saying yes and plunging into her. Especially when her fingers started trailing over his chest again.

Grasping her hands and pulling them around him so she hugged his waist, he cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "Not today, because I'm not prepared and we need…time. But soon. I promise."

Her lower lip pushed out and her eyes looked huge when she looked up at him through her lashes like that. Dear Lord, she was going to send him over the edge. "Trust me, Lila, it will be worth the wait."

She rolled her eyes and dropped her head back with a frustrated groan. It left her throat exposed in front of him and it was an act of sheer will not to run his teeth down it, suck on it, leave his mark on her. Instead he let his trembling thumb slide down the line of her jaw once, then twice. "God, you're beautiful," he whispered. "Have I told you that?"

She blinked and her face went serious. "Yes," she said breathlessly, "But honestly, it never gets old."

He laughed. He laughed. She looked confused, which just made him laugh harder, until he couldn't resist and he kissed her again, still chuckling into her mouth.

She sighed and let her tongue play along his until he was forced to pull away or go back on his word. When he straightened, trying to get his breath back, she leaned her head onto his chest and hugged him. He squeezed her back. He didn't want to let go. But it looked like she didn't either. Because neither of them moved. They just stood there, next to his bed, holding each other, until eventually he stopped desiring her quite so obviously, and she relaxed, sighing quietly.

"Worth the wait, huh?" she said into his sweater.

He nodded. "I promise."

Her shoulders rose and fell one more time. "Fine."

He squeezed her again and his throat pinched until he had to clear it. There was an odd feeling in his chest as they finally pulled apart and he took her hand to lead her toward the living room and kitchen where he'd make her some dinner. He examined the feeling as they walked—something soft, yet so solid. Unshakeable. Like he could throw anything at her and he didn't have to worry. Like he was…safe. Dane blinked and swallowed again.

Safe. He felt safe with her.

He couldn't remember anyone who'd made him feel that way since his sister Talia, and he'd been her protector. But somehow, Lila, tiny as she was compared to him…he felt like if she was at his side, he could meet anything and still come out of it okay.

It was a stunning thought, and one that made Dane nervous only because he trusted it.

He barely knew Lila, and she definitely didn't know him. But something had happened these past couple months that she'd been around. Like she'd carved a space in his chest that was shaped just like her, and wormed her way into it. Now she was there, snuggled down and immoveable. Not because he was weak, but because she was so strong.

He didn't want to remove her.

Blinking back an emotion he couldn't describe, he led her to the other side of the long island in the kitchen, pulled out a stool, and urged her to pull herself into it. When she did, he swung the stool around so she was facing him, her feet dangling between his knees.

He stared at her until her quick smile faded to be replaced with concern. Her brow furrowed and she put a hand to his shoulder. "What is it?" she asked quietly.

Dane swallowed, then leaned down to brace on the island behind her, his arms either side of her and fencing her in. "I want to make sure you understand something," he said hoarsely.

Her face went very serious, but she nodded and didn't speak.

"I want to make sure," he said, then cleared his throat, "that you are utterly certain that you are always welcome here. Always. No matter what. Even if we fight. Even if I'm busy. Even if I'm throwing a fit. My door is always open to you. You never need to ask. Especially if you're ever afraid. Even the tiniest bit."

Her lips pulled up in a quick grin, but he shook his head. "I'm serious, Lila. If I learned anything growing up with my father, it was that even if I couldn't identify the source, if I was ever nervous or afraid, it was better to listen to that instinct, than to ignore it. If you ever feel afraid—even just uneasy!—you come to me if we aren't together. And if we are together, you tell me. I don't care if I'm the reason you're scared, you tell me. I'm the guy who yells, and I everyone knows that I can be an ass. I know I'm going to have to apologize—probably before the week is out. But no matter what, if you're ever afraid, you tell me, Okay? I will always want to help. I will always want to protect you. Always."

Her eyes were liquid, lined in silver, and she bit her lip.

"How is it possible that you've been alone for so long?" she breathed, putting a hand to his face. He smiled. "It's simple," he said, leaning in to kiss her again. "I was waiting for you."