Page 32 of Too Far

“Decker. Stop.” I pull back and run my palms up his chest. Pressing into his shoulders, I force him still. “One minute. Sixty seconds. One minute where it’s just you and me. No contracts. No lawyers. No outside world.”

“One minute,” he repeats warily, as if he can’t fathom letting his guard down for even the briefest of moments.

“One minute,” I whisper back.

And then I make the most of my sixty seconds in heaven with Decker Crusade.

On my toes again, I pepper his jaw with kisses, then trail my mouth along the muscles of his neck. His skin is warm and salty on my tongue. With a hum, I nip at his ear, then continue to savor every inch of skin I can get my mouth on before stopping at his lips.

I hover. I wait.

He exhales, attention roving over me. Then his tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip.

It’s the consent I need. I dive in, kissing him with an intensity that he quickly matches. I moan into his mouth, captivated by the way he grips my face, positions me right where he wants me, and strokes his tongue against mine.

Most of the time, I’m well-matched against this man. Our stubbornness pairs well, and our tempers both run hot. It’s rare I don’t rise to any challenge he presents me.

But when Decker kisses me, I melt. All combativeness drains out of me as I inadvertently welcome his dominance and invite it to stay. The moment our lips touch, I’m done. Mindless. Needy. So fucking desperate for him.

I want nothing more than to be ravished and savored as his tongue explores my mouth, his hand grips my face, and he pours himself into the kiss like his entire sense of purpose in life hinges on stealing my breath and making me moan his name.

Too soon, Decker’s pulling away, rubbing his forehead against mine, shifting back into his broody, surly go-to persona.

“You didn’t have to sign,” he repeats, panting.

I press my cheek against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart as it hammers against his breastbone. With a kiss to his sternum, I look up and raise both eyebrows. “Why can’t you trust that I know what I’m doing? That I want to be here? That I want to be withyou?”

He says nothing.

Annoyed by his silence, I huff. “Decker, I’m in too deep. I couldn’t leave now if I tried. There isn’t an alternative for me. I’m here. This is now. You need to accept that I’m part of this family, too.”

“I do.” It’s a growl, low and fierce.

Lifting my chin, I ready for battle. “I don’t see you trying to push the guys away.”

“They know the deal. They’ve been putting up with this for years.”

“And now it’s my turn. I signed the papers, Decker.”

He tips his head back and stares at the ceiling, anguish rolling off him in waves.

“You shouldn’t have had to.”

I press a hand flat to one cheek and wait until he’s looking at me again before I speak. “But I did. Willingly. Knowing all that it entailed.”

When he tries to look away again, I frame his face with both hands. “I’d do it again. I’d do it every day from now until eternity if it meant I got to be with you, Kylian, Kendrick, and Locke. Now is not forever. We’ll get through this. Just promise me we’ll ride this out together. This isn’t the time for you to play the hero or push us away to protect us. You aren’t in this alone. We’re in this together.”

My declaration is met with silence.

“Don’t let me down. I need you to be strong enough to let me in and let me stay.”

He bows his head low, running his nose along my jawline, but still, he doesn’t speak.

“Decker…” I hedge.

“I heard you.”

Heart sinking in my chest, I accept that’s all I’m going to get out of him tonight.