I watch the person as they walk from window to window, and I can tell that whoever it is is trying to find a way inside. He tries the last window at the back of the house, and when I see this one open, I pull out my gun and walk up behind the person. Just as they are getting ready to climb inside, I put my hand to the back of their sweatshirt and yank them back.

“What the f**k?” a male’s voice cries as I place my gun to his head.

Rage like I have never felt in my life consumes me. I feel out of control and know I could kill this guy without a second thought.

“I was just going to ask you the same question, motherfucker,” I say near his ear. I start to pull his hoodie off, but he turns slightly and I feel a sharp pain in my side.

In sudden shock, I drop to my knees and watch as the guy takes off running. I fight to take back control of the muscles in my body that have been seized by the voltage from the Taser.

“Nico?” I hear Sophie’s voice behind me. I look over my shoulder and our gazes meet before she looks down at my side, her eyes going wide. “What happened?”

“Sophie, go back inside,” I tell her through gritted teeth. I don’t want her out here if the guy is still around.

“But—”

“Sophie, go back inside. Now,” I say, watching as she does what she’s told before I pull out my phone to call Kenton to let him know what just happened.

After I finally get control back, I check around the house to see if I can catch the guy’s trail, but there is no sign of him. I’ve circled the house three times when Kenton pulls up and parks behind my car.

“Cops are on the way,” he says as soon as he gets out.

“Good.” I run my hands down my face.

“How the hell did he get the drop on you?” he asks.

“I wasn’t expecting him to have a Taser,” I admit.

“You know the rules, man. Expect the unexpected.”

“You don’t need to tell me that shit,” I growl, already completely pissed off at myself. Thinking that something could’ve happened to Sophie when I was right here because I wasn’t on my game has me mad as f**k.

“Is that her?” Kenton asks, looking over at the house.

I turn to see Sophie standing just inside her open front door. “It is.” I take a deep breath as I look at her.

“Where the f**k did you find her?”

My head turns to him, and I can see the appreciation on his face. “Cousin or not, I will f**k you up,” I tell him.

“Just a question,” he says, smiling.

I shake my head, not in the mood for bullshit right now.

It takes a few minutes for the cops to show. Luckily for us, we’re in good with the local precinct and know most of the men who show up. As soon as I’ve told them what went down, I head up to the house where Sophie is standing on the front porch, her face free of makeup, her hair down around her shoulders, her legs covered in pajama bottoms with cupcakes all over them. She has a sweatshirt pulled tight around her middle.

“What happened?”

“When I pulled up, I saw someone walking around the back of your house. I followed him and watched as he tried to open a few windows until he got to the last one—”

She cuts me off. “Oh my God! What was he going to do?”

“I don’t know, but you’re safe, baby,” I tell her, closing the distance between us. I pull her into my chest, not giving her a choice but to take comfort from me. “You’re going to have to make a statement to the police about what happened.”

“I don’t even understand what happened,” she whispers, and I can hear the fear in her voice, which only serves to make me angrier. I squeeze her a little tighter, reminding myself that she is here and safe, but my mind knows what could have happened. “How did you know to come?” she asks into my chest.

“I didn’t. I just wasn’t going to let you push me away,” I tell her.

Her body goes tight, and then I hear the faint whisper of her words spoken against my T-shirt as her body relaxes against mine. “Thank you.”

I don’t reply; I don’t need to. She couldn’t have kept me away if she’d tried.

It’s almost midnight by the time the police leave. Sophie is a mess after learning that the person who tried to break into her house had gotten away without anyone having a clue about who he was. I close the door behind the cops and turn to see Sophie biting her lip and looking around her living room.

“You should pack a bag.”

“Pack a bag for what?” she asks, taking off her hoodie, leaving her in nothing but a light-blue tank top. My eyes drop to her br**sts, seeing her ni**les through the thin material.

“You’re going to stay with me for the night,” I say, watching as she paces around the living room. My eyes and dick follow her every move.

“Yeah, that’s not happening. I appreciate you being here for me, but I’ll be okay,” she says, and I can tell she’s still worried, even though she’s trying to cover it up.

“If you’re not staying at my house with me, then I’m staying here with you,” I tell her firmly.

“Um…no,” she replies, turning a little pink.

“Sophie, I don’t have time to argue with you about this shit. I’m f**king tired. I just got off the road, dealt with family shit, and then showed up here to talk to you, only to have to deal with some crazy-ass motherfucker trying to break into your house,” I growl, losing patience.

She looks at me and her eyes go soft, and she takes a breath before looking around her small living space. “What are we doing, Nico? We don’t even know each other.”

“That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing. This is part of dating. We’re going to get to know each other.”

“Nico, this is just…” She pauses, lifting her hands. “It’s just… I’ve never done this before.”

“What part of it haven’t you done, baby?” I question while taking a step towards her.

“I have never done any of this.” She motions between us with a flick of her wrist.

“I have never done this before either,” I say softly, approaching my skittish kitten.

“I’m sure.” She lets out a long breath.

“Have I f**ked women before? Yes, I have. I’m not going to lie and say I’ve saved myself, but this—me pursuing you, wanting to spend time with you in and out of bed, getting to know you and your likes and dislikes? All of this shit is new to me, sweet Sophie.”