Page 103 of Unbroken

And suddenly the music was just background noise to the story that replayed in my head. Blakely recounting her drive to me and explaining the significance of her tattoo. I didn’t realize what I was doing until it was happening. I brushed her hair outof the way and pressed my thumb to the small sliver of a hilt that was peeking out from above her top. She shivered as I leaned forward and kissed the same spot.

Every warrior needed a sword.

I’d seen her massaging the same spot more than once, and the longer my lips, my fingers, and my eyes lingered over it, the more it made sense why: it was a reminder of what was tattooed there and what it stood for. It was a blade always ready for battle, and it had weathered enough wars to know that nothing could break it.

Her nails brushed against my fingers as the song came to a close. All signs of torment or pain had disappeared from her features, but I couldn’t discern exactly what had replaced them.

The next words out of her mouth made me realize why.

Between the second when the music stopped and before the crowd erupted, she said in one quick breath, “I…I think I might be in love with you.”

The number of emotions I felt in a split second were overwhelming. I almost asked her to say it again, but I knew I hadn’t misheard. But it was still hard to believe.

And the only thing I could think was,thank God.

Her jaw was slack, and her eyes were wide like she couldn’t believe what she’d just said.

One of my hands slipped around her waist while the other clasped the side of her neck. She didn’t fight me when I tilted her head higher and found her confident, gray eyes.

The crowd cheered, but it was only us. And in a voice I hoped belied my own confidence, I admitted, “IknowI’m in love with you, Blake.”

Her shoulders dropped, and a slow smile crept across her face. “Thank goodness, otherwise, I might have died from embarrassment.”

“How could I not love you?” I asked with a swift yet consuming kiss to her lips. I wanted to say more, but hearingeach other was about to become difficult. And I really wanted her to enjoy the show.

I tried to pull away, to keep the kiss chaste and unassuming, but Blakely’s hands fisted the hair at the back of my head, and I couldn’t resist the scrape of her nails against my scalp. The vibration of her moans teased against my lips, and although I couldn’t hear the sound with the pounding bass, feeling it was almost as good.

We were putting on a show for everyone around, but that was the furthest thing from my mind. My hands slipped around her waist, and I palmed her leather-wrapped ass. Her eager hips ground against my rapidly-growing cock that was pressing impossibly hard to the seam of my jeans.

Desire like I’d never felt before consumed me. Desire for the woman I loved.Fuck, that felt good to think without cringing or worrying that the words might slip at the absolute worst time. And knowing that she felt the same made me press her even closer.

I swore I could feel the love dripping from her lips and tongue. Both of us were panting and struggling to catch our breath as we pulled away. My nose grazed hers, and she kissed the side of my mouth softly before meeting my eyes.

“There are so many other things I want to tell you,” she said loudly over the music. “But I don’t think this is the right place to do that.”

I nodded and brushed a kiss to her forehead before spinning her around. I braced my hands on her hips and kissed her neck. “We have all the time in the world,” I whispered into her ear.

FORTY-SIX

Blakely

My voice washoarse as the band bowed and made their way off stage after their second encore. The crowd lingered, though, eager to get one more glimpse at the band.

My eyes remained on the stage, my palms tender from clapping, and my cheeks hurting from smiling so much. Excitement coursed through me as I finally turned to find Devon behind me.

The beat of the music still hummed over my skin, and I felt high from it. And the way Devon was gazing at me.

“I’m going to be counting down the days until I can see them again,” I said, my voice a little louder than necessary as the house lights came up. Every sound was slightly muffled by the loud music, but that was the least of my worries.

“I’ll buy tickets the second they go on sale,” Devon promised, and I leaned forward to kiss him.

He laughed against my mouth and clasped my cheek with one of his hands. The way I fell into the kiss, fell into him, was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Like I couldn’t help but give myself over completely to his touch and the taste of him.

A low hum vibrated through him and tickled my lips. “Fuck, you taste so good. Like the sweetest cherries.” He groaned, and I sighed. “But somehow, I think your pussy might be even sweeter.”

“Devon,” I gasped and licked my lips as I drew back. His eyes held a heady type of lust, and I knew mine had to look the same. “Let’s go.”

Looking at the man I loved, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more than to be in bed with him right then, deriving pleasure from one another and drawing on the deep, carnal connection we shared.

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