My cheeks heat with embarrassment and I sheepishly step out of the hallway and into the living room.
"I was trying to give you some privacy while you were on the phone," I tell him, my eyes dropping down his body when I realise he's topless.
"You were definitely eavesdropping on me," he says, chuckling as he stands from the sofa and walks towards me.
My eyes devour every inch of his bare skin, shamelessly sweeping over his chiselled muscles.
"I hope you don't mind. I took a shower while you were sleeping."
"Don't mind at all," I mutter, distracted by the way his abs move while he walks.
He chuckles, stepping towards me and holding my chin between his thumb and forefinger so he can tilt my head up, forcing my eyes to connect with his.
"You're adorable when you're drooling over me, darling," he says, pressing a gentle kiss against the tip of my nose and my forehead. "I boiled the kettle, so I can make you a drink if you want before we talk?"
I nod, smiling up at him.
"Yeah, please."
Lifting onto my toes, I press my lips against his, hoping he can see how much I appreciate him and care for him.
His arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me closer to him and kisses me back with an equal amount of passion and heat.
His tongue sweeps against my lips, and I part them, allowing our tongues to meld together.
He cradles my head in one hand, holding me in place as he quite literally devours me, and when he pulls back, pecking at my lips a couple of times before walking off into the kitchen, I'm stunned, breathless and in complete awe with the man before me.
"Tea or coffee?" he asks.
I clear my throat and follow him into the kitchen, leaning against the countertop opposite to where he's standing, feasting on the muscles of his back while he goes about making us both a drink.
"Coffee, please."
He glances over his shoulder at me, and my eyes jump up to meet his, pretending I wasn't ogling him, but he clearly caught me because he smirks and winks before turning around and continuing with what he was doing.
My face is on fire by time he hands me my coffee, so I thank him and then move into the living room and sit on the sofa.
He moves to sit next to me, placing his cup on the coffee table and then leaning back, resting against the back of the sofa and stretching his arms out across the top of his.
His fingers ghost along the back of my neck sending tingles across my skin and I quickly put my coffee down before I spill it.
"So, I've spoken to Sophia, and we both think it might be a good idea if you come back to their place with me until all of this is sorted out and that bastard is taken care of. What would you think about that?"
I shake my head immediately, not even needing to think about my answer.
"No. I'm staying here," I tell him. "This is what he wants. He wants me to be scared, and he'll get enjoyment out of knowing he was able to scare me off. I left my life behind before because of him. I'm not doing it again."
"I had a feeling you'd say that," Jaylen sighs. "Kaleb and Leo fixed your door and added in multiple locks, including a deadbolt at the top and bottom. We've installed cameras outside too, and there's an app you'll need to download on your phone to access them. I've also agreed with Dominic that either Leo or Charlie will always be outside on watch. They know all of the other tenants, so if they see anyone around here who isn't meant to be, they'll alert me."
My brows raise and I stare at him in shock as he lists everything off.
"I will also be staying here until we've gotten rid of that fucker."
"Jaylen,you—"
"No. I'm not going anywhere," he says, interrupting what I was about to say. "There's no negotiation. You're entitled to make your own choices in life, and I will always respect those choices, but this time, we're doing things my way. I don't care if I have to sleep on your doorstep. You're in danger, Aurora, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Tears blur my vision, my heart melts inside of my chest, and a feeling I've never experience before flows through my body as I stare at him.
