Page 26

The bed creaked as he picked up the pace, matching his movements to the shaky beat of her heart. Rain pelted the window in the background, as the howling wind added the perfect amount of ambience.

She wasn’t sure how long they’d been entwined on the bed, her body strung tight as the inklings of what she knew would be a life-altering climax built low in her belly when Foster suddenly stopped, staring down at her as he shook his head.

He leaned in, nipping at her shoulder before staring her dead in the eyes. “You’re holding back.”

She blinked, her chest heaving, all that heat swirling beneath her skin. “I’m holding back?”

He raised an eyebrow as if daring her to lie to him.

She swallowed, staring at him as she pursed her lips. “If I give you that piece…” She wasn’t convinced she’d survive if he walked away.

He shifted his weight onto one elbow as he gently cupped her face. “I’ll keep it safe. And I’ll give you mine, in return.”

Mac inhaled. From the easy tilt of his head to how his mouth quirked at the corner it was obvious these weren’t just words.

She closed her eyes as any remaining walls crumbled around her, leaving her lying there, exposed. Raw. Her heart pounding so hard she fully expected it to burst out of her chest.

Foster nuzzled her neck, peppering kisses across her collar bone then up the side of her face. “Now, we can make love.”

Was she crying? Screaming his name? Having a stroke? Because it all hit her at once. Him starting up that punishing rhythm while claiming her mouth. How he lowered until every inch of their bodies was touching. The raspy way he whispered her name once he finally allowed her to breathe.

It pulled her under. Had her clinging to him as a lifeline. Her only tether keeping her from flying apart. And when he sucked at her pulse point, palming her ass as he tilted her hips and hit that sweet spot…

She broke. Died. All but burst into flames as the heat billowed out, taking her with it until she was floating in a blissful haze.

Foster gave a few more jerking thrusts then he was emptying inside her, her name sounding around them like a benediction before he collapsed onto his elbows, bridging just enough weight that she could breathe.

She tugged him tighter, shaking her head when he mumbled something about crushing her and aggravating her ribs. She didn’t care about her ribs or if her lungs could expand. She needed him. Grounding her. Keeping her sane when the sheer immensity of her feelings threatened to ruin her.

Foster sighed, dropping a kiss on her forehead until she finally managed to open her eyes and look into his. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, smiling at what she realized were tears. “Now, that was epic.”

She laughed, though it came out wrong. Shaky. Borderline hysterical.

But he didn’t seem fazed, just claimed her mouth in a soul-searing kiss as he placed his forehead on hers, again. “Me, too. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up so you can actually sleep, then we’ll come back to bed, and I promise I’ll hold you all night.”

“Foster you don’t have to?—”

“Would you shut up and let me take care of you?”

She was definitely crying, now. Though, he took it as some weird form of approval and rolled off the side, then scooped her into his arms, crossing the short distance to the bathroom.

He set her gently on her feet, ensuring she was steady before twisting on the taps as he grabbed a couple of clean towels off the shelf.

Steam fogged the glass as he placed the towels on the counter then took her in his arms.

She smoothed her palms up his chest, along his shoulders then behind his head, teasing the hair at his nape. “I hope those muscles aren’t just for show, because I’m liable to fall flat on my face.”

“Are you questioning my virility already?” He shook his head in mock disappointment. “That hurts, sweetheart. Though, for the record, I’d never let you fall.”

He shuffled backwards, angling them both into the shower. Hot water soothed any remaining rawness, the strong spray finally taking away the last of the chill. She stepped into his arms, closing her eyes as he grabbed the soap then ran it across her skin.

She smiled against his chest, laughing to herself at the way he hummed as he smoothed the suds around, easing her back in order to get the rest of her.

She clenched her jaw, trying not to react as his fingertips danced across her skin, but between the strength of his touch and the lingering high from her orgasm, it was futile.

Two minutes in, and she was already strung tight. Another two, and he had her pinned to the wall, her ass balanced on a ridiculously small grab bar as he wedged his massive body between her thighs then plunged home.

Foster paused, grunting in seeming pain as he mouthed her shoulder, sucking at her skin as he forced air in and out. What she assumed was him gathering back a semblance of control.

But she didn’t want him controlled. She wanted him raw. Unfettered. All but blind in his need.

Mackenzie braced her arms along his shoulders, biting at his jaw. “Now who’s holding back?”

He snapped his head up, his gaze seizing and holding hers. He furrowed his brow, looking as if he was going to deny her claim before lowering his head as his chest heaved against hers. His breath mixing with the steam billowing around them.

Foster cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure you really want what’s inside of me, sweetheart? Because it’s nothing but shattered pieces.”

She palmed his cheeks, tugging him in even closer. “‘That just makes it easier to put us both back together because I feel broken, too.” She brushed a soft kiss across his lips. “Except when I’m with you.”

He froze — his eyes wide as his breath stalled in his chest. Nothing but those turquoise orbs staring at her as the water echoed around them.

Then he was leaning in, claiming her mouth as he crushed her into the tiled wall.

He started a hurried rhythm, their combined heat adding to the thick air hanging around them.

She held on, meeting each thrust with a tilt of her hips. Trusting him not to let her fall as she used his shoulders to lever up and take his mouth. Needing that connection to keep her grounded.

Until he groaned against her ear, the desperate sound sending her over.

She arched into him, pulling him as close as possible as her climax shook through her, every muscle squeezed tight until her strength waned, and she collapsed against the shower wall.

Foster kept moving, muttering a raspy version of her name before he stiffened, inhaling a shaky breath. Then, he was emptying inside her, each stabbing thrust sending her higher until everything faded. Leaving only that red-hot pleasure and the firm weight of Foster pressed against her.

Mac came back to her senses realizing she was wrapped in a towel, Foster smiling victoriously at her as he carried her back to bed. She frowned, looking up at him as he placed her on the mattress. “Did I seriously pass out for a few seconds?”

“More like minutes.” He shrugged. “Guess you really were exhausted.”

“You don’t have to look so proud of yourself.”

He leaned in, dropping a kiss on her lips. “We both know I kinda do.”

“Remember that when I bring you to your knees in the morning.”

His eye twitched, the muscle in his temple jumping. “Deal.”

He gave her another kiss, then grabbed the shirt she’d been wearing off the floor along with his pajama pants.

She arched a brow when he handed the shirt to her before pulling on the pants. “Something wrong with being naked?”

“Generally, no. But on the off chance we need to adapt to a dynamic situation, it might be wise to at least have the minimum on.”

“The way I feel, a grenade could go off in the hallway, and I wouldn’t even hear it, but if it means you’ll sleep...”

“You’re the reason I’ll sleep, but Zain would have my ass if I wasn’t still a bit prepared.”

“Like the Sig that’s probably in the nightstand?”

“Exactly.” He climbed onto the bed shuffling them around until she was snugged against him, her head on his chest. “Comfy?”

Mac smiled up at him. “Perfect.”

“Sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s time to go back to the hospital.”

Mac burrowed against him, his steady heartbeat lulling her back into that warm haze. Tonight’s events had definitely changed her future. She just hoped they’d figure everything out in time to enjoy it.