Free McKenzie, Cooper - Saving Chloe (Siren Publishing Classic) by Cooper McKenzie Page A

coming in all the time to do just the same thing.
    Chloe was quiet, and he thought she slept as he drove home, so he didn’t bother trying to talk. The classical music on the radio filled the comfortable silence.
    When they reached his house, he opened her door. “You will stay with me tonight, won’t you?” he asked as he helped her to the ground.
    She looked up at him and smiled. “I’d like that, but I have to go home in the morning because I promised Jasmine I’d make her cookies for her family lunch.”
    “We’ll be talking about how those people are hurting you at a later time. For now, let go inside and get comfortable…or as comfortable as you can get,” he said, patting her ass, which he knew shifted the plug and made her jump as they crossed the yard to the porch steps.

    * * * *

    “But they’re my friends,” she protested. “I think.”
    She yelped when Declan popped her left ass cheek with the flat of his hand as she crossed to the porch to the door.
    “I’m serious, little one. Those people are borderline crazy. I have a feeling they could be dangerous if yer not verra careful around them.” He closed and locked the door once they were inside then pulled Chloe into his arms.
    “You may be right, which is one of the reasons I haven’t completely blown them off. I’m afraid of what they might do in response,” she admitted softly as she rubbed her cheek back and forth against his chest.
    “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll protect you from the Porch People,” Declan said as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands on her ass cheeks. He pulled her close enough that his erection pressed into her belly. “Still want to watch that movie?”
    “Uh,” Chloe moaned as her body once again reacted to Declan’s nearness by kicking her brain off-line.
    “I’ll take that as a ‘We can watch it while we play some more’?” Declan smiled down at her, heat and arousal clearly visible in his eyes.
    “Okay.” Chloe smiled, relaxed and happy to follow wherever he led.
    Declan guided her through the kitchen and stopped. “Would you like some wine? Another beer? Milk? Soda? I’m not guaranteeing I have all that, but—”
    “Water would be great,” she said with a smile.
    “Water it is.” Declan opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of water.
    They moved down a hallway at the back of the kitchen. He pointed out the bathroom and pantry as they passed. When they reached the door at the end of the hall, he opened it then stepped back and allowed her to enter first. Flipping a light switch by the doorway turned on several small wall sconces, which illuminated the biggest bedroom Chloe had ever seen.
    The king-size bed looked almost lonely sitting against the far wall, while a pair of leather club chairs sat in an alcove to the left facing a modest-sized flat-screen television. To the right was a small round table with two chairs. Something about the room made Chloe feel this room was rarely used, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what.
    Declan opened the low cabinet under the television and looked at her. “What kind of movie are you in the mood for? Romantic? Comedy? Drama? Blood and guts?”
    Chloe shrugged. “Whatever. The way I’m feeling, I’m not sure we’ll be seeing much of it anyway.”
    “Mmmm, you’re probably right. Maybe we should just turn on some music instead.”
    Chloe watched as he picked up a remote, and then turned on the television before hitting several buttons. The room filled with the sound of soft jazz as he laid the remote down and turned to smile at her. All at once she grew nervous. Would he throw her on the bed and claim her without any other foreplay? Or had he changed his mind about making her his mate?
    “Dance with me?” he asked, extending one hand.

Chapter 10

    “I’d be honored,” Chloe said. She crossed the open space between them and took his hand.
    She wasn’t surprised when he began to slowly waltz her around the