You Are Mine by Lucy Darling

7

Kennedy

Dane’s presence is overwhelming. It’s not only his size but all of him. He’s bigger than life. He fills up the room with his power, dominating all the space around him. It reminds me of Fawn’s husband, Roman. He can do that at times too. While it can be intimidating, knowing that he’s my protector has me relaxing more than I have since I woke up in the hospital.

“Kennedy.” Dane swipes his thumb across my lips. I watch as he brings it to his mouth, sucking the icing off. I lick my lips, tasting the sweetness of the dessert he ordered with lunch. “Do you need anything?”

“What?” I snort a laugh. “We barely put a dent into this.”

My eyes almost popped out of my head when they brought in the room service earlier. Dish after dish had been placed on the table. I enjoyed all of it. Dane really did know how to order for me. He even fed me half of it himself. He insisted I was eating for two, but it looked as though he ordered for ten.

“You might have a craving.” He shrugs.

“I’m fine really.” I’m not sure he believes me, but I can see he’s fighting some battle inside of himself.

“You’re not fine.” He rises to his feet, running his hand through his dark hair as he paces back and forth. He ditched his suit jacket, rolling up the sleeves of his buttoned-up shirt. He might look more casual and relaxed, but Dane is nowhere close.

“But I’m safe?” He stops pacing.

“You’ll always be safe with me. I don’t care if I have to build a house and dig a moat around it and fill it with water.” I think he’s joking, and I wait for him to crack a small smile or something but it never comes. I think he’s dead serious. A warm feeling fills my belly at the thought of the lengths he’d go to protect me.

“Are you always this intense?” I drop my head, realizing that was rude. “I’m sorry. I just meant…”

“Yes.” He comes back over, offering me his hand. Without a thought I reach up and take it. He guides me over to where the sofa is in front of the fireplace. “You’re the only one who can ever get me to relax.” He pulls me down with him, putting me onto his lap. I feel sexy and feminine like this.

“I find that a bit hard to believe.” I run my finger down his jaw. From the moment Dane showed up today, his hands have barely even left me.

He always has to be touching me. I’m finding I’m starting to do the same. I crave him. There is something deep inside of me that recognizes him. That wants to be around him.

“The last few months have been hell. I don’t see myself relaxing until I know everything that happened that day.”

“We could move past it. What if we never find out? Will this haunt us for years to come?” The questions pour from my mouth.

“I will find out.” He says it with such confidence I believe him. “They could try again.” My hand goes to my stomach, and I realize Dane’s is already there. He leans in, kissing the shell of my ear. “They won’t get close enough. No one will ever touch a hair on your head again as long as I’m still breathing.”

I turn my head, my mouth coming to his. My eyes fall closed. Dane’s fingers wrap around the back of my neck, his thumb at my chin, tilting my head back more to deepen the kiss. I need to be closer. Everything inside of me is screaming for that.

I shift, turning my body around to face him, my knees dropping to either side of his legs. “Kennedy.” Dane groans my name. “I missed you so damn much, baby.” Emotions start to overwhelm me. A sense of belonging fills me.

“I know it sounds crazy,” I say. “But I missed you too. That emptiness inside of me was because I was missing you.”

“Baby. Don’t cry.” He kisses my cheeks. “I’ve got you.”

“And you love me,” I add. It never gets old having that reminder. I didn’t think anyone loved me in the way this man does. I’d felt so alone and lost.

“Yes, I love you. More than anything.” I start to cry harder. “If you keep that up I’m not going to be able to say it anymore.” I’m about to protest when I see the teasing smile on his lips.

A hard knock on the door has me jumping, pressing myself more into Dane. My fingers grip his shirt in a tight hold.

“It’s fine.” He drops another kiss on me. I expect him to quickly answer the door, but he takes his time, not caring that someone is still knocking and ringing the doorbell. The pounding on the door becomes more persistent with each second that passes.

“Open this door or we’ll kick it down.” I hear Fawn’s familiar voice bellow through the door.

Guilt immediately settles in my stomach that I hadn’t even thought to call her and tell her or anyone else where I was. I get to my feet and head toward the door, knowing that if she doesn’t see me for herself, she’ll never leave. “We know you have her, Dane. Roman is going to Hulk smash this door in about ten seconds if you don’t hand her over.”

