“What happened with Marcus?” I asked.
“When Saint got me out of there, I literally left everything behind so Marcus had no way to track me. Saint said he knew a guy who could get me a fake driver’s license until I could get a new one in a different state. I didn’t ask how he knew how to do that because I just wanted to get as far away from Marcus as I could. The fake license was good enough to get me into Canada and then I got a real one in Alaska. The first time Marcus called me was after I got here,” Sawyer explained. “When I got to Minnesota, I applied for a veterinary license so I could practice here. That stuff is public record so I can only assume that’s how he found me. When I answered and heard his voice… it was like something inside of me just got switched… on.”
I understood what he was saying. It was just like when Marcus had shown up that morning. Sawyer’s instinct around the man was to go into survival mode and that meant keeping Marcus happy.
“He told me how sorry he was for everything that had happened and asked me to come home, but I told him I needed more time. I don’t know why I didn’t just tell him to go to hell…” Sawyer said with a shake of his head.
“Because you knew in your gut how dangerous he is. Placating him was the safer route.”
Sawyer didn’t respond which I figured meant he wasn’t as certain about the explanation.
“I figured he’d eventually get tired of trying to get me back, but I was too stupid to realize none of it is really about me.”
I opened my mouth to take issue with Sawyer calling himself stupid but snapped it back shut when I realized his observation was more important.
“He can’t lose. Not won’t. Can’t,” Sawyer murmured.
I tilted Sawyer’s face up. “He lost the second he saw you as anything but the kind, strong, passionate man you are, Sawyer. It may have taken you a little longer to see it for what it was, but look where you are, sweetheart.”
“Covered in tears and snot, wearing only my skivvies and in bed with the hottest guy on the planet?”
Warmth lit up my belly at his last comment, particularly because I knew he was being completely honest. This man saw me.
Me.
Not my legs that suddenly ended in nothingness.
Not the emotional scars that still seeped like gaping wounds rather than scarring over.
I leaned in and covered Sawyer’s mouth with mine. He let out a little whimper before wrapping his arms around my neck. I dragged him forward so he was straddling my lap. His skin was warm and smooth but there was no missing the curve of hard muscle here or the smattering of rough hair there.
As the kiss turned carnal, my instincts took over and I easily shifted our positions so that Sawyer was beneath me on the bed. My intent had been to subtly slow down the physical stuff that was happening so Sawyer could get some much-needed sleep, but the man beneath me had other ideas.
The second I tried to lift my weight off Sawyer, his hands found their way to my ass. He gripped me tightly as his mouth consumed mine. Our very hard cocks were mashed together and despite my good intentions, I allowed Sawyer to grind our bodies together as he made love to my mouth.
“Sawyer—” I managed to get out between soul-crushing kisses.
He stopped kissing me long enough to clasp my face and force my eyes to meet his. “Nothing can touch us here, right Jett?” he asked desperately. His pupils were blown and his skin was flushed with color.
He needed this.
Hell, who was I kidding? We needed this.
“Nothing, baby,” I agreed and then I forgot about whatever stupid good intentions I’d actually thought would matter and kissed Sawyer hard. After that, his hands were everywhere they could reach. Mine too. I dropped hot, wet kisses along Sawyer’s collarbone, then over his chest. His heart was beating frantically beneath my lips and one quick glance up proved my lover was already lost within himself. His eyes were shut and his head was tipped back, exposing his throat.
As tempted as I was to head north again and explore the vulnerability he was showing me, my cock—and mouth—had another goal in mind. I worked myself slowly down Sawyer’s body, touching, tasting, teasing as I went. I drank down every sound he made and memorized every reaction to my touch so I’d know what drove him just a bit crazier. By the time my lips pressed against the rough, light hair at his groin, Sawyer was dragging in one breath after another. Hell, I was too.
Sawyer lifted his hips in invitation and I quickly used the opportunity to slip a hand between him and the bed. At the same time, I dropped my head and lapped up the stream of pre-cum that was smeared all over Sawyer’s lower abdomen.