Page 15

“Nothing can take me from you,” he says, placing his cheek against my torso.

We hold each other a moment, before he slides my tee up so he can kiss my skin. The touch of his lips on my stomach, the scratch of his beard pulses need in my lower body, and I lean down to kiss his head, curling my fingers in the sides of his thick, dark hair. He pulls back to unbutton my jeans, sliding them over my hips along with my panties as I step out of my boots.

A deep inhale and he speaks against the crease of my thigh. “You smell so good.” His kisses move closer to the center, and my knees grow weak.

“Derek,” I sigh. With one slow circle of his tongue over my clit, I rise on my tiptoes, crying out as electricity snakes up my legs.

“Oh, god!” I’m gasping and clutching his hair as he sucks and pulls at me until my thighs begin to tremble. All at once, I’m off my feet. I clutch his cheeks and cover his mouth with mine. The adrenaline, the anger, the fear, the frustration, all of it is burned away as he carries me to our bedroom.

* * *

Derek

Melissa is so beautiful coming apart in my arms. I have her in our bed, thighs parted, and I slide my tongue over her clit then down, tasting her deeply. I don’t want her angry. I don’t want her blaming herself.

I want her to understand nothing in this world is ever allowed to threaten her in my presence. I’ll take any chance, any risk to keep her safe.

“Oh, god, Derek!” Her soft moans are shocks of pleasure straight to my cock, which is aching to be inside her. “I’m almost there,” she gasps, and I give her another firm suck, resulting in a high-pitched cry.

Her body is soft and wet, like honey on my tongue, and as her legs start to convulse, I rise up to kiss her belly before sinking deep into her. It’s the most incredible feeling, her clenching and holding me, hot and wet.

She’s in my arms, my weight supported on my elbows. Every thrust piques the pressure growing in me, and I can’t stop a groan. I kiss then bite the soft skin of her shoulder. She moans, and all I can do is hold her as the most intense sensation of relief explodes through my body. My orgasm shakes me like blinding light.

“Melissa.” Her name is a prayer on my lips.

Two more hard thrusts, she’s so tight and willing. Rolling onto my side, I have her in my arms as we slowly come down together. Our breath mingles, our bodies melt. It’s beautiful and perfect... until she twists away. I release her, and she rises up on an elbow. A dark lock of her hair falls over her ivory shoulder.

Reaching out, I touch her lightly. “God, you’re so beautiful.”

“That wasn’t exactly fair, you know.” Her blue eyes sparkle with her tease, and I do a quick internal evaluation of how long it might be before I can take her again.

“What wasn’t fair?”

“I’m mad at you, you distract me with mind-blowing sex—”

“Did I blow your mind?” We’re both smiling now.

“You must’ve. I don’t feel angry at all.”

Pushing myself up to sitting, I gather her in my arms. Her cheek rests against my skin, and I thread my fingers through her soft, gorgeous waves. “You’re not angry.”

I feel her brows move against my skin. “Oh, I’m not?”

“No. You understand why I did it, why I couldn’t tell you, although I’m glad you know.”

“Derek,” she exhales, frustration in her tone. “You have to include me in things like this. You can’t keep them from me.” Lifting her head, our eyes meet, concern filling hers. “I’m your wife. Your partner.”

“I can’t wait to make that official.”

Her expression is still agitated. “So what happens now?”

“Nothing.”

She pushes all the way to sitting, the sheet clutched under her arms. “You think you can get away with it?”

“Sloan was in the wrong place committing a criminal act. Patrick’s theory is his handlers will sweep it under the rug, protect the shareholders and the Reynolds name from what was clearly happening when he was killed.”

“What was clearly happening?” Her voice is so quiet, just above a whisper.