I know I shouldn’t, but I smile, picturing her dragging Roman here to come to my rescue. That man loves her so much that he would do anything she asked. Before I can reach for the door, an arm wraps around me, lifting me off the floor and moving me back a few feet before putting me down.

“At this point, I consider everyone to be a threat to you. I’ll answer the door.” He stares down at me as though he’s waiting for something. He thinks I’m going to push back but I’m not. I might think it’s a bit much but if it makes him feel better he can answer the door if he wants to.

“Okay.” The smile he gives me makes it even more worth it. He turns, flipping the lock before pulling open the door. I peek around his broad frame to see Fawn trying to bolt into the room, but Roman has a hold on her.

“What?” is all Dane says.

“What? You stole our Winnie.” She tilts her chin all the way up. Roman’s eyes connect with mine as he assesses the situation.

“I can’t steal what’s mine,” Dane replies before he folds his arms over his chest. “Roman.” He nods.

“Didn’t know you were in town, Dane.”

“Didn’t know I needed to check in with anyone.” A stare-off ensues.

“I’m fine,” I quickly say, not wanting some fight to break out.

“What’s going on? I’ve been freaking out. Jill called and said some man was all over you in the bathroom and then stole you.” My face rushes with heat knowing everyone in town is likely talking about this. The locals definitely are. In town everyone is tight knit around Healing Homes.

“I found my baby daddy,” I tease to lighten the mood. Dane turns his head, staring down at me in surprise. A giggle comes from Fawn.

“This is getting interesting,” Roman says.

“What?” I ask, meeting Dane’s dark gaze. “You are my baby daddy.”

“I should be your husband.” I suck in a breath. “I’ll be handling that soon.”

“Okay, let's hold up a second here. Do you remember anything? How did he find you? How do we know he’s not the one who put you here?”

A deep rumble comes from Dane. I can feel the rage coming off of him at the reminder that someone had hurt me.

“I don’t remember anything but—” I start, but Dane cuts me off.

“It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. She stays with me. End of discussion.” His words are harsh and filled with a warning for anyone to challenge him.

“We’re going to need to hear that from Winnie,” Roman says. He’s eerily calm.

“First of all, her fucking name is Kennedy, and second, you don’t have to hear shit.”

“You listen here you oversized giant! I’ll—" I quickly cut Fawn off before this escalates.

“I want to stay.” I push my way around Dane. He lets me but pulls me to him so my back is up against his chest in a possessive hold. “This is the most ‘me’ I’ve felt since I woke up in the hospital.”

Fawn’s face goes soft. It’s sweet she was trying to come to my rescue.

“Okay.” She gives.

I know without a doubt Dane isn’t the person that hurt me. Call me naïve or whatever, but I feel it down into my bones. From the moment he found me he has been nothing but sweet and protective.

“If there is anything you need don’t hesitate to ask. Kennedy means something to my wife, so she means something to me,” Roman says.

“I appreciate that. We’ll be staying for a while.” Dane’s words catch me off guard. I never thought about leaving here. I can tell from Fawn’s face she’s thinking the same thing. Over the past few months I’ve built a life here. I’m not sure how I feel about leaving here, and the thought of leaving Faith behind doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t mention any of those things right now. They are something Dane and I can talk about later.

“We’ll let you be alone then,” Roman says. Dane lets me go long enough to hug Fawn.

“I’ll let everyone know you’re fine. Call me if you need anything at any time,” Fawn says in my ear.

“Thank you.” Both of our eyes are watering. Freaking baby hormones. Dane and Roman shake hands having a silent conversation.

“You okay?” Dane brushes his thumb across my cheek after closing the door behind Fawn and Roman.

“Yes.” I let out a small yawn. “It’s been a lot for one day.”

“You need rest.” He takes my hand, leading me through the suite into the bedroom. He finds me a shirt to wear. “Go change.”

I think I fall a little in love with him. He knows I can be shy. I slip into the bathroom and change. When I come out, Dane is standing at the edge of the bed.

“Get in, baby.” I climb into the massive bed. The bed is like a cloud. Dane drops another kiss onto my lips.

“You’re not going to sleep?” I ask. Worry starts to fill me for some reason.

“Soon. I need to make some calls, and then I’ll come to bed. I’m not going anywhere.” I relax into the bed. For the first time ever I drift off to sleep in seconds.