Page 22 of Burning for the Truth

“Briella? Are you okay?” She lets out a quiet sob and curls in on herself.Shit.All her adrenaline from the attack is probably wearing off and she’s feeling…who knows what as a result. A hurricane of emotion, I’m sure.

I can’t leave her this way. I have one mission right now, and it’s to comfort her. I nudge her over and slide down on the bed behind her, but I stay on top of the covers. I put my arm around her and gently pull her into my chest. She cries for about ten minutes as I hold her and press soft kisses into her hair. I wish I could take away her pain, or anger, or fear, or whatever emotion is cutting her up right now. But I know all I can do is be here.

Once her tears subside, she takes a few calming breaths and reaches for my hand on her stomach, then links her fingers through mine.Mine.My brain and my heart both agree on this one thing—Briella is my girl.But the truth is…she won’t ever be. Even if we weren’t facing Drew’s memory or Sterling’s wrath for me loving his little sister, I’ve got so many issues of my own. Issues I’d never ask her to wait on me to work out. Am I ready to find love and settle down? Hell yeah, but the guilt I feel for Drew’s death is a ball and chain I don’t know how to unlock, even if she’d never dated him. I also have an irrational fear when I’m with who I plan to marry, I’m going to mess it up somehow. My track record with women is less than stellar.

Her breaths become heavier until I’m pretty sure she’s asleep. I lie there wondering how to pull myself away without waking her…and because I want to savor having her in my arms for a little longer. More guilt gnaws at me, so I make my move to slide away only to feel her pull me closer. She turns and looks at me, now lying on her back. I stare down at her as I’m propped on my elbow.

She reaches her hand up to touch my face and it’s all I need to know without a doubt, whatever she says next, I’ll do. “Please stay, Dean. I need you,” she whispers as a new tear slides from the corner of her eye into her hair. I wipe its trail away with my thumb.

“I’ll stay.” I start to lie back down with her, but she pulls me toward her, her gaze flicking between my eyes and my lips. My head is screamingdon’t do it!While my heart beats faster and whispers what I really want…kiss her lips. Her lips belong to you.

My heart wins this war and I lower my mouth to hers. Gently at first, making sure not to push her too far. Her pillowy lips fit mine so perfectly. She slides one hand to my chest over my pounding heart and one stays on my face. I’m letting her lead, and to my surprise, she licks my lip with her tongue, and I open to her. Our tongues collide in a sensual dance. She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s both torture and heaven. Doubts creep in…she’s vulnerable, I’m taking advantage.

I pull back and search her face and her eyes for the thoughts I need access to. All I see is desire in her dark brown eyes. “Briella, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her answer is instant. “Then don’t.”

I lean back in for her lips again and this time she lets out a little moan and I know any common sense or willpower I had regarding her is gone.

The feel of his lips against mine is better than any dream I’ve ever had of this moment. I knew in my heart, one day, this would happen. But I never imagined itthis way.Part of me winces inside as Drew’s face flickers through my memory, but the other part, the one that’s always had feelings for Dean, holds on tighter, grasping every detail of how he feels pressed against me.

Will I regret this tomorrow? Truthfully, I don’t know the answer. It’s way too complicated. I know rationally, you can’t cheat on a ghost, even so, I somehow still feel like it’s a form of betrayal. And I’m loyal to a fault. But I can’t say this feels wrong…not with Dean. I close my eyes tighter and push on Dean’s chest so he lies flat on his back in my bed.

Beneath my palm I can feel the steady beat of his heart. His stormy gray eyes are darker as he takes in my features in the dimly lit room. He’s wearing athletic shorts, which do nothing to hide his reaction to my kiss.

As if sensing my hesitation, he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and lets his rough fingertips linger on my cheek. I close my eyes so I can memorize his gentle touch on my skin. When I open my eyes, his face appears softer, and he gives me a small smile. “You’re so beautiful, Briella. You’ve always been the standard for me.” My heart stops in my chest at his words.

I don’t respond, a tear simply falls from my chin to his bare chest beneath me. I won’t examine what he said and what it means. I can’t…not right now. As much as I’ve longed for this moment over the years, my heart isn’t ready for anything real. It’s battered and bruised and boxed away until further notice.

His brows furrow. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

“I’m good. Just…” I start, but I’m unsure what to say.

“You can tell me anything, Bree,” he tells me as he shifts under me. He moves to sit up, but I push him back down gently. If he gets up now, I’ll crumble for sure. I block out any doubts I have. I’ve made up my mind—I need Dean Warren tonight—consequences be damned.

“I’m fine. I promise. I just need you.” My eyelids feel heavy as my thoughts drift to my desire. I sit up and slide on top of him, lining up my center with his length as I straddle him. He closes his eyes and lets out a small moan at the position I’ve put us in, and when he focuses on me again, I know I’ve got him at his limit. He’s trying to be noble, but right now, all I need is him.He’s the only one who can save me.

I lean back down and kiss his lips again. This kiss makes my body feel like it’s on fire. The heat between us is dangerous. “Was Sterling serious about the nurse?” I find myself asking before this moves any further.

Dean blinks a few times, and he almost seems angry. He grabs both sides of my face as if to emphasize his point. “All I see is you.”

I don’t examine that either. But it’s all I need to know to push me over the edge. I lean up, never taking my eyes off his and grab the bottom of my camisole. I drag it up over my head leaving myself bare and exposed. His eyes widen in surprise, and he searches my face as if asking permission.

I take his hands in mine and bring them up before placing them on my breasts. He’s still frozen, but he keeps his hands on me, lightly squeezing. “Touch me, Dean. Please. I need your hands everywhere.”

He looks pained but he starts to caress me and play with my nipples as they tighten for him. “Are you sure about this, BB?” He looks like he might die if I said no, but I know he’d stop if I said to. All I know is, I don’t want him to stop. I can’t now.

“I’m sure, Dean. I need you. I need you to show me love again. Will you love me tonight?” I ask, and there’s more honesty in my voice than I thought was possible. It’s raw.I need him.Unlike I’ve ever needed him before.

He sits up and takes one nipple and then the other in his mouth, flicking his tongue over each bud. He peppers kisses up my chest and collarbone while his large, firm hands press my body closer to him. He kisses my lips again before silently staring into my eyes. Then as if a decision has been made, he hungrily moves back to my breasts, and I arch, offering myself to him. Chills pimple my skin at his touch.

He stops again and slides out from under me. “I’ll be right back.” He stalks to the couch and finds his wallet before pulling out a foil pack I recognize as a condom. When he comes back to the bed, he takes me in hungrily. I’ve never seen the look on his face he’s wearing right now, and it’s making me crazy with need. He reaches down and grabs his length as if to ward off some of the pressure.

I lick my lips and rise up on my knees and then push down my pajama pants, taking my panties with them. Once I have them kicked away, he takes a deep breath and almost growls. When he looks at me again, he’s barely hanging on. “If you have any doubts, any reservations about doing this with me, you need to tell me to stop now, because once I touch you again, I don’t think I can walk away.”

I crawl over to where he’s standing and run my finger inside the band of his shorts and underwear. His chest is heaving, and I trace over every muscle from his chest to his abs. His fingers encircle my wrist before I go any lower. “Briella,” he grinds out in a deeper voice than I’ve ever heard him use.

“I’m not stopping anything. I already told you I need you,” I assure him as I kiss his lips again. Before anything else is said, he pushes his shorts and boxer briefs down and sheaths himself with the condom.

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