Needing Him Read online

  That was what he did. His large hands gripped my hips and lifted me. Beneath me he moved his body with precision. Powering into me to send me climbing fast.

  Laying my palms on his stomach, his muscles became hard and I knew he was about to come. I brought one hand to my clit and gave myself the little nudge I needed to send my body soaring. I bucked on top of him as my orgasm took over. His fingers dug into my hips and with one final jerk he released into me.

  I laid on top of him after. I was officially drained. Nothing left in me. Normally I was the kind of person who once I had sex I became energized. Like clean the house afterward kind of energy, but not this time. Hell no. My ass was going to sleep while it could.

  Hours later, well I assumed it was hours, I woke alone on the couch with a warm fleece blanket covering me. Ace had curled up at my feet, effectively taking up one third of the couch, leaving me in a ball. Sitting up, I looked around and didn’t see Radek anywhere.

  I checked every room downstairs before walking up to the second floor. When I finally found him he was pacing in my bedroom. He didn’t know I had come upstairs. I was leaning against the wooden door frame, watching him go from one end of the room to the other, completely lost in thought. He was mumbling something to himself, but I couldn’t make out what.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked without stepping forward.

  His head snapped up and he visibly relaxed a little when he laid his eyes on me. “Did you get enough sleep?”

  “Yeah, I feel better.”

  “That’s good.” He drifted off again, looking out of the window.

  “Radek, what’s going on?”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he said. He only did that when he was stressed or upset. “The officer that we met the other night called. The man they arrested, Joseph, he’s pretty fucked in the head. They found pictures he had taken of you, us, Kai and Lee, all from close up in your home. Months and months this guy must have been sneaking over the fence. They searched his apartment, too. In his closet they found pictures of you taped to the walls. The officer said it was like he built his own little shrine to you. Twisted fucker.” My body was shaking again when he walked over to me, engulfing me in a hug. “Kasi, they have him. He’s being held on numerous charges.”

  “I need to call my attorney.” He nodded against me.

  After placing a few calls, including filling my attorney in, I felt a little better. This was one nut job that was now off of the streets, at least for a little while. I didn’t have to worry about him, although somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered if there were more of him out there.

  Someone from the security company I used would be coming to my house in a few days and we were going to discuss ways to make it even more secure. I knew I could get a gun, but I was scared of them. My father never had one in the house when I was growing up so I never learned to shoot. Maybe it was something I needed to look into.

  Surprisingly, when I mentioned to Radek about getting one he informed me that he had a couple of handguns in his apartment that he kept locked in a gun safe. He had a permit to carry them. He said you could never be too safe. I agreed with him now. Before I probably would have said that having one wasn’t necessarily a good idea. He said he would go with me to learn how to shoot, take a gun safety course, and anything else I needed to know. It didn’t leave me all warm and fuzzy though.

  “Maybe I’ll get another dog,” I said to him the next day. We were sitting on the bar stools at the center island in the kitchen.

  “I don’t think that’s the answer.”

  “Well, I don’t necessarily think a gun is the answer, but I’m going to do what I can to protect myself.”

  “I agree that you need to be able to defend yourself. I think I have another idea though.”

  I quirked an eyebrow and waited for him to tell me, but instead he looked down at his hands that were sitting in his lap. “Are you going to tell me or do I need to guess?”

  Taking a deep breath, he looked up at me. “I’m going to move in.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” I must have misheard him.

  “I’m moving in. I’m here all of the time anyway. I only go to my apartment to pack clothes.”

  “I love you, you know that, but I don’t want you to move in here because you feel the need to protect me. Also, you don’t get to tell me what you’re going to do where I’m concerned. You ask.”

  “Okay, can I move in?”

  “No.”

  “Kasi. It’s more than me wanting to protect you. Yes, the thought of you being alone up here in the woods and something happening scares the shit out of me, but I love you. I don’t want to be apart from you anymore. Let’s take the next step.”

  “I do want to move to the next level with you, but this isn’t the way to do it. I’m not a helpless woman. Shit, Ace had that asshole held in position and I called the police. They were here in no time.”

  His stare became hard. “What will you do if there is a next time and the guy has a gun and shoots your dog? How will you protect yourself?”

  “With the gun I’ll be getting. Were you here for that conversation? This is not news.”

  “I don’t like it.” He stood and walked over to the sink, gazing out of the window that overlooked my backyard.

  “You don’t have to like it. I do. It’s my decision, my house, my body, and my dog. All mine to protect.”

  He turned and slammed his fist onto the counter. “No, it’s mine to protect! You, the house, the dog, all of it!”

  “Take a step back and calm the fuck down. I have never needed anyone to protect me. I love you, damn, I love you so much, but this is my decision not yours.”

