“You don’t want to attend the gala?” I finally asked when the silence got too thick. He didn’t respond, just smoothed his fingers along my ribs as if he was counting them, as if the small act calmed him somehow.

“It’s not that I don’t want to go,” he finally murmured before kissing my pulse point. “There will just be a lot of powerful people, dangerous men in attendance, and I don’t like having you there. I don’t want to risk you in any way.”

I smiled in the darkness at my protective monster, the man who killed without remorse but grew frantic when I sprained my ankle. I knew he had to have control at all times, and even something as small as me getting a papercut drew the protective beast he held, making him feel untamed, as if he didn’t have a handle on things in his world.

And he told me plenty of times—daily—I was his world, the only thing that mattered to him.

“You’ll be there, right by my side, so I know nothing will happen.”

His arms tightened on me as if he needed that physical reassurance to go with the words. “I’d die to keep you safe.”

I shifted, his now soft cock slipping from my body, our combined fluids making a slow trek from my pussy and coating my inner thighs. I loved the messy feel of it, because it was yet another reminder that I shared a special part of myself with Arlo.

“And besides, there isn’t anyone more dangerous than you, so what do I have to be afraid of?” I smiled and cupped his freshly shaved cheek. “What do you have to worry about?” I tipped my head and kissed him on the lips, nothing deep that would ignite round two of lovemaking—which I knew would happen before the night was over—but just something soft and sweet to show him that everything would be okay.

“The Morellis are powerful and influential, and the people they associate with are dangerous and corrupt. Having you around all of that darkness puts me on edge.”

I smiled lightly, not about to point out Arlo was one and the same but that I loved him without fault.

“We don’t have to go if you’re that afraid?”