Free Protecting My Hart (Protectors Series Book 1) by Danielle Wright

either. I feel relaxed, at peace. I haven’t felt this way in a very long time. My cheek is resting on a firm solid chest. Strong arms holding me close, these arms, are they the reason for this peace? These arms are familiar, strong, solid, safe. The events of last night begin to flood my mind. He found me, Slyde found me, saved me. He brought me home. He refused to leave. He woke me from my nightmare. He tucked my son back in bed. He listened to me tell him why I left and part of what I went through, and he didn’t judge me. He believed me and then took care of me. I’m not really surprised that I feel like this. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen him, this is natural, always has been. This feeling is something I have missed every single day since the day JD came back home after my first attack. Never did I think I would get to feel this again. I know it won’t last. Just like before, Slyde is being nice because just like before, he saved me from an attack. At least this time I can prepare for the loss of this feeling and maybe it won’t hurt as much.
    “Good morning, mi Tersoro,” the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard murmurs against my head.
    “Hi,” I whisper and then move my head so I can look at him. He is still beautiful and sexy. His eyes still take my breath away. “How did you know I was awake?”
    “Your breathing changed, and your body tensed slightly.”
    “Oh,” I state simply because there isn’t really anything else to say.
    “Did you sleep OK?”
    “Yeah I did, I slept really well actually. Thank you for that.”
    “My pleasure, Hart. Are you OK?”
    “Yeah. I’m good. Promise.” I lay my head back down on his chest and hold tight. Slyde tightens his arms around me and I feel his lips press against my hair. I know I have to get up, and once I do, this all goes away, and I’m not ready for that so for a few more precious minutes, I enjoy this feeling.
    “Hart. Tell me what happened. I wanna know everything. Why you weren’t safe there. Did you ever feel safe there? Tell me, Tesoro.” His words are soft and gentle, but regardless, the happy feeling is gone.
    “No.”
    “Hart.”
    “No, Slyde.” I break from his arms and get out of bed. “You don’t need to know, and it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all in the past, and I don’t want to relive it. So no!”
    “Hart.”
    “No. I’m going to shower before Ethan wakes up.” I walk out of my room before I lose my resolve. I can’t do this with him. I can’t tell him everything that happened to me. I can’t live with knowing how he will see me once he knows. I let the hot water of my shower pour over me. I will not live in the past again. I have to get my son to school, I need to get to work and figure out what to do about my car. I also need to start looking for a new apartment in a new town. Having to move again so soon is going to cut into the Montana money, but I don’t have a choice. Keeping Ethan safe is all that matters.
    Finishing my shower, drying off, and getting dressed, I head to Ethan’s room to wake him up. He’s not there when I check, and my heart starts to race, then I hear laughing coming from the kitchen. Standing where I can’t quite be seen, I watch Slyde make Ethan breakfast and talk to him. Ethan tells him stories from school, and Slyde listens and responds like it’s the most interesting thing he has ever heard. My heart melts watching them interact. Ethan is completely comfortable with Slyde, and that doesn’t really surprise me—Ethan can feel it too, he knows just like me that he is safe with Slyde. Their stance is similar, their bodies both relaxed, and the thought that I hope to be true every days appears. I wish I knew for sure. I wish I didn’t have to doubt it, and I wish I had the answers to the questions that I know Ethan will ask me one day, but sadly I don’t, and I’m pretty sure I never will.
    “Hey, what are you two up to?”
    “Hi Momma. Mr. Slyde is