  “You’re with me which makes it mine, too. Shit, Kasi, what if something happens to you? I will never forgive myself.”

  “Even if you do move in, what happens when you are away working? What happens then?”

  “I’ll be your pilot and yours only. I’ll only work for you.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Now you’re moving in here and giving up all of your other work? That’s a bit much don’t you think?” He shrugged. He fucking shrugged. “Shrugging is not an answer!”

  “Okay, let’s go at this from another angle. Do you love me?” he asked.

  “You know I do.”

  “Do you miss me when I’m gone for days on end?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you able to tell me, without lying, that you have never thought about this?”

  My voice dropped to a whisper. “No.”

  He came over to stand before me. His finger going under my chin, lifting my face to meet his. “You are all I want and all I dream of. You are the person my entire world revolves around. Let me protect you. Let me love you. Let me be everything for you.”

  “But…”

  “Stop fighting me, Kasi. You want this as much as I do. The only difference is that I’m not scared to admit it. I know what I want and I’m going after it. After you. Wasn’t there a time when the roles were reversed and you were asking me to give in? Just think of where we would be if I hadn’t? I wouldn’t be hopelessly, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in love with you.”

  He was right on all accounts. I’d thought about him only working for me, being mine full time, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask that of him. There he was though, standing in front of me, asking me to let him be my everything. I couldn’t turn him down. I needed to be honest with myself and him. There was nothing in the world I wanted more.

  “Okay.”

  A smile gently tugged the corners of his mouth. “Okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He engulfed me in a hug and I knew we were making the right decision. I felt it down to my bones. I was his and forever would be. No one could compare.

  I still had some questions I wanted answered though. Namely, what did Kai do to take care of Erin? Would Radek ever be able to get along with him? I highly doubted it, but I could ho
pe.

  Even though I didn’t love Kai like I did Radek, that didn’t mean I wanted to let go of any relationship with him. Radek and I needed to work on our relationship. I knew every day going forward would be making it that much stronger. We were both in it for the long run.

  Even with all that had happened and all that we had overcome I knew it had been for a reason. Our bond remained and now we were moving on to the next level in our relationship. One that I hoped was full of nothing but joy and an endless supply of love.

  ~ Acknowledgements ~

  First and foremost, I have to thank my husband and my family. My husband provides me with the support I need and never wavers. He’s my rock. My family always encourage me and I love them all.

  My BFFs, Angel and Ann Marie, I love you both so much. You’re always there for me and I will always be there for you.

  Stephanie, thank you for everything! I feel very fortunate to have you by my side. You are amazing! I love you!

  Shannon, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Well, I’d probably laugh a lot less. The plane is picking us up soon. First class, baby. Love you!

  Steph S., thank you for being an amazing friend! Even if you tell me things I really don’t need to know, I still love you. Lol!

  To my beta readers and street team: Jen, Steph, Kim, Rebecca, Angel, Ann Marie, Shannon, Laura, Brandy, Dana, Erica, Stephanie, Alexis, Rachel, Kelley, Stefanie, Kendra, Monique, Julianne, Judy, Allison, Chelle, Mary S., Michelle, April, Amy, Sharon, Marcie, Mary F., Crissy, Melinda, Leigh, Lisa, LeAnn, Christy, Natalie, and Sheila. Thank you for beta reading, supporting me, and being all out awesome! Love you all!

  To Sara, Sommer, Ellie, and Riane, you are all talented beyond belief and I’m lucky to have you helping me. Thank you!

  To anyone I may have left out, it wasn’t intentional and I’m sorry. I’m tired, lol.

  To every blogger, author, and reader out there that has shared, read, reviewed, and supported me, your help means more to me than you’ll ever know. Thank you!

  ~ A note from the author… ~

  Thank you for reading Needing Him. I hope you liked it and will consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Indie authors value and depend on reviews. It doesn’t have to be a long review, a couple of sentences is fine.

  Thank you for supporting me and every author out there.

  Radek and Kasi’s story isn’t finished yet. Next up is book three from Radek’s POV.

  ~ Other Titles by Michelle Dare ~

  Salvation series

  My Salvation

  The Heiress series

  Persuading Him

  Needing Him

  ~ About the Author ~

  Michelle Dare is a Jersey girl living over the border in Pennsylvania. She started out as a reader, then became a book blogger. She loves the book community and thought she’d try her hand at writing. She writes contemporary and erotic romance.

  She is a married mom with two wonderful children and a German Shepherd that she considers her third child. She is a lover of books, music, and movies. Her favorite band is Maroon 5 and has too many favorite movies to list. Paranormal romance is her favorite genre to read.

  Connect with Michelle online at the following sites.

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  http://michelledare.com/