Read Protected by the HERO for Free Online Page A

building either. Though, I noticed just as we reached the door, Mike held it open for me, then took my hand in his as we walked up the stairs.
    I smiled. But still, not a word was spoken until we were safely inside with the door firmly locked.
    “So, what did they say?” he asked me referring to the statement I’d had to give the police.
    .
    “They said it looks like a pretty clear-cut case of self-defense,” I answered, “still, I’m not supposed to leave the city for the next couple of days.”
    “Mom and Fred won’t like that,” Mike said.
    Mike had called them as soon as we’d arrived at the police station. When I went in for my interview. Dad, apparently, was trying to insist that I come home immediately. And, while I didn’t want to admit it to anyone, that didn’t sound like a bad idea to me either.
    “Yeah,” I said, “well, I’ve still got finals.”
    “I can’t believe you still want to go through with your school stuff after all this,” Mike said, “I’m sure if you just explained to them what happened, they’d let you postpone it or something.”
    I shook my head.
    “I’ve worked too hard to let some asshole take this away from me,” I answered. “I need to finish.”
    “If you say so,” Mike answered.
    I stood by my table and Mike remained just inside the front door. I looked down at the chair next to me every once in awhile, wondering if I should sit down in it. I didn’t in the end.
    Instead, I stayed stupidly standing just as Mike did. Wondering if this was as good a time as any to talk about what I’d wanted to discuss with Mike all day.
    Despite everything that had happened, I had a feeling that, if we didn’t get it all out now, we never would. So, steeling myself I moved from the table towards him.
    “So,” I began hesitantly, “weren’t we going to have a chat about what happened last night?”
    I didn’t get the chance to finish because, the next thing I knew Mike had crossed the room in two strides. I barely had time to register his hands firmly on my waist before he was kissing me.
    His tongue insistently explored my mouth as he moved me across the room and finally. pushed me up against the wall just beside my bed. I reached around his neck and clung to his shoulders for dear life. I feared if I didn’t, I would lose my balance.
    His mouth left my lips only to move to my neck, biting and sucking at it in a way that made me gasp. His hands slipped quickly all down and along my body.
    It would have been easy, so very easy not to talk anymore. To give into this incredible pleasure, even without knowing what it meant.
    But, I knew I couldn’t do that.
    With a sigh I forced words out of my mouth.
    “Mike, we...oh god…” his hand had moved between my legs and I had to try and close them to get out the next words, “we really need to talk”
    Slowly, he pulled his hand out from the space between my thighs, moved his lips from my neck and looked me in the eyes.
    There was something there I had never seen in Mike before. It was a sort of desperate vulnerability. Almost as if he was terrified of something. I told myself that was silly. After all, the terror had passed.
    All the same, here he was, looking at me thoroughly fearful.
    “I almost lost you,” he said finally, “I...I almost couldn’t protect you and I…”
    “You didn’t lose me,” I said gently, moving my hands to cup the side of his face, “I’m right here.”
    “Sabrina,” he began, that terrified look still present in his eyes, “Sabrina, I love you.”
    My heart skipped a beat. I could almost feel my breathing slow. I blinked twice, unable to believe what I had just heard.
    “I love you,” Mike said again more quickly, “I’ve known that for a while now. I tried not to. I told myself it wouldn’t work but now I...I don’t think I can help it. It’s not something I can-”
    This time, it was me who interrupted him with a kiss. It was soft, gentle and quick.
    “I love you too,” I