Page 33 of Raven's Nest
Saylor sighed. “For what? Saving my life, again?”
He eased back, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “For putting you on the spot tonight. I know it was necessary. That we can’t help you if we don’t know what we’re up against, but…”
“It would have eventually come up.”
“But on your schedule. When you were ready to talk about it.”
“Not sure I was ever gonna be ready. And at least this way, you won’t be surprised when I wake up screaming in the night. Which I do. A lot.”
He lifted one hand and brushed it along her cheek. “Maybe you just need someone to help keep the nightmares at bay.”
She nuzzled against his palm. “I really hope you’re volunteering.”
He leaned in — dropped a soft kiss on her lips. Not hurried or intense, more of a promise. “There’s nothing I want more than to hold you all night. Whether we take it any further’s up to you.”
Saylor chuckled. “How many times do I have to throw myself at you before it sticks? Because we’ve been dancing around this moment for months.”
He stared at her for a second before his mouth kicked into a sexy grin as he lifted her against his chest, helping her wrap her legs around his waist as his arms settled across her back and beneath her ass. “Are you sure? While it takes me some time to get any traction, once I commit…”
She smiled as she leaned in close. “There’s not much I’m certain about these days. But I’ve been crazy about you since you jumped off my boat in order to help save my best friend.”
“Then, you’d best hold on because this is going to be epic.”
CHAPTER NINE
Zain finally got it.
What Foster and Kash had been trying to tell him. How finding Mackenzie and Jordan had altered their lives in a way they hadn’t imagined. Given them a reason to keep fighting. Because standing there with Saylor wrapped around him, her face glowing in the soft light, brought everything into sharp focus, and he knew this one night would change everything.
Not just between them.
The way he viewed the rest of his life playing out.
She titled her head, looking as if she knew exactly how far gone he was. That she affected him on a level that bypassed his training. Struck at the heart of the man underneath.
That she’d brand him in a way he’d never erase.
Saylor braced her elbows on his shoulders, leaned in and claimed his mouth. Got all that heat from earlier boiling over. Burning beneath his skin until he wondered if his damn clothes would ignite before heheaded for the bedroom. Picking his way down the hall without bumping into any of the walls — not wanting to set her off like outside Foster’s place.
He kicked his door open, crossed the room, then stopped at the bed, placing her ass on the edge instead of launching them both onto the mattress, that bandage on her shoulder still glaring up at him, even if he couldn’t see it. Despite her insisting to the contrary, he knew the wound burned, and he didn’t want to aggravate it. Maybe give her a reason to change her mind.
Tugging at his belt the second he let go, Saylor didn’t seem concerned about her shoulder. He’d barely had enough time to place his weapons in the side table drawer — flick on a bit of mood lighting — before she had his pants and boxers shucked down to his ankles, her fingers dancing along his skin.
He froze, the brush of her hands across his body nearly dropping him. Making his heart race to the point he wondered if the damn thing would break some ribs with how hard it pounded inside his chest.
She tugged at his hoodie, smiling when he yanked it over his head and tossed it behind him. “God, Zain.” She leaned forward, skimming her fingers across his stomach before dropping a kiss on his hip. “Bet I can bring you to your knees in record time.”
Zain gathered her hair in one hand, all that golden mass spilling out from between his fingers as he stared down at her. “Saylor. Sweetheart, this is about… Christ.”
His voice cut off as she curled her fingers aroundhim and took him deep. Pushing him to the brink from that one pass. She hummed as she retreated, pausing just long enough for him to suck in some air before she repeated it. A bit harder. Faster.
Dead.
That’s what he’d be in about ten more seconds. Just a puddle of lust on the floor. No one had ever gotten him this far gone, this fast. Another stark reminder that this wasn’t a hookup. What had been his go-to method while in the service. No strings. No expectations.
Saylor was nothing but strings, all wrapped around him like a web. And he had a feeling that even if he cut one, another would simply take its place. Anchor him to her.
Unyielding.
