Page 86 of Evening Shadows

Pride infused him at the sight of the kid on the horse and Sam smiling while resting her foot against the bottom rail of the wood fence. He had a feeling they’d visit quite often.

Coming up beside Sam, he leaned on the top rail while his fingers itched to touch her… feel her silky skin… pull her close to his body…. His blood heated at each thought.

Boy, he had it bad. He clasped his hands tightly to keep them where they were.

“I want him with us,” she said.

Her use of “us” sent his heart into an unnatural beat. He knew she meant now, but…. “You want to tear him away from this to make you feel better? I’d like him with us too, but he won’t be happy about it. He’s safe with Rylee and Brett.”

She let out a weary sigh. “I know. I just….”

Screw not touching her. He turned to her and pulled her into his embrace. “You’re just acting like a mom who cares.”

Into his shoulder, she said, “I just worry about him. He’s been through so much.”

He kissed the top of her silky strands. “I agree, but being with Reagan has been good for him. It’s like a big sleepover to him. Don’t take that away right now.”

“Okay,” she reluctantly agreed.

Stepping out of their embrace, he said, “Come on, let’s go lie down. You look worn out.”

She tossed him a flippant grin. “Gee, that’s nice to say.”

He shrugged. “Had to be said.” Grabbing her hand, he led her to a golf cart, up the path, inside the house, up the stairs, and to a guest room, holding his breath from time to time when she lagged.

Leaning back, she eyed him with small slits in her gaze. “How’d you know I’d be in this room?”

With a sly grin and wink, he responded, “Trade secret.”

Entering the room, he closed the door and walked her back to it with slow, easy steps as if it was a dance they’d perfected. Being this close to her, his breathing grew heavy and his heart light. The woman tied him up in knots he’d purposefully never undo.

The love and desire that gleamed in her eyes and on her face nearly sent him over the edge. Bringing his hands up to rest against the door on either side of her head, he noticed a slight tremor in them. When she licked her lips, the tight grip on his patience snapped.

“I’ve waited long enough for this.”

34

Sparks of pleasure shot between them, igniting the fire he’d built within her. His lips descended to meet hers, taking his time, letting his tongue explore the inside of her mouth before languidly tangling with hers. He acted as if they had all the time in the world, but she knew they’d get called back to HQ at some point.

Pushing that thought aside, she took advantage of the time they had. The events in the cave were foreplay, and Ken, despite his injuries, came at her with the force of a hurricane.

When his lips moved hungrily against hers, shooting a bolt of lust to her core, her hands fluttered over his chest, then he stiffened. Remembering his burns, she pulled back, unsure.

With a “Fuck it,” he pulled her snug against his heated body. A small smile came to her lips on his low growl.

With the hardness of his arousal against her, she wanted to throw herself, spread eagle, on the bed and tell him to love every inch of her. Yet she wanted him to splay out like that so she could feast. Their future would not get tiring.

As his lips moved to her neck, she tilted her head and all but mewled as she rubbed herself against him like a cat. When he spread red-hot kisses over her neck to her ear and back, she almost missed when his hands slid down, reaching the hem of her shirt and tugging it up.

Against the need in her body, she straightened and moved her hands to his, stopping the movement. “Didn’t you say the doctor frowned at you when he found out about your idea of ‘activities’?”

That infuriatingly sexy grin spread across his face. “Yep.”

She arched her eyebrow. “Didn’t he say you shouldn’t do anything until you’re healed?”

“Yep.”

If possible, that grin grew. “So what are you doing?”

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