Page 14 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)

He wasn’t sure. Tried not to overthink it if he had let it slip free as he got them to the bed in record time.

He eased her onto her feet just long enough to strip them both down before he had her snugged against him, bracing her weight as he took them both back onto the bed.

She cupped his face with her hands, holding him suspended above her, watching him as he settled between her legs and slowly inched inside.

This was what he needed.

All those walls she hid behind noticeably absent. Nothing between them but the promise of a future.

He didn’t move, just stayed there, fully seated, waiting for a sign that she was ready for more. Her hands shook, a single tear pooling in her eye then slipping down her cheek.

He went to his elbows and kissed away the dampness before taking her lips — softly tasting her mouth. A strangled sob sounded between them, her breath shuddering around him in hurried gasps.

He smiled down at her, nuzzling her nose as he eased back then slid forward, reclaiming every lost inch. She inhaled, her head tilting away as her teeth snagged her bottom lip.

He kissed the slight hurt, thrusting, again. “Eyes on me, sweetheart.”

She squeezed them harder together then pried them apart. “Kash…”

“No looking away.” He pulled back, paused, then slid forward.

“No telling yourself I’m not completely invested.

” Another retreat followed by another thrust. “That this is just another hit and run.” He moved a bit faster this time, biting back the fire burning along his spine.

“I don’t care who you were, Jordan.” One more slow stroke.

“But I damn sure want to be part of who you become.”

He let go.

Holding her gaze while he upped his pace. Fast, then faster. Harder. Until the bed shook, his body quivering. He wasn’t sure how long he could hold out, every nerve on edge, threatening to explode.

Jordan clenched her jaw, her chest heaving against his. Her focus pinned on his face. She slid her fingers up his jaw and into his hair, anchoring them together. Daring him to break the connection.

Not a chance.

Instead, he upped the ante, using one hand to tilt her hips — graze over that one spot…

“Yes!”

The word bounced off the walls as she threw her head back, clawing at his scalp before she stiffened — body strung tight. Clamping around him so hard it was all he could do to keep moving. Take her the rest of the way over. She held her breath, back arched. Her mouth opened in a soundless scream.

Then she ground against him, a deep pink flushing her skin, as she shook in his arms. Eyes closed. His name a prayer on her lips.

That did him in. Sent him over. All but destroyed him as he emptied into her, muscles straining. His skin so hot he was surprised the sheets didn’t go up in flames. He closed his eyes, sucking in air, praying he didn’t crush her as his strength gave out and he collapsed.

Forever.

That’s what this felt like.

Her body wrapped around his. Her breath hot against his damp skin. And he swore he’d do whatever it took to get her to see them the same way.

Kash wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying there, his head next to hers — completely spent — before he regained enough of his senses to think beyond dragging air in then pushing it out.

He shifted, cursed, hoping he hadn’t actually crushed her when her fingertips dug into his shoulders, urging him back down.

She kissed his jaw, holding his gaze when he managed to focus enough to look her in the eyes. “Don’t go. Not, yet. I…”

He smiled, settling over her with just enough of his weight braced on his elbows she could breathe without it being some kind of Olympic event. “I’m not going anywhere. So, close your eyes. I’ll clean us both up once I can feel my feet. And I promise I’ll hold you the rest of the night. Okay?”

A few more tears slipped free as she nodded, closing her eyes as he dipped down for a soft kiss. He rested his forehead on hers, listening to her breathe. Lingering in the moment. He wasn’t sure what they’d be in the morning, but he’d give this everything he had.

It took a while before either of them seemed willing to move.

Jordan huffed, looking like she really would dump him on his ass before he coaxed her with a kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder as he carried her across the room to the ensuite.

He didn’t rush, running the soap over every inch of skin, doing his best to map out all her scars.

The fact there were too many to keep track of cleared some of the residual haze. Had him wondering if she’d gotten them all during her missions or if some were the result of a questionable childhood. The snippets of her past he’d heard her tell Zain.

None of it had sat well with him, but Kash got the sense that her real story began after her parents had either died or been labeled unfit. That group home she’d landed in once the courts had shuffled her into the system.

To her credit, she didn’t seem fazed by the way his fingers danced across her skin, following each line or puckered indentation. What were obvious knife and bullet wounds. She simply watched him as if she was trying to puzzle him out.

He managed to get them both clean without running out of warm water, then took her back and helped her into his shirt. He raised his arm, and she burrowed against him, drifting off a second later. Like someone had thrown a switch.

He relaxed, listening to her snuffle, smiling when Nyx jumped onto the bed and reclaimed her spot.

At least, she’d waited until he and Jordan were done before joining them.

Though, he got the feeling Jordan would have laughed it off if Nyx had interrupted them.

Important, since he was hoping they’d all be eventually sharing the same space.

He closed his eyes, pulling her closer, fading into that blissful haze, when someone knocked on his door. Loud. Insistent. He blinked against the wash of gray filtering through the window as Jordan bolted up beside him, reaching under the pillow before grunting.

“Damn.”

Her voice sounded low. Gravelly.

He pushed onto his elbows, arching a brow. “Really? You keep a weapon under the pillow?”

Jordan huffed. “The real question is, why don’t you?”

