Chapter 18

Tory

Everything about Ranger’s touch is perfect. I never thought I’d be the type of woman to fall recklessly head over heels for a man like Ranger… but I have.

I so have.

The words are on the tip of my tongue, but people don’t really fall in love this quickly, do they? Of course not.

It’s the heat of the moment causing my brain to short circuit. I smile, holding Ranger closer.

He grunts and groans close to my ear as he pushes his dick in and out of me, causing my body to feel lighter and lighter as he does. I’m so close to my orgasm I can almost feel it.

I squeeze my eyes shut, open my mouth, and my toes begin to curl. “Ah, Ranger.”

“Come all over me,” he demands, and it’s like my body knows to obey him, because I do.

At that exact moment.

Like Ranger’s got the blueprint to my body.

I think maybe he does.

My legs squeeze tighter around him as my orgasm crashes all through me, making me see stars behind my closed eyelids. He follows right after me, chasing his own orgasm. He pulls out in just the nick of time, and shoots his load all over my tummy. It’s sort of sexy how he looks as he comes. Like he’s nearly out of control.

I don’t know what it is about this man that turns me on, but seriously, it’s like everything he does. We lay together after he cleans me up, and he pulls me closer to him.

Sometime later we make it to the bed, and go for another round, and I find myself falling even harder.

Every day, my feelings for Ranger grow stronger. It’s not just his presence or the way he looks at me like I’m something rare and precious—it’s the way he makes me feel safe. The way he listens to me, really listens, and makes me laugh when I don’t even realize I need it.

We head to the little diner again today, the one we visited the other day. It feels like a small slice of normalcy in the midst of everything else, and I like the idea of sharing pancakes with Ranger again, just the two of us.

The sun is bright as we walk along the boardwalk, the salty breeze tugging at my hair. Ranger keeps pace beside me, his hand brushing against mine occasionally. Every time it happens, my heart skips a little.

When we step inside the diner, the familiar jingling bell above the door greets us, and Linda waves from behind the counter. I smile, feeling a sense of ease settle over me.

But then I see them.

The same group of guys from the other day, sitting at a booth near the back. They’re loud and obnoxious, just like before, and as soon as we walk in, their attention snaps to me.

My stomach twists uncomfortably, and I instinctively move closer to Ranger. He notices immediately, his eyes narrowing as he follows my gaze.

“It’s them,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Ranger’s jaw tightens, and his posture shifts, becoming more rigid, more alert. “Don’t worry,” he says softly, his voice low and steady. “I’ve got you.”

We sit at a booth near the front, far from where the guys are, but I can feel their eyes on me. It’s like a weight pressing against my back, making it hard to relax.

“They’re staring,” I say, keeping my gaze fixed on the menu in front of me.

Ranger doesn’t even look over at them. “Let them stare,” he replies calmly, his tone laced with something that sends a shiver down my spine.

Linda comes over to take our order, and I manage to smile and thank her, but my appetite is gone. Ranger notices, of course—he notices everything—and his hand brushes against mine under the table, a silent reminder that he’s here.

We eat quickly, and when we leave, I’m relieved to step back into the open air. The breeze feels cooler now, refreshing against my skin.

But my relief is short-lived.

As we walk along the path back to the safe house, I glance over my shoulder and freeze. The guys are following us.

“Ranger,” I whisper, my voice tight with panic.

“I know they’re there,” he says, always aware. He looks bigger somehow, more imposing, like a man who’s ready for a fight.

“I wish they’d leave us alone.”

“Stay close to me,” Ranger says firmly, his hand brushing against my back as he positions himself slightly behind me.

We keep walking, but the guys don’t stop. They keep a few paces behind us, laughing and talking loudly, their presence impossible to ignore. My heart pounds, the fear creeping up my spine like icy fingers.

Finally, Ranger stops and turns to face them, his body a wall of calm, controlled strength. “Is there a reason you’re following us?” he asks, his voice low and steady, but there’s an edge to it that sends chills through me.

The guys hesitate, their bravado faltering under Ranger’s glare. Tank Top, the loudest of the group, steps forward, his hands raised defensively. “Hey, man, we’re just walking. No harm, no foul.”

“You’ve been staring at her since we walked into the diner,” Ranger says, his tone sharper now. “And now you’re following us. That doesn’t look like ‘just walking’ to me.”

Tank Top glances back at his friends, clearly unsure of what to do. “We weren’t gonna do anything, all right? Just messing around.”

“Don’t,” Ranger says, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. “Don’t mess with her. Don’t follow her. Don’t even look at her again.”

The air is thick with tension, and for a moment, I think Tank Top might say something stupid. But then Ranger takes a small step forward, and his sheer presence alone seems to be enough.

“Got it,” Tank Top mutters, backing up quickly. “We’re leaving.”

The group stumbles away, their earlier arrogance replaced with nervous energy. I let out a shaky breath, my heart still pounding as Ranger snaps a picture of them with his phone. He turns back to me.

“You okay?” he asks, his dark eyes scanning my face.

I nod, my voice caught in my throat.

“Good,” he says, his voice softening. “Let’s get you home.”

We walk the rest of the way in silence, his hand resting lightly on my back the entire time. When we step inside the safe house, I finally let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Ranger turns to face me, his expression serious but calm. “You don’t have to be scared, Tory. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “But it’s still scary.”

He steps closer, his hands resting gently on my shoulders. “Listen to me,” he says, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “I will always keep you safe. Always.”

His words are a promise, and for the first time since the diner, I feel the tension in my chest begin to ease. I trust him. Completely.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

He smiles faintly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You don’t have to thank me, Tory. Keeping you safe isn’t just my job—it’s what I want to do.”

And in that moment, I know that no matter what happens, Ranger will always be there for me. And somehow, that makes everything else feel a little less terrifying.