Page 51 of Holiday Hostage
I stopped trying to apologize.
It wasn’t doing any of us any favors, and I wanted them to concentrate on our next destination more than comforting me.
Maverick handed Tarron the flashlight when he finished the sutures and came over to sit beside me.
I hugged my arms across my ribs, but Maverick tipped my face up to meet his gaze. “I mean it. None of this was your fault.” He dragged me into his lap–not that I protested the comfort he offered–and wrapped both arms around my waist. “The Rangers spent a lot of time and money teaching us how to stay alive. We’re not putting that training aside.” He shot a look at Tarron. “And we have Tarron around. He’s the best medic in or out of the Rangers.”
“He told me what he did for you. How he brought you back.” I nestled into Mav’s chest and let his words comfort me.
He’d meant them.
It was one thing I understood about these men though I barely knew them.
They meant what they said.
Maverick stiffened slightly, his hands rising to cradle the middle of my back.
His voice rumbled in my ear, the low timbre competing with the engines. “I was dead for almost eight minutes. Anyone else would’ve given up on me.”
“I’m glad he didn’t quit.” My hands wormed beneath his arms and settled near his pockets, where the heat of his body drew me in. “I’m glad I met all of you, even though it was under such awful circumstances.”
It was the kind of night that demanded honesty, an obliteration of secrets and self-control. We’d done incredible things together, and they’d saved my life. There was no way I could let that go.
Maverick feathered a hand through my hair, the brush of his gloved hands drawing my attention to his face.
His eyes turned molten, the gray going silver in the moonlight. I’d never seen anything so dangerous but willing as the three of them when they pleasured me.
“I’m glad we met, too.” Maverick had that look about him as he crooked one finger beneath my chin and pressed his lips to mine.
My ability to think beyond the feel of his lips eluded me.
Nothing else mattered.
We were safe–for now.
Reed was going to recover.
Tarron had our medical needs under control and he was not the kind of man who gave up even if the worst should happen.
And Maverick.
Maverick kissed me with the kind of slow decadence that melted my bones and turned me absolutely feral for the feel of his skin against mine.
I’d heard and read the phrase “he stole my breath”, but I never felt it until this moment.
15
REED
I watched Payton and Mav from the corner of my eye, enjoying the show but unable to give it my full attention unless I wanted to risk sending us plunging into the icy river.
Tarron looked through his medical bag, no doubt making a tally of what he’d used and what he’d need to replace once we found an acceptable alternative to running for our lives.
A prickle of heat swept up the back of my neck.
No one was following us.
No one watched us from the bank, but I couldn’t shake the sudden doom and gloom feeling that started when I recognized our former commander.
