Page 26 of Tragic Ink
“For what?” heasked.
“For all of it. Protecting me and caring for Aelwyn and for saving my life tonight. I’m sorry I’ve been so selfish when you— I should have thought more about your feelings in all of it. I should have realized everything you gave up just to keep mesafe.”
“I’m sorry I walked away, Gwen. It’s the single biggest regret of my life.” His voice was hoarse with emotion, and I felt my own eyes sting as I blinked back hot tears. “You’re the most important thing in the world. Making you happy is all I’ve everwanted.”
I swallowed hard as he stared down at me, aware of our closeness. And suddenly it wasn’t all about warmth or worry. His chest heaved, and I leaned closer, my body straining for more of him. The air around us thickened, and the world outside faded. There was only this—the two of us. And how badly I wanted him to kissme.
“Gwen,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to mymouth.
Like a mind reader, he lowered his head, his lips brushing over mine in a feathery kiss. I sighed, and my reaction spurred a growl from deep in his throat. His lips crashed over mine, suddenly demanding and desperate. I threw off the blanket and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him as close as I could and willing this moment not toend.
His hard chest pressed against my own, his breath washing over me and doing more to warm me than any blanket so far. But it wasn’t enough. I needed to be closer. After all this time, the reality was so much better than I everimagined.
I grabbed his shoulders and shoved him back, climbing onto his lap with my knees digging into the seat belt holster and the armrest along the door. Rhys held my hips tightly, helping me adjust as I settled on top of him. His mouth never left mine, and when I lowered my center to his, he pressed against me, his tongue shoving against mine until I moanedsoftly.
I felt Rhys harden against hisjeans.
My hands tangled in his hair, pulling and pleading formore.
He kissed me like we were drowning, but it was the opposite. This was the first moment I’d felt like breathing in threeyears.
“Wait.”
I tried not to feel a pang of disappointment and fear when Rhys eased back. He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his head, and I braced myself for the rejection that was about to come. But when he opened his eyes, a smile tugged at his lips. “You are ridiculously sexy, you knowthat?”
“I...” Iblinked.
“We need to get you somewhere safe before we can... finish this. But we will finish this. I just... Protecting you comes first,okay?”
“Okay,” I saidshakily.
He held onto me as I slid back to my seat, tugging me close again when I ventured too far. I waited while he readjusted the blanket, tucking it in around my legs—and then adjusted himself. When he looked up, I sent him a small smile of my own at my handiwork. He responded by planting a quick kiss on my mouth before straightening and backing us out of the emptylot.
Neither of us spoke on the ride back to town, but Rhys held my hand tightly the entire way. I was sure I’d have more to say when I was warm and coherent again. For now, the silence felt nice. Rhys’s hand in mine felt even better. Right here, I was completely safe. I just hoped it wouldlast.
