Page 53 of Rescuing Tobias

Seeing her having fun, laughing, and being free, filled him with relief. She wasn't drowning in her trauma, and he wasn't going to let her. Not every day would be a good one. There would be ones where her emotions got the best of her, where fear had her cowering at home, where nightmares sapped her strength as they prevented her from getting the rest she needed. When thosedays came, they’d deal with them together. They were a team now, and he had every intention of having her back just like he knew she’d have his.

“You know what smart alecs get?” Since he was already holding her hand, he used that to his advantage and gave a small yank, making her squeak as she stumbled forward and landed against him. His fingers moved to caress her stomach for a moment, drifting up her sides, and her eyes fluttered closed as a contented sigh fell from her lips.

A moment later, that sigh turned into a laugh as he tickled her.

“Hey!” she protested, trying to wriggle her way out of his hold.

“You're the one who wanted to be a smart alec,” he reminded her as he joined in laughing as her giggles cut right through the throbbing pain in his back and filled him with joy.

Back when he’d been younger, before his injury, these were exactly the kind of moments he wanted to share with a partner. Sex was all well and good, definitely enjoyable, and he’d loved watching Isabella fall apart for him last night. Loved holding her while she slept as well since she’d asked him to spend the night with her.

But this was joy on a different level.

Moments of playfulness were as important to any relationship as moments of intimacy.

“Okay, okay,” she shrieked as she squirmed and giggled. “You guys work out like the amazing superheroes that you are. You're the kings of amazing workouts. Nobody can beat you or even come close.”

Gabbing her hips, Tobias lifted her, and she immediately wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands resting on his shoulders. There was warm affection on her face, along with a heat in her eyes that had him hardening.

“You’ll think more closely about your word choice next time, won't you, little firecracker?”

The pink tip of her tongue poked out and she dragged it along her bottom lip, knowing exactly what she was doing to him if the playfulness in her eyes was anything to go by. “Well,” she drew the word out and gave her hips the smallest of rocks, brushing her center across the quickly growing bulge in his pants. “I guess I could … but then again, where’s the fun in that?”

“You're going to drive me crazy, aren't you?”

“In the best possible way,” she agreed.

Like magnets drawn together by the power of the universe, their lips met, their tongues dualled, and the heat between them grew into a raging inferno.

“Umm, just so you know, you two are standing on the doorstep where anyone can see you,” a voice called out from above them, and when he looked up, Tobias could see Becca’s head poking out the second story window to the left of the porch. She wriggled her fingers at them in a wave, and Connor looked out from behind her, clearly amused.

“Spoilsport.” Isabella huffed.

“Just looking out for my best friend,” Becca said sweetly.

“Thank you,Mom,” Isabella shot back, but there was so much affection in her eyes as she looked up at Becca.

Enough that Tobias felt guilty about hoping she would choose to move back to New York with him. He needed to seriously consider speaking with Raven to find out if he could still remain on the team even if he wasn't able to be in the office in person every day. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Ava wanted to move to be closer to Nathaniel, who was still years away from potentially getting out of the SEALs. It just seemed so wrong to ask Isabella to give up her safety net just so he didn't have to pack up his life and move.

She deserved not just to be able to put down roots but to do it in a place where she felt comfortable with all the people who cared about her close by.

“Guess we’d better get going on our walk.” When Isabella pushed gently at his shoulders, he set her back down on her feet and reclaimed his grip on her hands.

Leaving Becca and Connor chuckling behind them, they headed down the front path and out onto the sidewalk. It was a beautiful spring morning, and while the temperatures were still mild, they weren't cold any longer. The sky was clear blue above them, the sun already peeking out, ready to start its day, and new life was springing up all around them. New leaves on the trees, blossoms, and flowers blooming everywhere.

It felt like a whole new life was spreading itself out before him as well.

One he’d long ago dreamed about but given up on after his injury.

Now it seemed like it was within his reach again, and this time he didn't want anything to mess it up.

“I’m going to make a guess,” Isabella said as they wandered down the sidewalk at a leisurely pace. “That even though you're no longer in Delta Force, you still get up pretty early in the morning, am I right?”

“Yes, my little firecracker, you're right. I usually hit the gym at Prey before heading into Cyber Team’s office, then hit it again before going home.”

“Is it good for your back to be under that amount of stress?”

There was no judgment in her tone, no pity either. Just curiosity, a desire to learn more about his injury since it was going to affect both of them now that they were giving a relationship a try.

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