“There’s a Sig in the nightstand if that’ll make you feel better, but I don’t think we’ll need it. It’s obviously one of the guys or Nyx would be losing her shit.”

He tossed off the covers and swung his legs over the edge, stumbling to his feet. Everything ached, though that probably had more to do with falling off the cliff than making love to Jordan half the night.

Jordan tossed a pillow at his head, hitching out one hip. “Are you going to answer the door with that caveman grin on your face? Because I’ll definitely grab the Sig if that’s the case.”

“Shouldn’t you be more insulted if I wasn’t this happy?”

“There’s happy, and then there’s you smiling like some nerdy teenager who’s just lost his virginity to the prom queen in the back of a flatbed.”

“Personal experience?”

“Do you think I was ever a prom queen?”

“Damn it, Kash, I know you’re awake.” Zain’s voice echoed through the converted barn.

Kash blew out a rough breath. “I swear, one day…” He pointed to the closet. “There’re more sweats in there. Take whatever works. We’ll grab your clothes after I strangle my brother.”

Kash walked over to the doorway, pausing to watch Jordan shuffle across the floor, his shirt hugging the bottom of her ass. The woman was just too sexy for his well-being.

He turned, then headed for the front room, drawing in a deep breath before opening the door. “Someone better be in jail or dying. And if it’s the first, they can wait.”

Zain huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s damn near eight. Since when do you sleep past six?”

“Since I had a damn good reason to stay in bed. What couldn’t wait?”

Zain looked past him, and Kash turned, inhaling as Jordan walked toward them, hips swaying.

Her long brown hair pulled up into a ponytail, the ends swishing over her shoulders as she moved.

And it wasn’t hard to see the operative in her.

Imagine her taking out a bar full of tangos with whatever was handy on the tables.

Zain slapped him in the chest. “You might want to close your mouth before Jordan slaps that stupid look off your face.”

Kash glared at his buddy. “Why are you here?”

The hint of humor faded as he glanced at Jordan when she stopped next to Kash, then over to him. “Someone vandalized your truck.”

“They did what, now?”

Zain leaned against the doorframe. “All four tires. Slashed.”

Jordan scoffed. “We went by Kash’s Chevy at four.”

“I know. Which means they were either waiting for us to go inside or planned to strike just before dawn. Neither scenario sits well with me.”

“Crap.”

“I agree.” Zain gave Kash a pointed look. “And you say I’m paranoid.”

“Because you are.” Kash pulled back — took a calming breath.

“Obviously, not quite enough, or I would have been standing behind the asshole when he tried to cut that first tire.”

“Zain. I get that it was your job to protect us. That you spent ten years watching our every move through a scope from a nest a mile away. Keeping our path clear. Holding the line until everyone else was safe. Then another ten, running point — identifying any threat before it bit us in the ass. That it’s hardwired into your damn DNA.

But you can’t work all day, then run maneuvers at night.

Like it or not, buddy, even you need to sleep. ”

“Tell that to the guy who breached our perimeter.”

Kash sighed. Arguing with Zain about security was like trying to get Foster to fly without his hair on fire. “You’ve got cameras everywhere. Have you checked the feed?”

Zain merely stared at him.

Kash scrubbed a hand down his face. He was way too tired for this shit, and he’d already lost his chance at impressing Jordan with breakfast in bed, followed by what he’d hoped would be one hell of a good morning. “Of course, you have. And?”

“I’m downloading all the footage to the tablet in Foster’s kitchen. We should head over.”

Kash snagged his arm. “Look. If you really think we need more security, we can hire the guys Bodie has helping him out with his security company while he’s backing up Greer. Have them do a few rounds every night.”

“There’s no way in hell I’m letting anyone else handle yours, Foster’s or Chase’s security.”

“They’re not anyone. They’re former military.”

“Yeah, well Stein and Adams were part of our damn crew for six months — were apparently the best agents the fucking CIA had crapped out of the Farm in the last ten years — and look what trusting them got us. Sean in a pine box, and Rhett…” Zain swallowed, looking as if he might puke it back up.

“We all know where that’s heading. His brain just hasn’t caught up with that fact, yet.

So, sue me if I take all this a bit personally. ”

He turned, took a few steps toward the door, then stopped. “Don’t take too long, or I’ll send Chase over.”

Kash leaned against the wall as Jordan grabbed her boots and slipped them on, accepting the vest he handed her. “Hey. Are you okay?”

She stopped short of tugging up the zipper. “Fine.”

“Jordan…”

She closed the distance, drawing one finger across his chest. “Not exactly how I pictured the morning playing out, but…”

“Me, either. I’d planned on making you breakfast in bed. Coming up with some creative uses for the can of whipped cream I have in the fridge.”

Her breath caught, her pupils dilating before she leaned in — kissed him.

It was deep, and hungry, and he half wanted to hike her up on his shoulder and carry her back to bed.

Let his buddies deal with his truck and the footage.

But there was something in the way she brushed her thumb over his mouth once she’d eased back — that same look from the café when she’d agreed to have dinner with him — that got those voices chattering in his head. His protective instincts on alert.

She stepped back, looking everywhere but at him. “We should go.” She turned and headed out the door, glancing at him over her shoulder. “And in case you hadn’t figured it out already, last night was…” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Unforgettable. Just like you.”