Page 87 of Broken Trust
She tipped her chin, studying him. “How about you? You finding your way…back?”
He looked down, a slow smile tugging his lips. “Back implies I ever left.” His gaze lifted, meeting hers with that unflinching honesty that undid her day after day. “My place is wherever you are. Preferably not in a firefight.”
Heat curled in her chest—different from the temperature of the water and more enticing. “I can work with that,” she murmured.
“Oh yeah?” He slid closer until his knee bumped hers. The tub’s jets burbled and shifted bubbles between them like theywere being urged together by the water itself. “Because I was thinking about forever.”
A laugh caught in her throat, surprised and a little shaky. “Forever is a big word for a man who says very few of them.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’m working on only saying the most important ones, angel.”
The steam drifted around them. Liam’s eyes darkened with intent, and she pressed closer, her breaths coming faster.
She’d dealt with firewalls her whole life—behind keyboards, around her heart, inside the brittle places that no one was allowed to touch. He breached them like they were nothing and, somehow, she didn’t feel exposed. She felt…cherished.
“Tell me your most important words,” she whispered against his lips.
He kissed her, long and deep, claiming her with each flip of his tongue. When they finally broke apart, he searched her eyes. “I want you every minute of my life.” His fingers traced the strap of her top. “I want to go to war and come home to you. I want you to yell at me for leaving my boots by the door. I want your sharp, brilliant, beautiful brain planning out our grocery list and our contingencies and our kids’ school runs, if we’re lucky enough to have them. I want all of it.”
Her eyes stung, and she felt her lips twist against the onslaught of tears. “You’re not allowed to make me cry in a hot tub.”
He brushed his nose against hers. “I’ll kiss them away.”
“You’ll try.”
“I’ll succeed,” he promised, and kissed her for real. This was a seal, a vow, the kind of kiss that rewrote code.
He bracketed her waist, not to drag her closer but to let her choose. She did, sliding across slick seats and water, fitting herself along the length of him with a little hitch of breath.The jets skimmed over her back. The patio light hummed. Somewhere a night bird called.
“Forever,” she said against his mouth, testing the word like it was new.
“Forever,” he answered, threading their fingers again, and she felt the promise settle inside her like a lock clicking home.
His hands flexed on her waist, almost a question. She answered with her body, tilting with a small, helpless sound she would have been embarrassed to make anywhere else. The water sloshed as he laughed softly against her throat.
This is what surviving is for. This man. This love. This life.
The patio door zipped open.
Elin jerked away from Liam.
Then a tiny, high yip cut through the night. She spun in the water and nearly launched herself out of the tub.
The entire team crowded on the patio, not in the casino—the women too, shoulder to shoulder and trying not to laugh. Ash’s hands were up like he was pleading innocent. Con wore an expression of shameless delight.
All of a sudden, something darted across the patio.
Elin blinked at the fluffy ball of white fur standing there on little splayed paws, with a pink bow around its neck.
The mini goldendoodle puppy barked again, as if it had just delivered the punchline and was proud of itself.
Elin’s heart melted so fast it practically took her bones with it. “Oh. My. God.”
Liam took her by the hand and helped her out of the hot tub. She took a step toward the puppy, not daring to hope while knowing in her heart that Liam had done this.
The puppy pranced forward like someone had wound it up, slipped on a wet patch, then righted itself with ferocious dignity.
“Is she—” Elin’s voice broke. She tried again. “Is she ours?”
