He groaned. “You don’t get it. This comes first. You come first.”
“Then why don’t you act like it?”
“Excuse me?” He put his cell down.
“Nothing has made sense for the past week. If I’m being completely honest, the past two years.” I turned to look at him. “It shouldn’t take a near-death experience for you to be back. And I don’t even know if this is back. You’re cold. You’re distant. Unless I need you. And then you want to be in my bed. I can’t handle it. I can’t handle this. Whatever it is.”
He tried to talk, but I held up my hand. I wasn’t finished.
“I may never have another chance to say this.” My throat tightened. “You were supposed to be it. You were supposed to be the man I spent my life with. I trusted you. I believed you. And you walked away.” I blinked. “That kind of blind trust doesn’t suddenly reappear. I felt so broken I didn’t believe in any man. I don’t know that I will.” I took a deep breath. “I know you’re worried about me. I believe you. But I don’t want my hired bodyguard back.”
“If we’re only having this conversation once, do you at least want to hear what I want?” His voice was deep and slow.
“Ok. I’m listening.”
“It’s simple. It’s always been simple.” He paused in front of the couch and I felt the energy around him. There was nothing cold or distant. He radiated heat. “You. I only want you.”
I shook my head. “It’s not simple.”
He knelt in front of me. “You’re right. I get wrapped up in the target. I spend more time on your safety than you. I always did. I’m doing it again, against every warning in my head. I have to fight the instinct to protect you and just give in and love you.” He tugged at the quilt, letting it fall away, exposing my breasts. He sighed. “I do love you. I love you enough to abandon my company. Enough to hide you from the world. Enough to spend every dime I have to make sure you’re alive and happy.”
My pulse quickened. His thumb ran over my nipple, making it perk. My eyes landed on his.
“Not like this,” I whispered.
“Then like what? How do I tell you I’ve been lost since …” His words trailed off. “Since I made the worst mistake of my life.”
“It’s too easy this way.”
And it was. Our bodies knew each other. Wanted each other. He didn’t have to touch me for me to know he spread fire under my skin.
His mouth lowered to my nipple. Kissing it before sucking it between his teeth.
My head reeled back. “Reid,” I whimpered. I pressed his head to my chest, wanting more pressure. Wanting to feel the life surge through me.
His teeth clamped against the tight bud and I bucked. The last of the quilt fell to the floor.
His hand trailed along my waist before sliding my legs apart. I gasped as his fingers slipped between my wet folds. I opened eager to feel him. He flicked my clit and my hips rocked. It wasn’t enough. I rocked again, panting until his fingers sank inside my pussy.
Shit. It shouldn’t feel this good. But it did. It always did when Reid was inside me.
He pumped in and out, climbing on top of me as we fell backward on the couch. His mouth covered my neck and shoulder, kissing me wildly. Licking, sucking.
I worked his pajama pants over his hips, pushing them down his legs until he could kick them off his ankles. They landed on the floor. His made a trail of kisses, lower each time until he was circling my navel.
I gasped as my knees were pressed wide and his head dove to my heated center.
“Oh God,” I moaned. His tongue was wild and expressive lapping at my juices.
I tugged at his dark hair, urging him to go deeper. Suck harder. Drink faster.
As his tongue plunged inside me I found the fire I had missed. My body was alive in his arms. I was like captured lightning when he commanded me this way.
I felt his growls vibrate against my thighs and through my entrance.
My core tightened, tingling faster and tighter as he coaxed the orgasm from my body.
“Come baby,” he growled. “Let me feel you.” I heard the anguish in his voice.