Page 52 of Burning Justice

Kane tilted his head to the side and let her set the pace, even though he wanted nothing more than to sweep them both away. Tighten his hold on her, kiss her until she understood precisely what he’d been feeling for two years. Since the day he’d found her in that cell in Syria. Through the days he’d been a captive until they found him. And every day since then.

Followed by every day for the rest of his life. Unless they ended the misery he was in—with her, but unable to have her the way he thought God might intend. Around her, but never able to tell her how he really felt. Partners. Friends.

So much more, just out of reach.

All this sweetness and he’d never even known. He soaked it in now like a starving man. He drank her in, trying to fill himself up, knowing it would never be enough.

She stilled and eased back a little. “Well…” She chuckled.

He liked the sound of it.

“My hand hurts, but you’re a pretty good distraction.”

Kane said, “Happy I could help.”

“Did you really drag me onto your lap?”

“I needed to make a point.”

“Hmm.” She shifted in his lap. Probably trying to figure out how to get back over to her side. “It was a good point.”

“I think you might’ve made one of your own.”

“You can remember it when you’re smokejumping, and then you’ll be safe and come back to base when it’s done.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She eased her way back to her side with an audible sigh. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I can think of a few things.”

“Do they involve driving me back to base camp so I can take more meds and sleep for days?”

“Um…definitely.” Kane grinned, pulling back onto the highway.

It might be pouring rain right now, but tomorrow the sun would come up, and things would be different.

They hadn’t finished this. It wasn’t over.

But whatever happened, they had taken another step to being what he needed them to be.

Together.

Eleven

“You’re serious? He kissed you!” JoJo practically bounced up and down on the end of Maria’s bed. “That’s great!”

“I don’t know if that’s the word I’d use.” Monumental. Earth-shattering, maybe? “I need to get dressed, and you need to go train.” She used her good hand to toss the sweater at JoJo.

“Later, I want all the details.”

Maria nodded. JoJo helped her thread her hand through the sleeve and buttoned it for her. “Help me tie my shoes?”

“Of course, girl. No one is gonna leave you hanging.” JoJo sat cross-legged in front of her and laced up her sneakers. “I know you’re the lone wolf and all…”

“You know that correlating people and wolves doesn’t always work,” Maria pointed out.

“Except when it does. Like you, Ms. Lone Wolf. But you have a pack, in case you didn’t notice.”