Page 43 of Blood Revealed

He doesn’t even have his pants off yet when a second glorious orgasm hits.

I didn’t know. Raif was my first, my only. He’s always given it in the most exquisite ways, but I didn’t know it could bethis. I force my eyes open, pushing my hair back from my face. I’m covered in a light sheen of sweat, but watching him unbuckle his belt and unzip his jeans, I know he’s far from done with me.

Raif’s touches become feather soft as he works his way back up my body to capture my mouth with his. We’re face to face, noses a hair’s breadth apart, when he reaches down to position himself and enters me. There’s that feeling in the pit of my belly again, the one that I get with the feel of him stretching me. That glorious burn only he’s ever given me. The only man I ever want to give that to me.

We move together. Raif and I have always fit. I know his body as well as I know my own. Every scar, every freckle. I make it my goal to trace each one. It’s a maddingly slow pace making me push up with my pelvis to grind against him, but he’s not to be deterred. Raif’s setting the pace tonight.

The deeper he moves inside me, the bigger my heart fills. I trust him with my life, knowing that he’ll always take care of me, give me what I need.

I bite my lip as the pressure builds up inside me once more. I don’t want to let go, not yet. Each thrust goes deeper still, ripping down every emotional wall I’ve used to hold us back. When his eyes squeeze shut and his movements become erratic, I know he’s on the cusp of something glorious. As he lets go, I let go, losing my breath while tears leak from the corners of my eyes. This has never happened before. I don’t cry after sex.

Even I’m not stupid enough not to realize what we experienced tonight was so much more than sex. He holds me close, tucked under his body. I’m hot and a bit sweaty, but I never want to move from this place, from this night.

When I’m able to find my voice, I bring my hand up to his cheek, press my lips to his, and give him the rest. “I love you, Raif Baxter. I’m sorry I scared you. You’re everything to me, okay? I only want this life with you.”

He doesn’t answer with words. What he does is so much better. He gives me the first kiss of the rest of our lives.

10.

Raif

The woman has no idea how much power she holds over me. Every step I’ve made since the moment I saw her walk over to that big rig seven years ago has been for her and now here we are in the back of an ugly, old van on the run from a seriously fucked-up man, essentially planning the rest of our lives.

What we did, what she said to me, it was a declaration. I’m ecstatic, but at the same time, all I can think about is ending Escalante to make sure she stays safe. Taking a life isn’t something anyone should go into lightly, but I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. I plan to stand over his dying body with a smile on my face. Let that be the last thing he sees.

Hannah’s eyes are closed. She’s beautiful lying next to me wearing a contented smile. I move to pull the second bag over us and hold her while we both drift off to sleep. I sleep hard, not stirring until my phone rings. Hannah never moved from the spot I tucked her in before we slept. She only stretches when I reach over her to grab my phone.

It’s Duke. We need to get back to the Missouri safehouse. More shit, different day.

“Hey,” she says, a knowing half-smile playing across her face.

“Morning.”

“Everything okay?” she asks, tilting her chin in the direction of my hand with the phone.

“We gotta get going.”

“I wish we didn’t have to go back to reality already.”

“Me too, baby. But think of it like this: It’s a better reality now than it was yesterday.”

Because I have her now. She’s all mine. In every way save from wearing my gold band and that I plan to remedy as soon as we’re done with this mess. Maybe even sooner.

I help her up and as I pull on my jeans, remember that I have a bag for her. “In the corner, clothing for you, baby,” I say. She smiles and presses her lips to catch the corner of my mouth, then moves to open the bag. In the middle of a rescue, I had to stop at a Walmart to buy my lady something to wear. As if that didn’t kill. Wasting time getting to her. All the while wondering ‘what if taking this detour means she dies?’ but she needed clothing because I had no idea how we’d execute our escape until I got there to see the lay of the land. How many people did Escalante have working for him? Who was on his payroll for slipping him information?

If we had to mix with other people to get out, she couldn’t do it in a bra and panties. Anybody could be watching. Anybody could be informing on us.

She dresses while I climb back behind the wheel. I’d prefer her up here next to me, but it’s safer to keep her in the back where she can’t be spotted.

We’re only a couple of hours from Missouri. It’s important we get back to the brothers, but the urgency has eased enough for me to be able to find us a bite to eat and some coffee before heading back.

Once I’m on the highway, we don’t stop again until the Missouri compound comes into view. Their prospect opens the gate for us. We don’t even park before the forecourt fills with women and their men waiting on us.

Among the front of them is Elise. She looks as beautiful as ever. Boss on crutches has his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.

Hannah gasps and I know she sees Elise. She dips her head down, trembling. “What if she hates me?” Han whispers. “What if Boss hates me? Will I have to leave?”

“Fuck that, baby. You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine. He can accept it or not. Don’t give a fuck at this point. You’re mine.”

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