Page 64 of Shield and Savior

“Fuck you,” Lance says, pacing back and forth.

Alana exhales and continues her circles on her brain. “And since you’re suspended, you can’t use the company cars, so you’re stuck here until I leave in the morning.”

Oh, that sneaky, lovely, amazing woman.

Lance slams his hands on the counter and braces his weight, his back muscles tense. “You’re being unreasonable. You need me on staff.”

“Oh, I am well aware, but you’re a liability right now, and I don’t have the energy to care.” She rolls her eyes at me as if to say, ‘What the hell? How much clearer do I need to make this?’ “Now, I’m going to hang out with Drew and decompress for a little while. Believe it or not, I need a break too.”

I mutter, “Thank you,” and she nods, but Lance’s back is still to us. I wrap my arm around his waist. “Let’s go upstairs.”

“But…”

“Alana will keep Drew occupied and safe. She also doesn’tCAREwhat you do.”

He sighs, “Oh.” A few seconds later he lifts his head and makes eye contact. “OH!” Jackpot. He whips around to find Alana, and looking as contrite as he can, says, “Sorry.”

Alana gives him the finger. “Go fuck your girlfriend and come back in a better mood.”

As she turns to head into the living room, I grab Lance by the wrist and drag him upstairs. It’s so weird how quickly a place becomes a home once he’s with me. His lips brush softly against mine. He tastes like coffee, and I melt a little.God I’ve missed him. He’s been consuming my thoughts, but I didn’t realize how much until I had him in my arms. I want to take my time with him. Not a hot and frenzied moment, but something slower and sweeter. Something that lets him know exactly how much I’ve been thinking about him. He goes to kiss me again, but I pull away and rest my head on his chest.

“You okay, Izzy?”

I love the way my name sounds on his lips.

“Uh-huh,” I say, not releasing my hold on him. His heart races, pounding in my ear. My hips start to sway from side to side. I reach my arms up, resting my hands on the back of his head, and thread my fingers through his hair.

He stiffens, but not where I expect him to. He holds his breath. “What are you doing?”

“Holding you,” I whisper.

“Why?”

I don’t know what hurts more, that he doesn’t know why I would hold him or why I would need him to hold me. I try not to let the sting of rejection hit me. “You’ve had a bad week, and my ex is trying to destroy my family along with bringing a new drug into the country that could kill a bunch of people. Plus, you could’ve died. I need this as much as you do.”

“Sorry about all that,”he sighs. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed anyone as much as I missed you,” he pauses, “and Drew.” His grip around my waist tightens, and his scent fills my nose. God he smells amazing, woodsy and spicy with a hint of mint. His heartbeat pounds slower now as we sync up our breaths.

I’ve never done this before. Hold someone. Sure I’ve been hugged before, but always in a platonic sort of way. But this feels different, grounded and stabilizing. He holds me until I lift my head up off his chest and meet his gaze. It’s electric. The way he looks at me, my stomach flips, and I can feel it in my core.

Before I know it, my lips are on his, tasting, teasing and crashing. He grips my ass and lifts me as I wrap my legs around his waist. Seconds later he has me pinned to the wall, his hot breath on my neck as he rakes his teeth across my skin. I gasp when he presses his erection between my dampening thighs. I want him. Here. Now. And for longer.

He whispers, “I’m yours,” and I’m a goner.

Mine. He’s mine, and I’m his. I’ve never been more sure of anything as I am of this.

“Bed,” I say.

Later, our clothes are scattered on the floor, and he’s inside me, kissing me between thrusts and whispering how good I feel. My brain has completely shut down, only flashes of color and back arching pleasure consume me. We lock eyes as our orgasms slam into us, violent and wonderful, gasping between breaths.

“Welcome home,” I murmur as he collapses on top of me.

He lifts his head up, his hair falling over his hazy eyes. “I don’t want to leave ever again.”

My heart clenches because I know he will. And I don’t know how much longer I can stay.

ChapterThirty-Two

Lance

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