Guardian by Loribelle Hunt Read Free Book Online Page A

was very, very determined, maybe a little bit awesome.  
    She took the step. She had no real clue why, just that it seemed stupid to not see for herself, but when she stepped inside the house, she froze. All they’d agreed on three years ago was the floor plan. The house wasn’t just finished on the outside, though. She walked in and saw the floors she’d wanted. The paint colors and fixtures she’d wanted. But she’d never had a chance to discuss any of that with Zach. When he came in behind her and shut the door, she turned to him.
    “How?”
    His shrug was almost sheepish. “You left a notebook with your ideas. I did what I thought you wanted.”
    “And you never asked?” She cocked an eyebrow. She was in shock. The place was perfect.
    “I wanted to give you a gift,” he said. “I never thought when I was doing it we’d be apart this long.”
    She was so not taking him back for a house. Even if it was perfect. “You’re insane.”
    “Not insane,” he said, shaking his head. “In love, yes.”
    His declaration froze her in place. He’d always told her he wanted her. He needed her. But love? She knew he loved her as much as he was capable, but he almost never said it.  
    “Who are you and what have you done with Zach Littman?” she quipped.
    He actually laughed with her. She wasn’t sure if she should soak it in or call for help. Then he stepped closer, set his hands on hips and backed her up to a wall.  
    “I surprised you,” he said, staring down at her.  
    She nodded. She couldn’t deny it. He leaned down and kissed her just under her right ear, then moved to whisper to her.
    “I love you, Mallory White Littman. I have since I was a boy.”
    She shuddered. Could he really mean that? He’d never said that before, never hinted. Love was not a word in his vocabulary. There was a time she’d thought she was okay with that. Now that he was throwing it around she wasn’t so sure. Her insecurity was obviously showing through. His lips pressed against hers softly.
    “I will make sure you know, baby, every day,” he whispered. He leaned his forehead against hers and she could hear him grind his teeth. “I need you to know,” he said. “I won’t let you go easily, but if you leave, it won’t change anything for me. We’re a good match, Mallory.”
    She pulled away. “I can’t do this right now.”  
    She was so conflicted. Thankfully, he let her walk away and wander around the bottom floor a bit. The walls were the exact color she wanted, the floors the perfect reclaimed pine. Finally, she let him bully her upstairs to the master bathroom into the shower, which she knew she’d love in the morning when her brain cells were working, and then to bed. But the exhaustion was emotional, not physical, and she stared at the ceiling, wishing for sleep but unable to find it. She heard the shower turn off and the sheets rustled as he slipped into bed behind her. He pulled her close, his chest to her back, one arm slipped under her neck and the other wrapped around her stomach.  
    “What’s wrong?” he asked softly.  
    “Nothing,” she answered. Everything , she thought. It felt too good to lay in his arms. In this house. Would be too easy to welcome him back into her life. And would hurt like hell when things eventually went south. But she didn’t want to think about any of that now. She just wanted to feel the bliss he could bring her.  
    She turned around and lifted her face. “Just kiss me.”
    His eyes searched hers for a moment. “With pleasure,” he murmured.  
    His lips brushed hers before tracking across her face. Cheeks, nose, her closed eyelids. Gentle, teasing contact from such a hard man. She felt the tenderness rising in him, but she didn’t think she could handle it. She stroked her palms down his chest, felt his muscles spasm when she reached his abdomen and kept going. She hesitated at his pelvis, her hand hovering over his erection.  
    “Touch me, baby,” he