Page 110 of The Mech Who Loved Me
Ava moaned, throwing her head back, and sliding her hand through his hair. "You are sowicked."
"And you love meforit."
The second the words were said, he wished he could take them back, but Ava merely looked down at him, her eyes wide and startled. "Yes," she whispered, "But that's not the only reason I love you." She dragged him up to her to kiss him before he couldreply.
His ribs squeezed tight around his heart as Kincaid captured her mouth. He couldn't stop touching her, breathless with a feeling he didn't dare givenameto.
I can't give youforever.
He crushed her close to him, capturing her slim form in his arms as he kissed her, pouring everything he couldn't find the courage to say intothatkiss.
But I can give you my heart, poor, pathetic thingitis.
Taking her hand, he slid it through the gap in his shirt buttons, pressing her palm flat against his chest. His pulse hammered through his veins as he traced her tongue in a hot caress.It's beating for you. Then her hands were tugging at his buttons, her mouth breaking from his just long enough for him to see the determined look inhereye.
Nothing more needed to be said. Both of them could pretend last night never happened, and this was just pleasurebetweenthem.
"Off," Ava demanded, stripping his shirt from his broad shoulders and tugging his sleeves from his wrists, taking care not to rip it on the bare spars of hismechhand.
"And these?" He slid a thumb behind his waistband, his cock pressing hard against hisbuttons.
"Off," Ava whispered, her eyes pure black with need as she took a step back toward the bath, and thenanother.
Kincaid watched her with lazy eyes as he stripped down to nothing, making short work of the leather straps that kept his braces in place. He'd never been naked in front of her before. Hell, he hadn't been naked in front of a woman for a long time. He saw her gaze slide down his body, taking in the jut of his erection, his strong thighs, his abnormally enlargedcalves....
There was a lump in his throat as he waited for her to ask, but she merely held a hand out to him. "Come and love me, Liam. Justthisonce."
Ava stepped into the bath, sinking into the luxurious bubbles and capturing a handful of hair in a way that lifted her breasts. His mouth went dry. "We're not goingtofit."
She went under, water pouring off her hair as she sat back up, rubbing her eyes. Then she smiled. "Yes, we are. Get in this bath with me right now, Liam Kincaid. I'm cold, and I just want to sink into your arms for a while and soak up all of thatdeliciousheat."
The first step without his supportive braces always made him nervous. He managed to get into the bath, his cock rampant between them, as he settled in behind her. Ava surrendered herself back into his arms, as if she needed to be held. Water sloshed over the sides, and he was right: they barely fit. Yet somehow it wasperfect.
"Today was horrible," she whispered. "And I thought I was going to becomehysterical."
"But youdidn't."
"It was close," she whispered, and rested her head on his chest. "I can never control whether it will take me over, but it was easier there, with you by my side. Just knowing you're there makes me feel safe, though I don't think that will everstopit."
They stayed there for long moments, absorbing the heat of the bath. Kincaid kissed the top of her head. He liked being able to share the troubles of the day with her, to assuage hers. They were two broken souls who became infinitely stronger together. Maybe he'd never be whole; maybe she never would be. But when she was in his arms, he felt like all the ruined cracks in his psyche werepatched.
He could be happywithher.
Ava turned in his arms, looking up at him, her wet lashes clumping together. "Thankyou."
"Forwhat?"
"For what you said in Malloryn's study about trying to save the blue bloods. I know that can't have been easyforyou."
He sighed, toying with one of her wet curls. "Ava... you were right. I have prejudices, and they're hard to overcome. That hate's been ingrained in me for so many years, and sometimes it was the only thing that kept me going in dark days, but... you're right. Not every blue blood is a bad person. Maybe it's time to look at the world again, and see it for what it is now, what it has the potential to be. A new London, one that works for everyone. One I'd give my life to see. The one Malloryn sees when he looks around him, the one you see. You opened my eyes to a future I never dreamed of, made me realize they're worth saving. We're worthsaving."
"What are yousaying?"
"Maybe there's hope," he breathed, "if we just believe in it hard enough." A shudder ran through him. "You were right. I'm not afraid of needles. I'm not afraid of the vaccine. Something stopped me from taking that step. I'm not saying I... I would take the step you suggested. I'm not sure yet. But... I'm willing toconsiderit."
Anything would be worth a lifetime inherarms.
Her whole face lit up. "Andus?"
