Page 57 of August

He hadn’t died that day, but the blood was still on his hands.

A shuddering gasp rushed from his chest, and he stood to pace the area rug. Dragging his hand through his hair he waited for the pounding of his heart to slow, for his brain to realize he wasn’t in the jungle. Wasn’t in survival mode.

He didn’t need to conjure the image of Gigi’s sweet smile—he had her in the flesh. Ready and waiting and his for the taking. And for the giving. Because he’d give more than he ever took from her. He’d be the anchor she’d been for him. He’d breathe life into her through her darkest moments. She’d never fully understand what she’d done for him. Would never fully understand that without those two weeks of heaven in his apartment, he’d have died in that jungle.

He hadn’t died.

Fire spread through him, igniting his soul with purpose. Someone wanted to hurt his woman, and he’d slaughter them when he found them. He wasn’t going to fall into the well of anxiety that could so easily swallow him up for hours. He wouldn’t relive those godforsaken moments anymore.

Stalking to the computer on the coffee table that had crept into sleep mode while he’d been attacked with trauma, he brought up Todd’s picture once again. There was one thing they hadn’t tried: a facial-recognition search on Roy Radcliffe.

Using a search engine, he found a good close-up of the middle-aged multimillionaire, which he plugged into the software. Locating the senator wouldn’t be a difficult thing to do. He probably went to his office multiple times a week.

But how often did he visit his home on San Juan Island? Flight records might find that answer, but boat records would be harder to come by. Getting a shot of him near the docks would help indicate he was there. Maybe. It was something. A step outside the box anyway.

Letting the software do its work, August left the computer open and strode to the bedroom. Easing the door open, he was struck by the scent of sex. He inhaled, and his mouth watered. Fuck, he wanted her again.

He moved slowly toward Gigi’s side of the bed. She’d turned over in the couple of hours since he left. He didn’t need X-ray vision to know she was naked beneath the sheets. The blanket swept around her body but her bare knee poked out, revealing a few inches of her sleek thigh. She slept on her stomach, one leg stretched out straight. If he lifted the blanket, he’d find her perfect, heart-shaped ass ready for him to devour.

His cock throbbed, straining against his briefs. He shouldn’t want her so badly. Not already. It was wild how often he could bury himself inside her and barely scratch the surface of his desire.

Totally messed up.

But Gigi got him hard like no woman ever had. He moved closer to the bed and studied the smooth planes of her cheek, which tapered down to a delicate jawline. So beautiful. He’d never get over how slight she was. But man, she could take every inch of him.

Gently, he moved away a long strand of hair and pushed it behind her shoulder, allowing him the view of her pouty lips. Lips that drove him wild. Lips that could drop words as sharp as a sword, that could dismantle him, that could send him to his fucking knees faster than any gun could.

He was completely taken by her. Not obsessed. No, that wasn’t the word. He respected her. Worshipped her, to a degree, but more importantly, he cherished her.

With her, he didn’t just lose himself. Goddammit, he found himself.

He tensed. He should back away. Let her sleep. But, no, he was too selfish. He touched the soft skin of her knee and danced his way up the outer line of her thigh. Palming his hand on her hip, he squeezed.

Gigi inhaled shakily and she jerked her head toward him. “You scared me.” Her sultry voice was thick with sleep and arousal.

“You torment me,” he countered. He continued to stroke gently and her body opened up, her back arching as he slowly moved his fingers over her ass.

“August,” she said admonishingly.

“Hmm?”

“Who’s tormenting whom?” She attempted to roll onto her back, but he held fast to her hip with his other hand, keeping her in place.

“I want you like this.” Christ, he sounded so shaky and desperate. But he didn’t give a damn. He wanted her.

Gigi settled back on the pillow and hiked her leg up another inch.

Goddamn.

Reaching her hip, he swept south, caressing her round ass cheek then sliding down to the junction beyond. To the sweet, hot little cavern that stole his breath.

He swiped his fingers over her folds and wetness coated his digits. He feathered his fingers in and out of her pussy. She ground her ass back, and his cock throbbed greedily. Sinking his two fingers into her, he reached for the condom he kept in the nightstand.

Gigi’s ragged breath filled the room. A sheen of sweat coated his skin. He continued to delve and play with her while he held the condom in his teeth and shucked off his pants and briefs. Her insides clenched around his fingers and she cried out, a deep, husky moan.

Her warm juices filled his palm, and it took all his willpower to ride out the last minute for her. When her breath slowed and her body uncoiled, he withdrew his hand and ripped the foil then rolled his little pal over his shaft.

Climbing on the bed, he tossed back the blankets so every naked inch of her was exposed and available to him. Exactly how he wanted her.

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