Cherry threw up her hands. “He is not a fair fighter, damn it! He owns weapons. He skulks around in the shadows and...and...”
And he’d done terrible things. To Cherry. Choking on the awful mix of love and rage, Denver rose from the bed. Arms folded and expression shuttered, Cherry turned away from him.
He brought her back around. “Don’t do that, Cherry. Don’t ever shut me out.”
It took her a second, but she got her chin up. “I don’t want Carver and his insane brothers going after you full force. I know I’m responsible for a lot—but not that, Denver.” She held his gaze, but her voice wavered when she said, “Please.”
Carefully, he closed his hands over her shoulders and drew her closer. “What are you responsible for?”
Her lips firmed. “I need to tell you more about Carver. So you’ll understand. So you’ll know that it’s not worth...”
“Fighting for you?” Was that what she thought?
She tried to push away from him, but Denver scooped her up and carried her to the bed, ignoring her struggles and excuses and all the reasons why he couldn’t, shouldn’t, know her in every way imaginable.
Getting comfortable with his back against the headboard again, but now with a disgruntled bouncy blonde on his lap, Denver said, “Settle down.”
That really got her going and he laughed while subduing her. Laughter was the wrong move, apparently, given the killing glare she cut over him.
“We’re not going to sit through this, huh? Have it your way.” He stretched her out under him, pinning her legs with one of his, drawing her arms up high over her head. He took in the tantalizing sight of her, smiled and shook his head. “Damn, girl, no matter what, you do it for me.”
“Damn it, Denver—”
He lightly bit her earlobe. “Shh. It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”
“You don’t know that! Carver is not a reasonable man.”
“He’s not a man at all.” To tease her, he kissed a path from her ear to her throat. “Real men don’t bully others. They sure as shit don’t abuse women.” He lifted up enough to see her eyes growing heavy.
Sweet Cherry. It always took so little from him to get her ready. That in itself was a blessing. To be wanted so much by a woman like her...
No way in hell would he ever give that up.
“Anyone who would terrorize a kid is the lowest scum on earth. Now, while I get that you’d rather deal with him on your own, it’s not fair to ask that of me, so get over it.”
The sensual fog cleared from her gaze. “It’s not that easy!”
“It will be if you’ll stop hiding from me. If you’ll put a little of that effort into trusting me instead.” Denver waited. When she said nothing, when her gaze darted away, he went back to nuzzling her fragrant skin. “I’ve got all night.” Hell, he had a lifetime. With her. Sooner or later she’d get it.
He nibbled his way down her chest to the top of her breast.
Even as her breathing deepened, her mouth pinched. “Okay.”
He saw the resignation in her gaze, and the belief that things would somehow change between them. He smoothed back her hair, lightly touched his mouth to hers, and rose to one elbow, bracing his head on a fist. “Trust,” he reminded her.
Tightly strung, quivering with tension, she met his gaze. “I told you that Carver stayed after me.”
“Yes.”
“He knows I’m afraid of bugs. I mean, really afraid.”
Denver had to point out the obvious. “And yet today, because you knew I needed a hand, you stayed and helped.”
Her eyes closed, her voice strained. “I was so scared.”
“When someone faces their fears like that, it’s called being brave.”
She shook her head. “Not when the fear is—” she swallowed hard “—stupid insects.”
“You’re wrong. There are all kinds of fears, and people are all affected differently.” When he released her wrists, she lowered her arms enough to put her palms on his chest. “I was so damned proud of you.”
Her self-conscious laugh hurt him. “If I was brave, it’s only because you were there and I knew you wouldn’t let anything get me.”
Progress. “I won’t let anything or anyone ever hurt you.”
Lashes lifted, showing him her beautiful dark eyes—and her stubborn pride. “I want to take care of myself.”
“You do, girl. Given the foundation you started with, you’re doing great. I’m proud of you, so I wish you’d be proud of yourself, too.”