Page 21 of Crash Over Us

“Yeah. It was rough. But could have been worse.” My eyes lowered to the tops of my boots. I didn’t want to relive it yet.

“Get some sleep.” Jacob backed away from the door. “It was nice to finally meet your mysterious Margot. Cool girl.” He grinned.

I chuckled. “Yeah, she is.”

Jacob strolled toward the parking lot and climbed into his truck. I opened the door, not sure what to expect seeing Margot the second time tonight. Would it be as intense? Was she really okay now? I didn’t know how long she had been at the base waiting for me. I didn’t know what information she had about the theft or abduction. Jacob seemed to be in the dark. I assumed she was too.

“Caleb?” Margot’s voice was soft. After all the blaring noise and commotion, she sounded like a whisper of an angel. I didn’t know how else to describe it.

“It’s just me.” I closed the door behind me. I took my boots off by the doorway. “Jacob headed out.”

Margot walked toward me. She wrapped her arms around me. “Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi.” I folded my arms around her. “You okay?”

She pressed her face into my shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. I wasn’t missing.”

I exhaled. “I’m not missing anymore.”

“How is your face?” She studied the new patch across my cheek.

“I think you’ll be happy with this scar,” I teased.

She smirked. “I wouldn’t care if you had a hundred scars. You know that. I have plenty of them.”

I scanned her body. That’s when I noticed there was a bandage on her knee. “What happened there?”

“It’s nothing. Nothing compared to your face or anything else you’ve been through.”

“It’s never nothing if you’re hurt.”

“Please don’t worry about me,” she whispered.

It felt good to be in each other’s space. To hold her in my arms.

“I guess we’re staying here tonight?” I asked. We usually stayed at her cottage at the Blue Heron.

“Yes. It’s easier, right? Josie drove me here and I don’t think you should drive, and I do have a toothbrush. And?—”

I touched a finger to her lips. I knew she was nervous. I knew it would take a while for the adrenaline to work its way through her body. Mine too. Then we would crash. Hard.

She tipped on her toes. I leaned forward and she pressed her forehead to mine. Our eyes closed.

“I was scared, Caleb.”

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry. I’m here. I swear I’m okay.” I lifted her chin, and my mouth brushed against the sweetness of her lips.

My tongue slid against hers and she purred, circling her arms along my neck. I lifted her from the floor. Margot’s heels locked around my waist as if she had been waiting to do that all night. There was an instant knowing of two puzzle pieces sliding into place.

I winced when she wriggled tighter to my hips. I didn’t mean to let the groan out. My entire body was sore from being thrown around the boat.

“Oh God, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” Her eyes flared open. “Where are you hurt other than your face?”

“I swear this doesn’t hurt.” My lips returned to hers. I walked her toward the wall, pressing her back into the solid surface.

This was what I wanted. To forget the assault. To forget the fucking nightmare Gabe and I went through. I wanted Margot’s softness. Her voice. Her hands. Her tongue on my body.

My erection was already solid and pressed against her as I pinned her to the wall. Her hands coasted up my back. How could I think of anything else when she touched me like this? When her mouth made those seductive sounds?

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