Page 206

“Figured I’d have both of my favorite things tonight.” His words were playful, waggish as he sauntered back over, the man so hot just looking at him made me ache.
“Oh, you’re favorite, huh?”
He set the pie down on the island before he traced his thumb across my swollen lips, his voice dropping to a murmur as he said, “My very, very favorite.”
“Kane.” It wheezed out of me.
A plea.
A promise.
A prayer.
Unsure of what I was supposed to do.
Because I was falling.
Falling free and fast.
And I was sure there was no longer any stopping myself.
He dipped in and kissed me. Kissed me long and slow and adoringly.
No rush or desperation because he’d already settled on what he wanted.
Then he eased back, the loyalty showing so stark on his face. “I want to tell Maci on Thursday.”
He hesitated, his thick throat bobbing in uncertainty as he swallowed. “You know I have to leave Thursday night. With Theo.”
He’d mentioned it a couple of times. Another work trip he had to take.
“One of my brothers will be with you and Maci the whole time,” he rushed.
Disquiet blustered. It took about everything I had not to sink my nails into him and beg him not to go, but somehow my spirit already knew that I couldn’t keep him here.
That this was bigger than what he’d let on that it was supposed to be.
“You have to go.”
I said it a statement.
As acceptance.
The pad of his thumb was back to tracing my bottom lip, and I could see the war go down in his expression, could see him waging it all the way down in his soul before he finally admitted, “It’s part of what me and my crew do. When I told you we protect those more vulnerable than us.”
“What does that mean, Kane?”
His bare chest heaved. “I don’t think you’re ready to know that yet.”
Fear slicked down my spine. Not fear of him, but for him.
My throat grew thick, and I nodded. “Okay.”
Kane angled his head, his hand tightening on my cheek. “One day, I’ll give you all of me, Emery. Every bit of it. But first, you’re going to have to give yourself completely to me.”
FORTY-FOUR
EMERY