After a few minutes of cuddling and cookie-munching, I went to the bathroom. There, I got to pacing. What had happened still hadn’t quite registered. Although the conclusions it drew had. Our relationship endangered Cin – or at least it had. While I’d hoped to be the man to protect her, I’d inadvertently done the complete opposite. And the consequences had almost been fatal.

In the bathroom, I checked the window. Ridiculous, seeing as she was on the sixth floor, but still, seeing how impossible they would be to open from outside calmed me. Going back into the main apartment, I checked the front door. It was good too. Jake and Cin were busy chatting, which was good. I went back into the bathroom and ordered a new heavy-duty lock for Cin.

No way would I be able to sleep at night if I thought there was even a hint of a chance that she was in danger. I glared at my reflection in the mirror. Who was I kidding? Of course she was still in danger. Whatever threats we’d made to Rodney’s men would just as likely piss him off as deter him. I needed something more.

That something more came in the form of a phone call.

“Hey, long time no see,” Yarvis said when I called.

“Yeah. I’m telling you, you should really come downtown and hit up one of Jake’s fights one of these times,” I chided him gently. My tone changed. “Although this time, I’m calling for a favor.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know Rodney Smith?”

“A small-time crook, yeah. What about him?”

“Why isn’t he behind bars again?”

“No evidence of any of his various misdemeanors.”

“What about texts and threatening phone calls – would that do the trick?”

“Sure it would. Though you might have to testify.”

“I’d be fine with that.”

“Alrighty then.”

I pumped a victorious fist in the air. “Thanks Yarvis.”

“No, thank you. That asshat has been on the street for far too long.”

“Far too long,” I agreed.

Afterwards, I was able to breathe freely for the first time in a while. Now, Cin really was protected. Why hadn’t I thought of this earlier? Probably because I knew idle money demands wasn’t cause for a good arrest. But kidnapping a woman and threatening her for money?

Rodney was dumb and cocky, and now it was going to cost him.

Back on the couch, Cin was nodding off.

“We better let her sleep,” I told Jake, and he agreed.

After we had carried her barely-conscious form to the bed and tucked her in, we went back to the couch. There, I told him about the lock and the Yarvis phone call, and he was visibly relieved too.

“Still,” I said. “After all that happened, doesn’t part of you think that maybe we’re more trouble for her than good?”

“No,” Jake said, frowning. “We’re all good for each other. You just need some sleep, bro – you look like shit.”

Two times in the past twenty-four hours that someone had said that to me.

“Nighty, night, then,” I said, slinging myself onto the opposite couch.

And just like that, my buzzing mind finally let me sleep. Until I heard Cin’s cry, that is.

Seconds later, I was at her door, relieved to see she was fine, still asleep. It was only a bad dream, although her face was as riddled with pain as if it were real.

Crawling in beside her, I’d only intended to console her. But then I found her naked and I couldn’t help wrapping my arms around her.

“Mmmm…” she said, easing herself into me.

I stroked her back lightly. “There, there,” I said. “It’s only a dream.”

She let out a happier noise, turning around to face me, her eyes fluttering half-open. Next thing I knew, we were kissing. Her body was soft and fluid under my hands. Her breasts were firm and taut and cool.

As our lips connected and reconnected, the rest of our bodies followed suit, rubbing and twining and groaning. Soon, my fingers were in her, feeling how turned on she was.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Fuck yes.”

Yes, was all I was feeling right now, in fact. As together, we stripped off my shirt – yes. As I buried my face in between her generous tits – yes. As together, we took off my pants – oh fuck yes.

Her skillful hands wasted no time making my erection harden as my fingers pumped her. Her fingertips danced along my cock, urging it harder. stroking it with the fabric of my boxers, until I couldn’t take it anymore, until we were both twisting in exquisite agony.

I ripped off my boxers and shoved myself to her. We connected with a groan.

Fuck yes, her channel was tight wet perfection. We thrust together, her breasts slapping into my chest. Our lips relocked. All of us was fused. In and out. Fast and faster. My hands swept around to her ass, delighting in its softness, then her hips, controlling the pace.

“Yes,” Cin was still murmuring. “I love this.”

The way her body was responding to me, the words spilled out: “I…. love… you…”

We froze. Fear and uncertainty and pleasure flickered in Cin’s eyes, and I slammed my lips to hers. Right now, all that mattered was finishing this, giving her the pleasure she deserved and gaining some of my own in the process.

And then, I held her in my arms as we drifted off once again, the worry of what I said drawing away like a blanket.

--

When the familiar scent tickled my nostrils, I didn’t rise. So what if, somehow, there were peach pancakes nearby? I had the most beautiful girl in the world in my arms.

“You guys gonna lie there all day and leave the pancakes to me?” Jake asked, poking his head in.

Lobbing a pillow at him, only made him snort. “Suit yourselves.”

Cin rolled around to face me. After a long kiss, she asked, “You really don’t want to go for pancakes?”

“Not when I’m in bed with you,” I said. But I could see she really wanted to, so I shifted so that I was sitting alright. “But yeah, let’s go – on one condition.”

“Oh?” Cin looked intrigued.

“We go like this.” I picked her up and she giggled. “Owen – but I’m, I’m still…”

“Naked,” I concurred. “But that’s the best part.”

Inside the kitchen, Jake was at the table with a mighty stack of pancakes before him. “Oh,” he said neutrally at the sight of us. “You decided to join.”

Although once I set still-naked Cin down at the table, Jake couldn’t keep his attention on his pancakes any more.

“Christ,” he said, gaping. “I forgot how beautiful you are.”

“Yeah, I’m going to get a robe,” Cin said, scampering off.

“No!” Jake called, but it was too late.

When she returned, we all had pancakes, with Cin having more than expected. When my phone rang and I saw who is was, I groaned. Might as well get this over with.

“Owen,” my dad’s imperious voice said as soon as I picked up. “You decided to answer my call.”

“If you’d known the crazy-busy week I’ve had, dad,” I said.

“Yes, yes,” he said. “Anyway, this time I called because I want to meet this new girl you’re dating.”

Oh, shit.

“This new girl I’m dating?” I said carefully.

“Yes, the brunette one. Maude was at Jake’s fight and saw you kissing her. You know Maude, the one from church.”

My stomach churned. “Maude, the Sunday school teacher,” I said weakly. “Right.”

Thank God she hadn’t seen Cin kiss Jake too, by the sounds of it.

“When works for you?” Dad said.

“Uh, I’m not sure,” I began.

Seeing Cin’s face fall, I said, “Tonight?”

“Tonight it is, then. See you then,” Dad said, hanging up. He’d never been one for lengthy phone conversations.

Now, Jake was looking at me like I’d lost it. “You’re taking Cin to a dinner…. With dad?”

“Why not?” Cin said, frowning.

“Just…” I sighed, my gaze going to Cin. “Our dad is a bit of a- “

“Totally anal conservative,” Jake provided succinctly. “Very judgemental. He means well, he’s just very close-minded.”

“But still,” I told Jake. “We’re his only sons, and his only family since the divorce.”

“Maybe you have a point,” Jake said dubiously.

“Ok,” Cin said coldly.

I grabbed her hand. “We’re going, ok?” I shot a glare at Jake. “All of us.”