Page 19

19

Lyon

I was heading to Niki’s before leaving for another job. It had been three jobs now since she’d gone back home—not moved back, just gone home. I always said she moved back home, but that wasn’t really the case. She’d never lived with me.

This job would take a while. We had no clue where Tag Harris was. He’d gone on a solo hike through the Brazilian jungle three months ago and never returned. His sister had only just realized he was missing.

Three months , and no one had noticed?

Tag had spent two years in a wheelchair before Graham Wilson, a former Navy SEAL surgeon, performed life-changing surgery on him. The man had defied the odds and walked again. I could only pray to hell that his legs hadn’t failed him out there.

I pulled up to Niki’s home and spotted her immediately. She was lounging in a hammock, lazily rocking it with her foot, wearing a sundress that swayed with the breeze.

She turned her head, saw me, and smiled.

That was all it took.

I was out of the truck in seconds, pulling her up into my arms. Her laughter melted against my lips as I kissed her, holding her close.

“I love you,” I murmured, my lips brushing against hers.

Her face had finally healed. A couple of faint scars remained—tiny reminders of her strength. The woman had been through hell, and yet, here she was. Beautiful. Resilient. Smiling up at me.

She reached up and licked my lips teasingly.

“Let’s go to bed,” she whispered against my ear, her breath warm, enticing.

“Where’s Holly?” I asked, my voice already rough with need.

“I sent her home for the night.” She grinned mischievously. “Because my sweetheart is staying with me.”

Desire surged through me, but reality tugged at the back of my mind.

“When do you have to leave?” she asked, running her fingers over my jaw.

“Early.” I exhaled, fighting the pull of her. “Let me grab the Chinese food from the truck.”

She pouted but kissed me anyway. “We can heat it later. If you have to leave early… we need to make the most of tonight.” Her voice dipped into something sultry. “We’ve waited long enough.”

Hell.

That was all the encouragement I needed.

After tossing the food in the kitchen, I lifted her into my arms and carried her straight to the bedroom.

No more waiting.

She wore a simple T-shirt dress—something that took no effort at all to remove. I pulled it over her head, and she stood naked before me, her body perfect, soft, and mine.

I ran my hands over her skin, careful of the smaller cast still on her arm. But Niki was impatient. She reached for my shirt, trying to pull it over my head, but her cast kept bumping my nose.

I laughed. “You trying to knock me out, sweetheart?”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, determined.

I ripped the shirt off myself before she could try again, then picked her up and laid her across the bed.

Her fingers skimmed over my waistband. “Take them off,” she whispered, her breath hot against my ear. “I want to see all of you. I’ve waited for this moment since I first saw you in that damn desert.”

I was burning up, seconds from losing control.

Apparently, I wasn’t moving fast enough.

Niki took matters into her own hands, shoving my pants down. I kicked them the rest of the way off, my eyes locked on hers.

The second I touched her, she gasped, her body arching. My mouth traced the inside of her thigh, savoring the way she trembled beneath me. She tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, urging me on.

Her moans filled the room as I devoured her, my hands memorizing every inch of her.

I wanted to hear her scream my name.

I wanted to ruin her for anyone else.

Our bodies moved in sync, desperate, hungry, right .

I kissed her deeply, our tongues meeting in a dance that mirrored what was to come. My hands tangled in her thick, gorgeous hair, and hers roamed my body like she was memorizing me.

I slid my mouth over her breast, sucking her nipple as she gasped and gripped my shoulders.

God, I was starving for her.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

She didn’t have to ask twice.

I entered her slowly, savoring every sensation, every soft gasp that left her lips. I held still, just for a moment, because if I moved too soon, I wasn’t sure I’d last.

She tilted her hips, urging me deeper.

“Faster,” she murmured.

That was it.

I lost control, thrusting into her as she wrapped her legs around me, meeting me stroke for stroke. Her moans turned to cries, her nails digging into my back as she shattered beneath me.

I followed, burying myself inside her, our bodies perfectly tangled in a moment that felt bigger than both of us.

We made love all night.

When I woke, she was in the shower, singing softly.

I grinned, rolling out of bed, still naked, and joined her under the hot spray.

“I was hoping you’d hear me in here,” she teased, turning into my arms.

I kissed her, and soon, we were lost in each other again, steam swirling around us as our bodies came together one more time.

But then—too soon—it was time to go.

I stood by the door, dressed and ready, reluctant to leave. “Be careful while I’m gone,” I murmured, kissing her forehead. “Promise me you won’t go back to work yet.”

Her next words caught me off guard.

“I quit my job.”

I pulled back, searching her face. “You quit ?”

She nodded.

Something warm and fierce burst inside my chest—relief, joy, something bigger than words. I gathered her close, holding her like I’d never let go.

“I don’t have to worry about you getting hurt now,” I murmured.

She smiled up at me. “Are you going to sell your house?” I asked.

“I’m thinking about it,” she admitted. “We’ll talk about it when you come back.”

I tightened my grip. “Sell it, baby. Move in with me. I love you. I want you with me.”

Her fingers traced my jaw. “I love you too. I’ll think about it. I promise .”

I exhaled, pressing one last kiss to her lips. “Please stay safe.”

She nodded, eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place.

With one last lingering look, I stepped out the door and into the world that kept pulling me away from her.

I hated leaving.

But this was my job.

And I loved my job most of the time.

It’s what we all had to do.

And the sooner I got it done, the sooner I could come back to her .