Let Me Protect You

"This is a nice change of attire. You are ravishing." I feel his fingertips tracing a pattern on my bare shoulder, and that action alone does something to me. Butterflies take flight in the pit of my abdomen. His hot minty breath hits my skin, eliciting a shiver to run down my spine. His emerald eyes turn a couple of shades darker and I couldn't even begin to describe the color. I've never seen this shade before. It's freaky yet hypnotizing. I find myself falling deeper into them. I finally pull away from his hold on me when he takes a strand of my plain brown hair and wraps it around his finger.

"You really have no idea how desirable you are. If I was the kind of guy who didn't care about impressing you, I would find the nearest room and prove it to you." His baritone voice is deep and husky, and an unfamiliar feeling sets in my chest and spreads down my body. I don't speak for fear of what my voice may sound like. The air is thick with desire and tension.

He tightens his hold on my waist. Now I couldn't get away even if I wanted to. He's moving backward with me pressed up against his chest. I look around and notice he is taking me to the other side of the cabin, away from everyone. My head is saying to push him away, but my body is saying something else. It wants him. Hell, who am I kidding! I want him too, but I can't figure out why. I've never wanted or craved someone as much as this guy.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask with trepidation. Part of me is a little panicked about what he thinks I'm going to do and what could happen. I don't know if I could tell him no.

"Just somewhere away from all the noise, so we can talk." He answers with a grin.

"You know that's what every serial rapist and/or killer would say right?" I'm only half teasing. "You're not going to have your way with me then kill me, are you?" I sound so stupid, but I really know nothing about this guy. I know that he is so sinfully hot, and he makes me want to do all kinds of wicked things. He chuckles deep and- oh lord, there it goes! - that funny feeling in my lower stomach again.

The corner of his mouth lifts into a semi cocky grin, and he stares at me with his assiduous eyes. I can't look away as everything else just fades away, leaving only him and me. “No, Annabeth, I'm not going to kill you. You don't know it yet, but you are so very special. However, I understand your hesitation and fear. I promise I won't bite unless you ask me to." That grin never leaves his mouth.

"I also promise I won't ask you to do anything you aren't comfortable with, but I so badly want to kiss you and do things I shouldn't be allowed to do. I just need to be with you. I want to be with you if you would let me. I don't want to push you though.” I don't know how to respond.

"I..." I can't get the words out; my tongue feels like it's been reading that Dr. Seuss book Fox in Socks. I'm tongue tied.

"Annabeth, you have been in my head since I first laid eyes on you. I will explain everything to you, but I cannot at this very moment. I also have this feeling that I need to protect you. Okay?" Now I'm confused, and I can guess that he isn't being completely honest with me.

"Did Rick set you up to this? Or do you have a death wish? Because if he catches you with me, he will kill you. I don't want to see someone else get hurt because of me. I like you, Kierran, and I haven't been able to get you out of my head as well, but you aren't safe with me. I don't need you to be my Knight; I can take care of myself."

I look down at my boots. Kierran's emerald gaze follows, then takes a deep breath. He hooks his pointer finger, sets it under my chin and urges me to focus my attention back on him. "Annabeth, I don't give a shit about Rick. I'm not afraid of him. I can take him.It's you I'm worried about. You are so beautiful and maybe a bit naive. I don't know what Rick's endgame is or why he is obsessed with you, but I do know what he’s thinking when you are around. It's nothing good.

You don't even realize the power you have over us, Annabeth.You can bring men to their knees, and Rick wants to snuff out that power and own you. So when he’s around, I have this overwhelming urge to shield you."

"I don't know what to say, but like I said I'm capable of protecting myself." My tone takes on a defensive stance, I don't need another guy to come in and start controlling what I do with my life. I don’t need a guy with a hero complex. It's infuriating to have to someone think I’m weak and in need of being saved.

"I know you can, Hell, I was just watching you in there telling that Prick where to go, it was hot. Everyone else just lets him do what he wants but you called him out on his shit, and didn't even look afraid."

"Oh, trust me that was all a show, I’m still terrified of the repercussions.”

"Annabeth, if you will let me, I can keep you safe from him." I arch a brow.

"How can you keep me safe when anyone else who came in contact with him ended up in a coma or left with broken bones?"

"Not everything is as it seems, but please don't ask me to explain; it's very complicated." He runs his hand through his messy hair leaving the front to fall in his eyes again. Before I can stop myself, my hand is moving towards his head. Using my fingers, I brush the hair away from his eyes. Just the feel of my skin on his sends a calming effect through my body, it's weird but I don't want to push it.

"I will not let anything or anyone hurt you, Annabeth. You can trust me." His eyes take on a hard edge and his mouth forms a thin line. His body goes rigid, but he doesn't let go of his hold on me. In fact, I feel him crush my body against his chest, and buries his face in my neck. I should be uncomfortable with this position, but I feel at ease. I breathe a sigh of complacency and lay my head on his shoulder.

We could stay here for hours and I wouldn't care, but he hesitatingly pulled away from our embrace. He moves his hand and cups my cheek; his skin is calloused yet soft. Weird combination I know. "I should take you home."      Disappointment flooded my body and my heart sunk. I didn't want to be away from him, and I didn't want to go home. Tessa wouldn't leave and my parents were out. I don't want to be alone, but I don't want to come off as needy.

"Yeah, I guess so." I don’t sound convincing and I'm sure he picks up on it.

"I can take you to get something to eat instead; there is a nice little diner down the canyon."

"Yeah, I would like that." He removes his arms from my waist and reaches for my hand. I took it without a second thought.

"I had to park my truck down by the lake so it's a bit of walk. Is that okay?"

"That sounds like a great idea; the lake is beautiful this time of year." He flips around so we are face to face. He seems like he wants to say something, but anxiety and nervousness fill his eyes.

"Annabeth, this is really important, but do you trust me?" That was kind of a random thing to ask, do I trust him when I hardly know him?

"I'm not sure why but I do trust you," I speak honestly and can't believe I just said I trust him. What is it about this guy that has me throwing out all logic and reasoning? I don't run off into the night with a guy I just met and I don't trust easily.

I really don’t have time to go inside my head and figure out my own questions because Kierran's mouth is on mine within seconds. It was just a simple peck on the lips, but it made me want more. I pulled away and sighed. “I shouldn't have done that but I'm not sorry I did it." The corner of his mouth lifts in a half-crooked smile and I’ll be damned if I don't want to melt into a puddle right there.

"I'm not sorry you did it either." I giggle and he reaches for my hand again and we start our trek to his truck. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and turns on his flashlight. We move to the side of the cabin and I pull back when I see Rick standing right in front of me, wearing that same smirk. The smirk fuels me full of hatred and anger, the smirk that brings out my violent side and I can’t be held responsible for my next move.