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"Come to bed with me." I'm unable to control the need in my voice.
She groans, pressing her lips quickly to mine again. "I can't right now. I need to call Hyde and finish taking care of all this," she says disappointment evident in her tone.
"They can't handle this without you for an hour?"
"I'm lead, Blake. It's my job. I'll meet you up there as soon as I can." She kisses me again, gently biting my bottom lip.
Damn it, woman.
I pull her face to mine, kissing her hard. Her body tenses as she digs her nails into my shoulder. I tilt my head, invading her mouth with my tongue. She tastes like heaven. Being with her is the one place I forget everything and everyone else. It's like plunging into a hot bath at the end of the most horrible day. The world fades away and she's all there is. Too soon, she pulls back, resting her forehead against mine.
"Go get some sleep, baby. I'll try and hurry."
"Okay," I whisper, leaning back and heaving myself off the couch.
I stop at the bottom of the stairs and glance back at her. She's grinning as she runs her index finger over her bottom lip. I shake my head and walk up the stairs quietly.
What did I do to deserve a woman that beautiful?
†††
We’re almost done setting this shit up, and I'm itching to get upstairs with Blake. I've been on and off the phone with Hyde, and everyone's been working non-stop. Hyde made good on Rhett's list and then some. The new weapons arrived early this morning. Vlad called and got approval to replace all the windows in the apartment with bulletproof glass as well.
"We'll need to take them to a hotel for the day tomorrow. That way I can get the windows replaced without putting them in harm's way. The apartment will be vulnerable for a while," Vlad says, sitting next to me in the kitchen.
"I'll let them know. Have Sammi use my credit card to book us rooms somewhere."
"How many rooms?"
"Two suites. I'll stay with Blake. Dresden and Shannon with us. Rhett can go with Carmen and James," I say, sipping my coffee.
"What about the housekeeper?"
"Put Hayato and Sammi with her, they can go with Rhett."
"Yes, ma'am."
Draining my cup, I stand and make my way to Blake's bedroom. It's dark, the curtains drawn. He's sitting in bed, his legs stretched out— reading a book. He doesn't move and I take a moment to gaze at him.
His face is relaxed for the first time since yesterday. I hate that he doesn't smile anymore. I clear my throat. His head snaps up and a small, almost unnoticeable grin flits onto his face and disappears.
"What are you thinking?" I pull my shoulder holsters off and sit them on the nightstand.
"That I'm a lucky man." He shuts his book and lays it next to his legs.
"Oh, yeah? What has this luck got you?"
"You."
I smile sadly. "I wouldn't call that good luck, Blake."
"I would. Come here," he commands softly, opening his arms.
I crawl across the bed and lay my head on his chest. He wraps his arms around me, lightly trailing his fingers up and down my back. My eyes close, enjoying the normalcy of Blake's embrace. I've spent a lifetime alone and angry, but with him . . . it all disappears.
Images of the last few months flash behind my lids. Shannon, Jax, the auction, the beatings . . . for the first time I feel one emotion, filling me, choking me . . . fear. I tighten my arms around him, pressing my face into his chest, tears burning my eyes.
"Hey, what's the matter, baby?" He squeezes me.