Page 130 of Risky Passion

I leaned in slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if I’d misread her. She didn’t. Instead, her lips parted slightly, and her breath made the faintest hitch.

When our mouths met, the world fell quiet. Her lips were soft, warm, and tasted faintly of the mint tea she must have had earlier. The kiss started gently, like a question. Something inside me cracked wide open, and I deepened the kiss, pouring everything I couldn’t say into it.

It wasn’t just a kiss. It wasn’t just about desire, though God knew that was there too. This was so much more. Raw and terrifying and amazing all at once. It was the kind of kiss that made me feel like she’d reached into me and found the parts I thought I’d buried for good.

Her hands slid up to my shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt as she pulled me closer. My pulse hammered as her soft, warm body pressed against mine, so close it was all I could feel. Heat surged through me, and my cock hardened against the borrowed shorts, making me all too aware that I had nothing else on beneath them. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to slow down before the heat of the moment took over completely.

I pulled back, breaking the kiss, and rested my forehead against hers.

“Tory,” I said, my voice low and rough. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”

Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. “Oh, I think I have some idea.”

A quiet laugh escaped me as I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Not here,” I said firmly. “You deserve more than a rushed moment. I want to take my time with you.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she dropped her gaze, but not before I caught the shy, almost mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

“Hopefully I won’t have to wait too long,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Me neither,” I said, letting out a slow breath. “You’re killing me.”

I shifted slightly, running a hand over my shorts, trying to calm the relentless thump in my groin.

She bit her lip, clearly noticing, then giggled.

“Shall we go to bed then?” She paused, her smile turning playful. “You know . . . to sleep.”

“Come here, you.” I pulled her close and kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the way her lips softened against mine, the way her fingers curled into my hair. When I pulled back, I rested my chin lightly against her temple. “I’m going to enjoy getting to know you, Tory.All of you.”

I eased back before my thoughts of Tory’s naked body beneath me tipped me over the edge of no return.

“Good. Because I feel the same.” Her smile softened, and her eyes flickered with something deeper, something vulnerable and open. “Jaxson, do you wonder if what we’ve been through is messing with our emotions? I mean, I’ve read that life-and-death situations can?—”

I cut her off, cupping her face in my hands. Her skin felt warm beneath my palms, and I tilted her head up so she couldn’t look anywhere but at me.

“Tory, you’re overthinking this,” I said, stealing Whisper’s comment as I held her gaze with mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more certain about anything in my life.”

Her eyes searched mine, and whatever doubt had been lingering there melted away. She let out a small, shaky breath, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something. Instead, she just nodded, resting her hands on my chest.

Our attraction wasn’t just about the heat of the moment or the adrenaline from everything we’d been through.

This was real, and I couldn’t wait to explore it more.

I guided her to lie down with me, and she curled into my side as if she’d always belonged there. I shifted us until we were spooning, her back pressed to my chest, and I wrapped an arm over her, pulling her close. Our fingers laced together, and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing the glorious scent that was uniquely hers.

Neither of us said anything. The silence wasn’t awkward. It was easy, comfortable, like words would have only gotten in the way.

“Do you do this with all your teammates?” She giggled.

I tightened my arm around her. “Only the ones crazy enough to crash their plane into a croc-infested swamp.”

She laughed softly, and the sound vibrated against me in a way that made my chest ache. “Good to know I’m special.”

“Special doesn’t even cover it.”

She tilted her head just enough to glance back at me, her eyes half-closed, her expression soft and unguarded. She looked so damn beautiful it made my throat tighten.

“I’m so lucky you rescued me.” Then she scrunched her nose like she was embarrassed. “Not just because I probably would’ve died if you hadn’t shown up, but . . . because it was you.”

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