Page 18 of Vision of Truth

“My periods were always brutal. I’ve been on the pill for a long time to help with that.”

She was stroking his cheek, and the tenderness of her touch made his eyes burn. He blinked quickly and released a breath. “What are you saying?”

“That you don’t need to worry about condoms. If you’re comfortable with that, because I am. Just me and you, Isaac. I will never hurt you. No one comes between us here.”

The air caught in his lungs, and he lifted his hands to her cheeks. “I wish I could say the same. I have hurt you. That’s my biggest regret, Jules. Your strength humbles me. I’m going to love you so hard, day after day, until all doubts about my feelings are erased.” He dropped his hands, hooking his thumbs under the waistband of her jeans and working them down her legs. She did the same to him until they removed all the barriers between them. Her skin was the softest thing he’d ever felt and so responsive to his touch. He was going to worship her the way she deserved. He kissed his way down her body, her scent in his nostrils making his blood roar. Isaac could taste a hint of salt and the sweet lotion she’d used after her shower. By the time he got to her center, his whole body was taut, muscles coiled in anticipation, and when he breathed her in, he thought he might explode before he ever entered her. He dragged his tongue over her, and she shivered and arched her hips in response. Her fingers were buried in his hair, tugging him closer. He circled her clit, teasing little protests from her lips before lapping the sensitive bundle of nerves until she was bucking against his mouth. He gently slid one finger inside her, then another. She was impossibly tight and the last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain. Her thighs began to quiver. She was close. He sucked her clit into his mouth and satisfaction swelled within him when her whole body began to shake and tremble. He continued, drawing out her pleasure until she was pushing at his shoulders.

He moved up her body, bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders. “Are you sure, sweetheart?”

“I’m sure. Are you?” she asked.

Her concern for him was palpable and tenderness swelled in his chest. What he’d done to deserve her was a mystery. She’d entered his life at a time he was grappling with how his mother had betrayed him and Easton. He was wary of everyone, angry with the hand he’d been dealt. She hadn’t had it easy, though, either, but opened her heart to him and his brother without hesitation, giving him something else to focus on. A sense of acceptance and family that he’d only ever found in Easton.

He brought himself to her opening, gently pushing against her center. Hurting her would kill him, so he moved slowly, then stopped halfway. She gripped him like a vice, her wet heat enveloping him. Nothing had ever felt better, but his desire to bury himself inside her was secondary to her comfort. He lowered his lips to hers. “You have my heart,” he murmured before kissing her breathless. “Take your time. Move when you’re ready. I won’t risk hurting you.”

“You have mine too, Isaac.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and brought her hips up to meet his, burying him deep. Julie stilled and hissed a breath through her teeth.

If he hadn’t thought it would cause her more pain, he would’ve pulled out. “Jules…”

“I’m okay. Just need a sec.” After a moment, she began to rock against him, slowly at first, then with more intensity as her breathing increased. Being inside her, connected to her was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. They might be running from danger, in the center of a very uncertain situation, but he knew with complete clarity that this woman was meant to be his. He grit his teeth, fighting the urge to pump into her. Something profound built inside him and he worked his hands between her hips, circling his thumb over her. He felt more than heard her breath hitch. Her inner muscles clamped down and rippled around him. She was gripping his back, skin coated with sweat despite the frigid air pressing against their cocoon of blankets. A sound of pleasure left her lips as he began to quiver. White-hot pleasure shot through him, momentarily taking his sight. Wave after wave shuddered through him as he filled her. He stilled over her, breath sawing in and out as he regained his equilibrium. Still locked inside her, he rolled them to their sides and encircled his arms around her.

“I love you so much.” Jules’s words were infused with such wonder, tears prickled his lids.

“I love you, too, Jules. So, fucking much.” He let one of the tears roll down his cheek, not embarrassed in the slightest by his reaction. Isaac kissed her cheeks, tasting the salt of her own tears.

“These aren’t sad tears,” she said quickly.

“Mine either.”

The tears they shared were a shedding of the past, bringing them forward to the lightness and life they both deserved to be able to build together. Everything they’d lost, everything they’d overcome had led to this moment between them. Their past would always be there, a shadow of dark, but now, they were exactly where they were supposed to be—together. They relished in the moment, choosing to watch the glow of the stars in each other’s arms, sharing the wine previously left untouched. He hadn’t wanted their first experience to be altered in any way, but now they shared the bottle in celebration. It wasn’t until the early morning hours when they descended the steps of the safehouse and laid together on the couch, falling into a sated sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

Julie jolted upright when a blast rumbled through the safe house. She shot to her feet from the couch, gripping Isaac’s hand so hard, her knuckles were white. The hair lifted on the nape of her neck as a sick sensation hardened her stomach. One moment, she’d been in a deep sleep, wrapped up in total contentment, and the next the house had shaken beneath them. Rowan was already at the entrance of the room, holding a still sleeping Sabrina. Isaac was on his feet and an unspoken look passed between him and his partner.

“Into the safe room,” Rowan barked. Gone was the affable redhead and in his place stood a battle-hardened SEAL.

He led the way down the hall and into one room that opened into another. This room had monitors lining the wall, displaying different angles from the cameras surrounding the property. Julie took Sabrina from Rowan’s arms and went to sit with her on the couch at the back of the room. She was beginning to wake. How much trauma could one kid take in such a short period of time? Rowan and Isaac were surveying the monitors, talking in hushed tones. She’d given the monitors a few glances over Sabrina’s head as she cuddled her close. Dozens of men poured over the screens like ants spilling from the sand. They were breaching the property and some had even made their way into the house above them. How had they been found? She started to sing softly to Sabrina, trying to keep her calm. Isaac and Rowan were professionals, and she had no doubt they already had a plan A, B, and C in the works. They would do everything in their power to keep her and Sabrina safe. Still, that didn’t stop her heart rate from spiking or for a drop of sweat to leave an icy trail down her back. She wasn’t just scared for Sabrina. She was scared for Isaac and Rowan, too, who wouldn’t think twice about putting themselves in harm’s way in an effort to keep them safe.

Another blast sounded above, quaking the walls in the small room. A sense of dread hit Julie, making her heart stumble into an irregular beat. There was no way Isaac had just opened his heart to her, only for them to lose each other. He might be the warrior, but she would do anything in her power to protect him, too.

****

Isaac didn’t dare glance back at Julie and Sabrina huddled on the couch. When he thought about them, thought of what could happen, fear immobilized him. He had to treat this like any other mission. Analyze the threat and develop a plan to eliminate it.

“Those men aren’t FBI or law-enforcement.” Rowan scanned the screens, zooming in on the men flooding the property.

“They could be private security.” Even as he said the words, he knew they weren’t true. These men had come at them as a group, but they were disorganized and appeared to have no law enforcement or military training.

“I can take the tunnel exit. It runs beneath the property about half a mile into the forest then I can backtrack and pick them off as I go.” Rowan turned, opening a cabinet that held a dozen different weapons.

“There’s only one of you and over a dozen of them. I don’t like those odds. You might get a few good shots off, but as soon as you start taking them out, they’ll start firing on you.” He reached for the solid material of a bullet proof vest and yanked it on.

Rowan shook his head. “You have to stay here with Julie and Sabrina.”

“We both know our best chance of taking them down is together. We need to keep as many alive as possible, so my brother can take them in for questioning.

“Get a message to your brothers. Tell them our location and that we will have some hostages for them within the hour.”

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