Page 9

STONE

The Russians scatter like bugs, skittering into the darkness. There were six in total. Two are dead from our initial breach. Bishop stayed to free Ryan, while Mason and I tracked the others.

I hear the muffled thwap thwap of a gun discharge in the darkness. That will be Mason. I rush back out the front door and almost trip over a body. There’s a hole in his forehead. Anson’s handy work. Ilya must be somewhere.

Lightning flashes and I see him scurry toward the trees. I almost miss the shadow shifting in the darkness to his right.

“Grab her!” Ilya orders.

I’m running, tracking the shadow, before I hear Kendall’s scream come from the same direction. Oh fuck no. She’s not getting hurt. Not on my watch.

Kendall is nearly white as she stares at him. Raising my weapon, I line up the shadow. I have a perfect shot. Squeezing the trigger, I fire twice. He drops, and Kendall staggers away.

“I got you, baby girl.” I sweep her against my chest, holding her close, and scan our surroundings. Making damn sure I don’t miss anything else. Ilya is on his back ten feet away, not moving.

“He was dead already!” she wails, pointing a shaky finger at the man I shot. “I saw the hole in his head.”

He’s an exact copy of the one I tripped over. “No, honey. He’s a twin. They’re both dead.”

“Oh my God, I thought I was seeing a ghost.”

I chuckle and press a kiss to her temple. She’s trembling hard. “Not tonight.”

“Ilya?”

“Dead. Ryan is fine. Bishop has him.”She sags in my arms. “Let’s get you home, honey. Ryan’s on his own now.”

She nods. “He’s going to be okay?”

“That’s up to him.” I’m not letting him drag either one of us into his problems anymore.

We make the trip home in twenty minutes. The second we’re in the door, I steer Kendall into the shower and climb in with her, letting the hot water wash away the pain and fear.

Her smile is tremulous.

I wash her hair, then lather the soap and slowly wash her body. Taking special care with every luscious inch.

Kendall kisses me, then takes the soap. Her touch is soft, but as her confidence grows, her strokes become firmer, more arousing.

“I need you, Kendall,” I say against the shell of her ear when I back her against the tiles.

“Yes, Stone.” She wraps one leg around my hip, lining her slick folds up with my hard length.

It’s not enough. Gripping her ass, I lift her and press her to the wall, sliding my cock through her wetness. “You’re soaked for me.”

“Don’t stop,” she whispers, gripping my hair in her hands and yanking my lips to hers for a kiss.

I rub her clit with my thumb until she’s writhing, then push into her hot core. Her walls suck me in, making my hips buck, eager for more. “Oh fuck. I’m not going to last.”

“Then hurry!”

I draw back, then slam home. It’s hot, hard, and dirty. I fuck her against the wall until we’re both moaning, gripping each other tight. Her pussy spasms around me as she orgasms. Her walls clench my dick, milking every fucking drop from me.

I press my head against the tile, trying desperately to drag in air. “I love you, Kendall. Stay with me.”

Her eyes find mine. “For how long?”

“Forever. Marry me. Not because I need to protect you, but because I can’t live without you.”

A wide smile breaks across her face. “Yes! I love you, Stone!”

“Your family won’t be happy,” I remind her.

“I don’t care. I’m finally choosing something for myself. Love and life with you.”

I kiss her, sealing our promise. It’s slow, deep, and utterly perfect. I thought I needed to fix my friendship with Ryan to feel whole. All I needed was Kendall’s love and this place. Derek was right to send me here.

It’s where I found solace.