Always Running (MATURE CONTENT)

CHAPTER 18

Lucas sat in the chair by the fireplace while Nessa slept. She had finally fallen asleep close to three in the morning. Her mind worked overtime again. He understood her fear, he had lived it with his own mother. Lilian had been free of his father for years now and she still woke up screaming in the middle of the night several times a week. It didn't matter that he was dead. She still feared that he would come for her, and Lucas knew that Nessa would always carry that fear with her as well.

Nessa shot up in bed with wild eyes looking around.

"You're safe, okay?" Lucas stood up very slow and took a few steps towards the bed and stopped when he saw that Nessa was still not with him. "Nessa, you with me?"

Nessa's wild eyes kept moving around the room until they settled on Lucas' massive body. She blinked a few times and smiled at him. "With you, babe," she said.

Lucas walked to the bed and climbed in beside her again taking her in his arms. "I have to go out of town for a few days," he said.

Nessa's body instantly went rigid. "Why? When?"

Lucas kissed her softly on the lips and smiled at her. "Breathe for me, and don't worry. I hired your personal guard, and they start today. As a matter of fact, they should be downstairs right now. They'll be with you all the time and my mother will also be here. There's nothing to worry about."

Nessa sat up and stared at him. "How long is a few days? Who's going with you?"

Lucas could hear her insecurities rearing their ugly heads. "Tom is going with me and my guards, who are all male and no one else."

Nessa gave him an apologetic smile. "You don't owe me any explanations, I'm so—"

"I owe you exactly what I expect from you," he said cutting her off. "Since I don't want you around any other men I'll give you the same curtesy. I only have eyes for you, Nessa." He kissed her one more time and got out of bed. He had to get ready if he wanted to be on time.

Downstairs in the living room, Margaret Stanton, Blake Hartford, and Ryder Cooper waited for Nessa and Lucas.

When Nessa's eyes landed on Blake, who was apparently one of her guards, she gave Lucas a questioning look.

Lucas leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I trust you baby, and if I want your trust then I have to give you mine." He kissed her temple and directed his attention to the guards.

"While you are with Nessa, you will protect her from anything that might be a threat, even if it's an old lady with a cane, you assume she is a threat." Lucas said.

"Really? An old lady with a cane?" Nessa raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, she could be well versed in the arts of ass kicking with a cane, who knows, better to be safe than caned don't you think?"

Nessa laughed, and Margaret was doing her best not to laugh as were Blake and Ryder.

"Nothing happens to this woman, am I clear?" Lucas was serious again. All three gave a "yes sir" in unison and walked out leaving Nessa and Lucas alone.

"I don't want you to go."

"I'll call you all the time and you can call me no matter what it is. I'll be back as soon as my business is taken care of."

Nessa pulled Lucas down to her and she kissed him. Her kiss was hard and full of fear that she might not see him again. Loss was a very real part of her life and she never dealt with it very well.

"I'll call you the moment I land. Be safe and enjoy your time with my mother." He gave her a passionate kiss and walked away before he decided to stay.

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