Not a command. A plea.
I kiss him softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
His arms tighten around me, and I feel something shift between us. Some final wall crumbling. Some truth neither of us can hide from anymore.
Because this?
This isn't just about protection or sanctuary or survival.
This is about two broken people choosing to be stronger together.
This is about trust.
This is about home.
Even if we're building it in the middle of a war zone.
22
LOGAN
"Logan," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire.
The sound of my name on her lips sends a jolt of desire through me. I take another step closer, closing the distance between us until I can feel the warmth of her body radiating into mine.
Her breath hitches as I reach out, my fingertips gently grazing her cheek.
Her skin is soft, impossibly so, and I can feel the slight tremor that runs through her at my touch. Her eyes flutter shut, lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. She leans into my touch, a silent invitation that sends a wave of heat rushing through me.
"Sloane," I murmur, my voice rough with desire. "You are...everything."
Her eyes open, and she looks up at me, her gaze filled with a mix of longing and caution. "What are we doing, Logan?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
I lean in, my lips brushing against her temple. "We're letting go," I whisper, my breath mingling with hers. "We're choosing to feel."
She shivers, her body pressing against mine. I can feel the heat of her skin, the rapid beat of her heart.
My hands trail down her arms, tracing the line of her shoulders, the curve of her waist. Her breath comes in quick, shallow gasps, and I can feel the way her body responds to my touch.
"I want you, Sloane. All of you," I say, my voice low and firm.
I lean down, my lips claiming hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Her mouth opens to me, her tongue meeting mine in a dance of urgency and need.
My hands find the hem of her shirt, and I slowly begin to lift it up, exposing the soft, smooth skin of her stomach.
She gasps into our kiss, her hands finding their way to my chest, gripping my shirt tightly. I can feel the heat of her skin, the curve of her waist, the delicate line of her ribs.
I break our kiss, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I pull her shirt over her head, tossing it aside.
She stands before me, her chest heaving, her eyes filled with a mix of desire and vulnerability.
"You are...incredible," I murmur, my voice filled with awe.
She smiles softly, a hint of shyness in her eyes. "And you...you make me feel alive," she whispers, her hands reaching up to trace the line of my jaw.
Her fingers are gentle, almost reverent as they trail down my neck, tracing the lines of my shoulders.
I reach behind her, my fingers finding the clasp of her bra. With a deft twist, the fabric falls away, revealing her to me.