Page 114 of All the Missing Pieces

Ridley’s head tipped back a fraction, her gaze colliding with mine. “But it’s never enough.”

I brushed the blond strands away from her face. “Maybe you just need a little help.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“A little help to get out of that quicksand, to get beyond the shallows. But you have to take the hand that’s reaching out.”

A fresh wave of tears filled Ridley’s eyes. “I’m scared.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But I’m right here waiting.”

She didn’t look away, just lay there, her chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. Then her hand moved, sliding down my arm until her fingers linked with mine. I closed my hand around hers, soaking in the feel, the gift that was her taking hold.

My lips ghosted across Ridley’s temple. “Sleep. I’m right here. Not going anywhere.”

Her gaze jerked to mine again. “What about the no-sleeping-in-the-same-bed rule?”

I chuckled, the sound moving from my chest to hers. “Haven’t you figured it out yet, Chaos? You’ve had me breaking all the rules since the day I met you.”

45

RIDLEY

I blinkedagainst the bright sunlight, the beams making me squint. How late had I slept? Maybe the brightness of the sun was why I was so damned hot.

And then I felt it.

Colt. He was everywhere. Under me. Over me. Against me.

That scent of bergamot and cloves invaded my senses like a full-on attack. And as his hips flexed against my backside, I couldn’t help the moan that slipped out of my lips. The feel of him, that hardness against me, was too much.

Colt’s fingers pulled the hair away from my neck, and then his lips were there, skating over my tender skin. “You sleep okay?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. The truth was that I’d slept better than I had in years. Since that night. Colt had kept his promise, like always—he’d stayed.

His arm slid beneath the covers, fingers trailing up my bare thigh. “How do you feel?”

“Fine,” I croaked. “Good, I mean.”

“Hmmm.” The sound Colt made buzzed against my neck. “Think I could make you feel a little better?”

Hell.

I needed to say no, to put some distance between us after last night. He was too close, in every definition of the word. And I knew what could happen when people were too close. It could destroy me when I lost him.

And I would lose Colt. One way or another, it would happen eventually.

“Colt—”

“I’m busy,” he said, nipping at my pulse point as his fingers explored higher up my thigh.

My breaths came in short, quick pants. My nipples pebbled against the cotton of my tee. Those damn traitorous peaks. I arched back into him, unable to resist.

Colt cursed, and his other hand came from underneath me, palming my breast and tweaking my nipple. “You live to torture me, don’t you?”

I couldn’t help the small smile that came to my lips. “Maybe.”

He nipped and licked his way up the column of my neck. “Dangerous. Lethal.”

---