Page 54 of Raven's Curse
Greer sighed, the soft sound jacking up his protective instincts. He eased back, her legs still snugged around his hips, her fingers anchored in his hair. She blew out a shaky breath, finally pulling away enough to look him in the eyes.
He smiled, dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “God, you’re beautiful.”
That earned him a small tilt of her mouth. Not quite a smile, but he’d take whatever he could get considering the circumstances.
He brushed back a few errant strands. “You, okay?”
Her chin quivered, like in the restaurant. “Jury’s still out.”
The next round of shivers got him moving. He managed to kick out of his clothes, then carried her into the bathroom. He twisted on the taps, grabbed some towels, then ushered her under the warm spray. He didn’t talk, just stepped inside, took her in his arms.
Greer melted against him, seemingly content to simply stand there, water cascading over them, the weight of their combined guilt adding to the steamy air. He pulled her close, his chin resting on her head as he drew lazy patterns across her back. Time stopped, nothing registering beyond the patter of the shower, how her heartbeat matched his.
He managed to give them both a quick wash before stepping out — wrapping her in one of the thick towels, then heading back to the bedroom. He placed her on the edge of his bed, going to his knees in front. Tucking her wet locks behind her ear. “I swear your lips are still blue.”
She shrugged, looking as if she wanted to say something before closing her eyes — pushing out a shaky breath.
He cupped her jaw, waiting until she finally met his gaze. “Whatever you need, if I can swing it…”
She smiled, traced her thumb along his jaw. “I…” She swallowed, coughed, then leaned in. “I just need you.”
He kissed her palm. “I can manage that. You want the left or the right side?”
She snagged her lip, inhaling before getting lover-close. “I don’t want to sleep. Not yet.”
He nodded, dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Then, let’s get you comfortable. This could take a while.”
Greer stared up at Chase, her heart thundering against her ribs, her pulse somewhere in the triple digits. The man was breathtaking. From his Hollywood good looks to his boyish charm, he’d stolen her heart from the moment they’d met, and she doubted she’d ever get it back.
Chase tilted his head, grinning as if he knew she was hopelessly in love with him. That if he hadn’t stepped up tonight, she would have spiraled. Lost herself in that darkness.
Images played in her head. White mist rising off black water. Blue lights strobing against the fog. Eli’s bloody hand gripping her shirt. His blood sinking into the dirt.
A tsk, then Chase had her in his arms, looming over her as he took her back on the mattress. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
She palmed his cheeks, staring into his hazel eyes, wondering if she’d ever loved anyone this much. Trusted someone with more than her life. “Love me.”
He smiled, the simple tilt of his lips kicking up her pulse, until it thundered inside her head as he tugged the towel free. “That’s a given. But I’m not above showing you, again.”
He moved slowly, helping her scoot to the middle of the bed, fanning her hair out around her. His skin gleamed in the muted moonlight, his muscles flexing as he went to his elbows, looking at her as if she held the answers. Or maybe just his heart.
She smoothed her hands along his chest, frowning at the purple patch smeared across his ribs. “Is this from that round you took protecting me from the flash bang?”
He sighed. “It’s nothing.”
“It looks like a slash of death. God, Chase…”
He lowered until his chest compressed hers, his mouth no more than a breath away. “There’s no limit to what I’d do to protect you. You know that, right? No risk too great, no sacrifice too big.”
“I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for me.”
A shrug. “I know.”
“How about we both just focus on living?”
“Amen to that. I just needed you to know…” He dipped down, nuzzled her nose. “There’s no future without you in it.”
She inhaled, his words slowly sinking in. Easing the emptiness that had taken root after Troy’s death. Filling the spaces she hadn’t realized were there.
