“We are eventually going to have to go back to your house or mine,” Anson said, his voice rough.

He was kissing along Piper’s neck, seeking out the spots that he knew would make her gasp. It had been two days since they’d been back in Seattle. They had spent the first night at Van and Cora’s. He had been relegated to the couch in the living room while the three women giggled and chatted until the wee hours of the morning in Cora’s closet.

Van and Anson kept cracking the door and pushing food and wine through then quickly closing it. He wouldn’t have been surprised if they had put up a sign saying Keep Out on the door. He didn’t mind. She was in a room with only one door, a badass Kindred bodyguard sleeping next to her, even though it wasn’t him, and they were in a loft that was more fortress than cozy home.

Anson and Van had talked shop for a while then settled in to watch a Sentinels game. He knew how important it was for Piper to be comfortable around Cora and Eden. Van and Eden were part of his family, they would always be around. More importantly, he wanted her to trust them with her life if she needed to. Anson had no doubts that they would keep his mate safe.

The next night Piper made it clear she didn’t want to intrude anymore. That left them in a hotel downtown for the last two days. Piper had been dropped off at her office building in the morning as usual. They didn’t want the routine to look different. The only visible sign that something had changed was Eden sitting at the desk outside her office.

When she returned from work, Anson didn’t waste any time bundling her into a bath. Then he would make sure she was fed and relaxed before making love to her until she fell asleep in an exhausted slumber. He knew it wasn’t just work that was making her tired.

This morning Anson had been lying awake, wanting to get up and check for updates. But with his mate curled up next to him, he found his motivation lacking. That’s when he decided to wake her up slowly.

“Anson, are you cutting into my sleep? Haven’t we talked about that?”

“I timed this perfectly, I have just enough time to make you come before you need to get ready for work.”

“Well, aren’t you the gentlemen. Maybe you should be my office assistant,” she said through a moan.

Anson didn’t think that would be very subtle so he kept it to himself. He moved his hands over her warm, sleepy body, touching all her secret places that he’d discovered so far. Leaning over, he swiped his tongue over her mate mark and they both let out a moan. It was like completing a circle, her feeling what he felt at the touch.

“Damn, that is freaky good,” she said.

“Not bad, huh?”

“No, not bad at all…”

Anson wasn’t trying to use sex to distract her, but it certainly helped. They were so close to settling this for her. He would use every trick in his book to keep her from stressing out.

He slid into her and watched as her eyes rolled back and closed. He loved seeing her like that. She probably didn’t realize she was offering herself up in a way that made him feel like the biggest man in the Clan. There was a good chance that every Kindred felt that in bed with their mates. Nothing could be better than the moment he made them one.

“Anson, don’t tease me. I don’t want it slow,” Piper said, breaking into his thoughts.

Flexing his hips against her he said, “You like it slow.”

“Sometimes, not every time, not today,” she said, pushing up against him. She rotated her hips against him and he knew how easy it would be for her to pull him under.

“I want you worn out before work. I want the only thing running through your head to be memories of the next few minutes.”

“Minutes? Slacking are we?”

“Oh, just for that, you might be late to work.”

* * *

Piper let the water pour over her face and shuddered at the sensation. Her whole body was inflamed. She felt like a stiff breeze might make her come. Anson could play her like a violin. Making her sing out the sweetest sounds. She knew he was keeping her distracted, not that he needed to. His desire to shield her from the world was sweet. It made her feel precious to him.

The day before, Eden had sent her ridiculous memos and emails to keep spirits up. Being out the previous week kept her busy catching up. Everything was running smoothly until Colleen tried to pin a missing report on her during a meeting. Eden started coughing obnoxiously. Piper had to hide her smile.

Colleen got shut down fast as Piper pulled out the report. It still amazed her that Colleen would go to that much effort to try and get to her. It wasn’t as if she was making a good impression on anyone that might be helpful in her getting a promotion. Brushing her off and finishing the meeting, she knew that she just had to get through the day until she was back in Anson’s arms.

There wasn’t anything for her to do. Her hands were tied. It was the hardest thing handing over her safety, or at least it should have been. Anson was so worried about her she didn’t have time to worry about herself. It made her uncomfortable knowing she was at the center of so many people’s minds.

“Babe, you done yet?”

Anson’s voice snapped her out of her soak. Funny how the world seems simpler in the shower. You could always make great plans and can win any imaginary argument.

“Sorta,” she said realizing she still had conditioner in her hair. After rinsing, she stepped out of the shower and found Anson holding out a towel. He wrapped her up in it and pulled her into his arms.

“Mmm, you smell like coconut.”

“It’s my shampoo and you know it.”

“Time for work. You know if we were at my house or yours, which we need to remedy by the way, I could pack you a lunch.”

“Hah! I’d like to see that. You cutting up carrots and adding little notes,” she said with a smile.

“If it makes you smile like that, then hell yeah, I will.”

“Can we just have my house packed up? I want my paints, but I don’t want to go back.”

“I can make that happen if it’s what you want.”

“No, I don’t want any of it, but I don’t see another way. We can’t keep living in the hotel.”

“We can live here as long as you want.”

“I want my bed, my own sheets, and a stove to make pizza rolls.”

“Pizza rolls?”

“Yes, I love them and they make me feel better.”

“Okay, how about we go to my house?”

“Is it safe?”

“Safe because you’ll be with me. Safe because I can get an extra set of eyes on my place.”

Piper let out a groan. “I don’t know, let’s talk about it tonight.”

Anson gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Tonight.”

Piper nodded and moved away to get herself dressed.

She finished her makeup and met Anson at the door. He was holding a bad cup of coffee made from the pot in the room. He said he didn’t trust room service. Hudson was standing outside their door. Piper had thought it was overkill but got a stern look from both men when she brought it up. Obediently, she followed them to the waiting car. The SUV was running and she was bundled into the back seat.

“I wonder if the President likes this constant attention?” she mused once she was inside.

“She loves it,” Hudson replied.

“You don’t know.”

“I know someone in the Secret Service. The President understands the need for protection,” Hudson said as they pulled out.

Anson was next to her and had his arm around her. “You think you’re all that, don’t you, Hudson?” Piper teased. Before he could answer a popping sound rang out and Hudson sped up. Piper found herself lying across the seat with Anson on top of her.

This was not how she thought her day would start, not at all.