Ford starts wailing on him, hitting him over and over. Two agents run over and try to pull Ford off him, but they can’t. One looks over at me and I’m pretty sure it’s the same one who busted us having sex. He looks at me and I know he’s asking me for some kind of help.

"Ford," I call out. "I’m scared."

His head snaps up and his eyes lock on mine. I take a step back from the look on his face. He’s gone completely savage and it makes me think this is what he probably looked like going into war.

He jumps up and Chad groans. Ford gives him a kick as he steps over him, but his eyes never leave me.

"Don’t back away from me," he warns as he takes a step towards me. Then a whole new energy comes over him and suddenly he’s a predator ready to chase. I’m never going to run from him. Instead I launch myself into his arms.

"I knew you would come," I say, burying my face in his neck. I kiss the exposed skin there and my mouth moves up his strong jaw and then to his lips.

When his mouth lands on mine, he takes over and the kiss is desperate and possessive. I’m lost in him as my hands run up his chest and I press my body harder against his. It isn’t until someone clears their throat that I remember we aren’t alone.

Ford loosens the grip he has on my ass and I slide down his body. "I told you to get dressed."

I look down at myself. "I am." I look down at the nightshirt. "Sort of." I’m covered up at least, and that’s all that matters.

"Sir," someone calls, and Ford turns around. I try to look around him, but he only pushes me back behind him. "He’s out cold. We’re going to take him downstairs."

"I’ll be there soon. I want everyone out of here," he tells the man. I wrap my arms around him from behind, resting my head on his back. I don’t want him to go anywhere. "I need a change of clothes. Leave them at the door."

Ford waits a beat before he turns around in my arms. He leans down, cupping my face in his hands. "Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I should have never left your side."

Regret shows in his eyes. "I’m fine. He didn’t touch me." I slide my hands up his chest and link my arms around his neck.

"I need a shower," he tells me, and I nod.

He carries me into the bathroom and sits me down on the counter. It’s then I see the blood splattered on his shirt. He strips off his clothes and I marvel at the sight of his body. He still has the bandage over his stomach, but there’s no blood on it this time. I reach out and run my hands over his bare chest.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I trace around the bandage. He keeps picking me up like it’s nothing. I’m surprised it doesn’t hurt.

"When I saw him in your room..." He shakes his head. "Everything went red. I wouldn’t have stopped if you hadn’t been there."

"It’s over." I lean in and kiss his chest.

"Let me shower. Don’t move."

"I could join you." I go to scoot off the counter, but he stops me.

"Don’t move. I’m not risking your father walking in on me in the shower with his daughter. This scene right now is bad enough. I can’t have you out of my sight right now, so this will have to do."

I nod in agreement. The reminder of my dad is a bucket of cold water to my sex drive. Crap. Ford walks into the shower and my eyes are glued to him through the glass.

"He said he released pictures of us," I call out, and Ford’s eyes meet mine.

He doesn’t respond and his non answer is all the answer I need. God, I bet the public is going nuts. And I can’t imagine what my dad must think. Still, I’d rather them focus on me than on my dad and July.

The shower shuts off and Ford steps out. He towels off and helps me down from the counter as if it’s too high for me to jump from. He holds me as we walk out, and I see the blood on my bedroom floor and wall.

"I’ll get it cleaned up." He kisses the top of my head. "You need more clothes." He smacks my ass. "I’m going to go grab my own." He seems less tense, which puts me at ease.

I put on a pair of yoga pants, and Ford doesn’t say anything this time when he sees me. Instead, he walks over to me and picks me up.

"Stop! You’re going to hurt yourself," I scold him. He goes back into the living room and sits down with me in his lap straddling him.

"It’s fine. I promise. After so long you don’t feel physical pain anymore. You get used to it."

"I’m not going to lie. I’m glad you aren’t doing that kind of work anymore."

"Looks like I’ve got my hands full now anyway." He squeezes my ass as I laugh.

"I love this. The two of us right now." I lean in and kiss him. I never thought I’d have this. He told me he loves me, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

"I love it too, sweet pea."

"That’s the best birthday gift I’ll ever get."

"Challenge accepted." He smiles at me.

"I love you too. You know that, right? I’ve—" Before I can finish he leans in and begins kissing me like he can’t stand it a second longer.

Our hands become frantic and I try to pull off his shirt, wanting to be skin on skin, but he releases my mouth with a loud groan.

"Stop, we can’t. This is going to be a fight already. Your dad..." He shakes his head, not knowing what to say next.

I’m breathing heavily. It’s so hard to stop, but I listen to him. I don’t want my dad any madder. I want him to like Ford. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Don’t let them take you from me," I whisper. "Please."

"You saw what happens when someone stands between us."

"If my dad already got word about us, I’m kind of shocked the agents haven’t swarmed in here to take you. Or at least tried to." I lean my head on his chest, tucking it under his chin.

He rubs my back and we sit there in silence for a while as we enjoy being together—something we’ve never got to do before. God, so much has happened today.

"I hate we didn’t get to finish what we started." I kiss his neck.

"Me too, but tonight is only our beginning."

"Can I ask you something?" I shift a little, feeling shy. Something has been dancing around in the back of my mind.

"You can always ask me anything, sweet pea. We’ve spent enough years unable to talk to each other." He gives me a small squeeze and I lean back to look at him.

"Have you ever been serious with a girl before? Said I love you?" I feel my cheeks warm asking him that. I don’t know why, but this is the shyest I’ve ever felt around him in this moment.

"Never. I didn’t live a life before where I could have girlfriends. Nor did I ever want one. I didn’t want anything else besides you from the moment I saw you." His words warm me. "I’ve spent the last few years in my job staying alive and biding time until I could have you." I close my eyes and lay my head back down on his chest.

"I’m yours," I tell him. He can have all of me.

I don’t know why I needed to hear that, but I did. I think I hate the idea of him being with someone else while he wanted me. I’m glad I wasn’t alone in that. We might not have been together physically all these years, but on some level we were.