Page 21 of Finding Denver

I envelop her in a hug, crushing her to me, focusing on everything I love about being this close to her. The smell of her shampoo. The warmth of her body. The way she fits into me.

The way she always has.

“I love you,” she whispers. “I won’t bring it up again.”

It’s only when I close my eyes that I feel the tears clinging to my lashes and pray to God she didn’t see them.

The McEwans can’t have her. They can’t. She’s mine. Not Nico’s. Not Wyatt’s or Ethan’s.

Mine.

I pull back and kiss her. I kiss her because I need to feel something other than what I’m feeling right now, and she kisses me back. As I pull off her T-shirt, she stops me.

“Are you sure you want to do this now?”

“Yes.” I kiss her again, and she leans into it and doesn’t object as I strip her. “Get in the shower. I want to watch you.” She searches my face, brow furrowed, and I fucking hate it. I don’t need her pity, or her concern. I’m the one with the strength,not her. “Now.”

She steps away and switches on the shower, the partition that runs down one side of the bathroom steaming quickly. I watch with hungry eyes as she moves under the stream of water, her hair darkening to a blood red as itsoaks through. She tips her head back, water spilling over her ass and legs, her eyes closed as she lets the spray warm her.

She’s always been incredible. Smooth skin and soft curves, long legs that I’d be happy to die between. She’s beautiful. So beautiful it makes my heart ache. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve fought for, and I’ve pulled myself apart for years needing nothing but this.

I slide my arms around her waist, pulling her back to my chest, and she angles her head so I can kiss her. It’s soft, slow, and a kernel of warmth glows in my chest that she’s here. It calms me. Centers me.

I’m okay because she’s here.

She’s not going anywhere.

“Tell me I’m safe,” she whispers, and the stab of guilt only worsens the pain of my past. She’s been through hell, and I’m adding to it. She angles her head to search my face, her eyes wide and unsure. “Tell me you’re in control and I’m safe with you.”

I close my eyes and rest my forehead against hers, relishing the pain as it ebbs away in favor of caring for her. “You always get the final say, my love. The moment you feel anything other than safe, we stop.”

She nods and turns in my arms, breasts pushing against my abs, and she chews her plump bottom lip. “Where do you want me?”

“Let me take care of you.”

“No.” She shakes her head, a small, almost unperceivable action. “I trust you.”

She does trust me. She trusts me with everything, despite the things I’ve lied about. The things she knows I’ve done are unforgiveable, but here she is, standing in front of me, trusting herself with me.

If she ever discovered what I’ve hidden …

“Ranger,” she whispers, and I shove the thoughts away. “Don’t be gentle with me. I’m fine.”

I don’t think either of us is fine. We’re far past it.

But talking about it would destroy the fragments we have left.

I stroke my hardening cock. “On your knees.”

She obeys, and I close my eyes as she slides her tongue along my length, my thoughts fading into the background as she wraps her lips around me and takes me deep. The warm tightness of her throat eases my taut muscles, and the reasons not to do this ebb away as I open my eyes and admire her choking around me.

“You can take more,” I tell her.

She breathes slow and deep and swallows my cock, her eyes watering, one hand pressed into my thigh, the other gripping the base of my dick and squeezing.

“More,” I demand, my voice rough against the falling shower water, and her eyes widen as she feeds me deeper, her throat quivering around me. “Good fucking girl. That’s perfect. You’re so fucking perfect.” Her eyes glisten at the praise as I slowly fuck her throat, her eyes never leaving mine as I pick up my pace. She takes me perfectly, her fingers sliding between her legs to tease herself as I fuck myself in and out of her mouth, one hand gripping her hair, the other stroking her jaw. But I need more. “Up.”

She pulls her mouth from around me, a string of cum and spit connecting her lips to my dick. She stands and I turn her, pressing her hands against the shower wall as I kick her feet apart.