Flash Burned (Burned 2)

This was real and beautiful.

Dane was mine. Despite the odds we’d faced from the beginning—still faced.

He was mine.

* * *

The sun streaming through the window woke me in the morning. Dane was wrapped around me, spooning me, holding me tight to his hard body.

He’d made love to me twice more during the night, and as I stirred against him, he murmured, “I want you again.” Proving his virility and stamina were fully intact.

Of course I couldn’t deny him.

After we’d showered, Amano came for me. The prospect of leaving Dane was unbelievably painful. I dragged my feet but knew he had important work to get back to.

“When will I see you?” I asked as I lingered in his strong embrace.

“I can’t say. Hopefully soon. Amano will call.”

I wasn’t a fan of this clandestine stuff, but I’d take what I could get. “Please be careful. Safe. Like, really, really safe.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy grin. “I will. But I ask the same of you.”

“I have Kyle, remember? He’s not inclined to let me get away with much.”

Dane sighed. “I don’t like leaving you with him. He gets too many ideas in his head—I can see it in his eyes and on his face.”

“I’ll admit he’s not too happy you’re alive. Nothing personal, but—”

“I’m sure he latched on to the opportunity presented with my supposed demise,” he commented dryly.

“Still just a friend,” I said to placate him. “Always just a friend.” My lips pressed to his. “I am very, very, deliriously, happily married.”

He grunted. “Not exactly what you’d expected. Or deserve.”

“As long as I have you, that’s all that matters,” I was quick to say. To reassure him.

Dane kissed me passionately. I melted against him, instantly ready for him to take me back to our bed and make love to me once more.

But Amano awaited me in the SUV. So Dane unraveled from me and eased me away, as though needing to break free of the temptation before he succumbed and never let me go.

I wouldn’t have minded.

“I’ll try to be back soon,” he said. His fingers swept over my cheek. “It’s so hard to stay away.” His head dipped and he kissed me once more.

This time, I was the one to employ a little restraint. I broke the kiss and said, “If I don’t leave now…” I never would.

He nodded.

I turned to go.

“Ari.”

I glanced over my shoulder. “I know,” I said with a soft smile. “You love me.”

“So much.” And all that love and desire glowed in his beautiful emerald eyes.

With a nod, I told him, “I trust you, Dane. I believe in what you’re doing. And I love you, too. So much.”