Page 24 of Raven's Claw
All those walls she hid behind noticeably absent.Nothing between them but the promise of a future.
He didn’t move, just stayed there, fully seated, waiting for a sign that she was ready for more.Her hands shook, a single tear pooling in her eye then slipping down her cheek.
He went to his elbows and kissed away the dampness before taking her lips — softly tasting her mouth.A strangled sob sounded between them, her breath shuddering around him in hurried gasps.
He smiled down at her, nuzzling her nose as he eased back then slid forward, reclaiming every lost inch.She inhaled, her head tilting away as her teeth snagged her bottom lip.
He kissed the slight hurt, thrusting, again.“Eyes on me, sweetheart.”
She squeezed them harder together then pried them apart.“Kash…”
“No looking away.”He pulled back, paused, then slid forward.“No telling yourself I’m not completely invested.”Another retreat followed by another thrust.“That this is just another hit and run.”He moved a bit faster this time, biting back the fire burning along his spine.“I don’t care who you were, Jordan.”One more slow stroke.“But I damn sure want to be part of who you become.”
He let go.
Holding her gaze while he upped his pace.Fast, then faster.Harder.Until the bed shook, his body quivering.He wasn’t sure how long he could hold out, every nerve on edge, threatening to explode.
Jordan clenched her jaw, her chest heaving against his.Her focus pinned on his face.She slid her fingers up his jaw and into his hair, anchoring them together.Daring him to break the connection.
Not a chance.
Instead, he upped the ante, using one hand to tilt her hips — graze over that one spot…
“Yes!”
The word bounced off the walls as she threw her head back, clawing at his scalp before she stiffened — body strung tight.Clamping around him so hard it was all he could do to keep moving.Take her the rest of the way over.She held her breath, back arched.Her mouth opened in a soundless scream.
Then she ground against him, a deep pink flushing her skin, as she shook in his arms.Eyes closed.His name a prayer on her lips.
That did him in.Sent him over.All but destroyed him as he emptied into her, muscles straining.His skin so hot he was surprised the sheets didn’t go up in flames.He closed his eyes, sucking in air, praying he didn’t crush her as his strength gave out and he collapsed.
Forever.
That’s what this felt like.
Her body wrapped around his.Her breath hot against his damp skin.And he swore he’d do whatever it took to get her to see them the same way.
Kash wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying there, his head next to hers — completely spent — before he regained enough of his senses to think beyond dragging air in then pushing it out.He shifted, cursed, hoping he hadn’t actually crushed her when her fingertips dug into his shoulders, urging him back down.
She kissed his jaw, holding his gaze when he managed to focus enough to look her in the eyes.“Don’t go.Not, yet.I…”
He smiled, settling over her with just enough of his weight braced on his elbows she could breathe without it being some kind of Olympic event.“I’m not going anywhere.So, close your eyes.I’ll clean us both up once I can feel my feet.And I promise I’ll hold you the rest of the night.Okay?”
A few more tears slipped free as she nodded, closing her eyes as he dipped down for a soft kiss.He rested his forehead on hers, listening to her breathe.Lingering in the moment.He wasn’t sure what they’d be in the morning, but he’d give this everything he had.
It took a while before either of them seemed willing to move.Jordan huffed, looking like she really would dump him on his ass before he coaxed her with a kiss.She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder as he carried her across the room to the ensuite.He didn’t rush, running the soap over every inch of skin, doing his best to map out all her scars.
The fact there were too many to keep track of cleared some of the residual haze.Had him wondering if she’d gotten them all during her missions or if some were the result of a questionable childhood.The snippets of her past he’d heard her tell Zain.
None of it had sat well with him, but Kash got the sense that her real story began after her parents had either died or been labeled unfit.That group home she’d landed in once the courts had shuffled her into the system.
To her credit, she didn’t seem fazed by the way his fingers danced across her skin, following each line or puckered indentation.What were obvious knife and bullet wounds.She simply watched him as if she was trying to puzzle him out.
He managed to get them both clean without running out of warm water, then took her back and helped her into his shirt.He raised his arm, and she burrowed against him, drifting off a second later.Like someone had thrown a switch.
He relaxed, listening to her snuffle, smiling when Nyx jumped onto the bed and reclaimed her spot.At least, she’d waited until he and Jordan were done before joining them.Though, he got the feeling Jordan would have laughed it off if Nyx had interrupted them.Important, since he was hoping they’d all be eventually sharing the same space.
He closed his eyes, pulling her closer, fading into that blissful haze, when someone knocked on his door.Loud.Insistent.He blinked against the wash of gray filtering through the window as Jordan bolted up beside him, reaching under the pillow before grunting.
