Page 69

Gray

Lying in the cool night, the light of a full moon casts the room in silver, and I trace my finger down the line of Drew’s back. Her skin is like silk, it’s creamy and pale like the exposed pine beams in the vaulted ceiling over our heads.

This old place was built well. It’s a classic structure, sturdy and strong. But even it’s showing age, cracks in need of repair. It reminds me of myself, another cracked thing in her life. Drew is a princess, but her kingdom needs so much work. The men who should be her heroes are all broken.

Her daddy.

Me…

My mind returns to my breakdown earlier when I found her car on the side of the road. Waves of shame filter through my stomach at the memory of how messed up I was.

I couldn’t stop the flashes of fear, the abject terror I might find her the way I found all of those men in my unit. It shook me to the core to think of this beautiful body broken.

I was so fucking out of control. I barely remember running to this house. I do remember scanning the road, the woods, the grass, frantically searching for any sign she might have lost her way, for any signs of blood.

Another flash of worry hits my chest. When I found her here… I held her so tightly, I’m surprised I didn’t crush her. God, I was shaking in her arms. My brow tenses. I can’t burden her with this mess I’ve become. I can’t make her take care of me, too.

Her dad said I would ruin her life, but I don’t think he meant by being a burden on her. I should be able to take care of her, not the other way around.

Then she asked me not to walk away.

I’ve never been able to tell Drew no, but I’m not sure either of us expected our yes to be so primitive. After so much time apart, when I saw her body, the way she’s matured and changed… I was demanding, possessive, and wild. I couldn’t get enough. All my fears took a back seat to claiming her again.

Even tonight, after everything we’d done, I wanted more. I wanted to taste her. She asked me to take her to bed, and I lifted her in my arms, carrying her upstairs to this bedroom. Those cutoffs had been taunting me all through dinner, exposing the lower curve over her cute little ass.

I took my time sliding them down her long legs, before kissing my way up them again, moving between them, sliding my tongue up, down, around, and all over that tight little bud that makes her scream.

I love the way she comes on my mouth, her back arched, and her thighs trembling, her fingers fisting the sheets, my hair. She moans my name like she’s casting a spell. I’m under her spell.

I went to heaven when I sank into her again, so hot and soft and clenching.

Lying in the dark, holding her now, the guilt fights back with every heartbeat. Her daddy is even sicker than when I left, and it’s because of Danny. I have to tell her I was driving the truck. I have to tell her about the fight we had, and how I didn’t go to him right away. I let him die on the desert sand alone.

Every one of those men whose lives were in my care as I drove that truc

k died.

“Gray?” Drew’s soft voice cuts through my self-flagellation. Her sweet hand caresses my cheek. “Can’t you sleep?”

I reach up and cover her hand with mine. Once again, she’s saving me from myself. “I’ll sleep.”

“Okay.” She moves her cheek against my chest, and I hold her closer in my arms.

Her breath evens out to a warm whisper across my skin. She’s so beautiful, so perfect in my arms.

I want to pretend there’s nothing more to say, nothing that might cause her to blame me, to hate me. I want to pretend I’m not broken, half the man I used to be. But I am broken.

Somehow I’ve got to get free of this pain, this prison I’m living in every day. Only then can I come to her like I should be, whole, and ask her forgiveness.

Chapter 19

Drew

A cool breeze pushes through the open window of Gray’s truck as he drives us back to town. I look over at his dark hair flickering across his steel blue eyes, and when those pretty, pretty eyes meet mine, he gives me a little grin. A swirl of warmth surrounds me.

Everything changed this weekend, from his appearance at my door, wild desire and relief in his eyes, all the way to this morning, when he woke me before dawn, sinking deep between my thighs.

He reaches out to place his hand on my leg. I’m wearing my cutoffs again, and his palm rests so casually, so close to the part of me still tender from every time we made love. Goose bumps skate across my skin, and I lay my hand over his, threading our fingers, welcoming his touch.