Page 79 of Rampage

He lifts our joined hands, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "Good different?"

"The best different," I assure him, leaning over to rest my head on his shoulder as the cabin comes into view.

Home. Family. Love. Safety. Words that once belonged to other people, to fairy tales and dreams too dangerous to indulge. Now they're mine, real, and solid and present.

As Reid parks the truck and comes around to open my door, his face softening at the sight of me waiting for him, I make a silent promise to myself. I will never take this for granted. This second chance, this new beginning, this man who looks at me like I'm the answer to every question he's ever asked.

"Ready?" he says, offering his hand.

I take it without hesitation, stepping out into the sunlight, into our future.

"Ready," I reply, and I've never meant anything more.

eleven

One Week Later

Lily

I wake up to the feeling of Reid's lips pressing kisses down my spine, each touch featherlight against my skin. His stubble grazes softly against my shoulder blades, sending delicious shivers through my body. I keep my eyes closed, savoring the sensation as he works his way lower, pausing to pay special attention to the small of my back.

"I know you're awake," he murmurs against my skin, his voice morning-rough in a way that makes my stomach flutter.

I smile into the pillow. "Maybe. But don't stop."

His chuckle vibrates against me as he continues his journey, strong hands sliding up my sides. "Wasn't planning to."

Sunlight streams through the curtains we forgot to close last night, bathing the bedroom in golden warmth. It's early still—the clock on the nightstand reads 6:17 AM—but Reid has always been an early riser, especially on days like today.

"Nervous about your appointment?" he asks, lips returning to the nape of my neck as his body covers mine like a living blanket.

My first session with Dr. Levine, the trauma specialist Tiffany recommended. The thought sends a flutter of anxiety through me, but it's muted, manageable.

"A little," I admit, turning my head to meet his eyes. "But it feels right. Like something I need to do."

Reid's eyes soften with pride. He brushes a strand of hair from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear. "You amaze me, you know that? Your courage, your resilience."

I reach up to trace the strong line of his jaw. "I have good reasons to be brave now."

He leans down, capturing my lips in a kiss that quickly deepens as I turn fully beneath him. His weight settles between my thighs, a delicious pressure that makes heat pool low in my belly.

"We have time before we need to get ready," he murmurs against my throat, his hands sliding beneath me to pull me closer.

"Then stop talking," I whisper, arching into him.

His answering smile is wicked as he begins his descent again, this time continuing past the small of my back to territories that make coherent thought impossible.

His tongue traces a hot path along my inner thigh, teasing, promising. When he finally reaches my center, the first touch makes me gasp, my back arching off the bed. Reid's strong hands grip my hips, holding me firmly in place.

"Stay still," he commands, his voice deeper now, authoritative in a way that sends shivers racing through me. "Don't move until I say you can."

I whimper as he returns to his task with renewed focus, his tongue working with devastating precision. The dual sensation of pleasure and restraint—his hands pinning me down, his mouth demanding my surrender.

"Reid, I'm going to?—"

"Not yet," he growls against me, the vibration adding another layer of sensation. "You come when I say you can."

The denial only heightens everything, making each subsequent stroke of his tongue more intense. My fingers clutch desperately at the sheets as he brings me to the edge repeatedly, only to back away at the crucial moment.

---