Under His Protection

Chapter 12: Mine Forever

The night air felt heavy, thick with tension that mirrored the weight Travis carried inside. His penthouse, usually a safe haven above the chaotic city below, seemed suffocating tonight. Plans had been made, strategies laid out, and the hit on Santino was just days away. But as the deadline loomed, the danger felt more real than ever.

Travis sat in his office, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp features. The city skyline sprawled out behind him, glittering with the life that thrived in the darkness. His thoughts drifted to Taylor, who was somewhere in the penthouse, probably reading or lost in her own world.

She was becoming the center of his universe in a way that terrified him. He was used to controlling every aspect of his life, every detail meticulously planned, but Taylor had shattered that. And now, the one thing he couldn't control was how much he loved her.

A soft knock on the office door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called, already knowing who it would be.

Taylor stepped inside, barefoot and wearing one of his shirts that hung loosely on her frame. She looked so effortlessly beautiful, like she belonged there, with him. Her eyes found his, searching for the same reassurance that he desperately needed.

"Hey," she said softly, walking toward him.

Travis leaned back in his chair, watching her every move. He could see the concern etched in her features, the slight tension in her posture. She knew something was weighing on him, even if he hadn't said it out loud.

"Hey, Kitten," he replied, his voice low but gentle.

Taylor reached his desk, resting her hands on the edge as she looked down at him. "You've been quiet all night. Is everything okay?"

Travis exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't sure how to answer that. Everything was far from okay, and the thought of what lay ahead had been eating away at him.

"I'm just thinking," he admitted. "There's a lot on my mind right now."

Taylor didn't push him, didn't demand answers. She just walked around the desk and climbed into his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck as she settled against him. It was such a simple gesture, but it brought him a sense of peace he didn't even know he needed.

"You don't have to carry it all by yourself," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."

Travis tightened his arms around her, his hand sliding up her back to tangle in her hair. "You shouldn't have to deal with this, Taylor. None of this is your fight."

Taylor lifted her head, her eyes locking with his. "But I chose this, Travis. I chose you. And that means I'm in this fight with you. I'm not running away just because things are getting harder."

Travis's heart clenched at her words. She was so much stronger than he ever gave her credit for. He had spent so long protecting her from his world, but she was willingly stepping into it, no matter how dangerous it got.

"I don't want to lose you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I've never felt like this before. It's like I can't breathe without you."

Taylor's expression softened, and she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "You're not going to lose me, Travis. We'll get through this. Together."

He kissed her back, the pressure of the moment building into something overwhelming. He deepened the kiss, his hand moving to cup her cheek as his other arm held her securely against him. She was everything to him, and for the first time, he realized just how much he needed her.

When they pulled apart, Taylor looked into his eyes, her gaze steady and full of warmth. "Travis, I need you to hear me when I say this." She paused, her fingers lightly brushing over his jawline. "I love you."

The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Travis just stared at her, his mind reeling. He had never expected to hear those words, not from her. It wasn't that he doubted her feelings—he had known deep down for a while now—but hearing her say it made everything real.

His heart pounded in his chest, and the walls he had built around himself began to crumble. He had always been in control, always one step ahead of everyone else. But with Taylor, he felt vulnerable in a way he had never allowed himself to be.

"I love you too," he said, his voice rough but filled with certainty. "I love you more than I ever thought possible."

Taylor's smile was radiant, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of relief and joy. "Then let's fight for this, for us. No matter what happens, we'll make it through."

Travis cupped her face in his hands, pulling her close until their foreheads touched. "I will fight for you every day, Kitten. You're mine, and I'm never letting you go."

The intensity of his words sparked something inside her, and before either of them could think, their lips crashed together in a heated kiss. It was raw, full of passion and need, a culmination of everything they had been holding back.

Travis stood, lifting her effortlessly as she wrapped her legs around his waist, never breaking the kiss. He carried her toward the bedroom, their bodies pressed tightly together, the world outside forgotten for the moment.

As they tumbled onto the bed, clothes quickly discarded, there was a desperation in their movements—a need to feel each other, to solidify the connection that had been growing between them since the moment they met.

Travis hovered above her, his eyes dark and intense as he took her in. "You're everything to me, Taylor. Everything."

Taylor reached up, pulling him down for another kiss. "Show me, Travis. Show me how much I mean to you."

And he did. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word was a declaration of his love for her. Their bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, a dance that was as much about emotion as it was about pleasure.

By the time they lay together, breathless and spent, there was a new understanding between them. They were in this together, and nothing—not Santino, not the mafia, not the danger that surrounded them—could tear them apart.

Taylor rested her head on his chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his tattoos as they both caught their breath.

"I love you," she whispered again, her voice soft but full of conviction.

Travis smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you too, Angel. Forever."