Page 70 of Undercover Savior

I did love her, though, like I knew I’d never love another. If by fate, she and I parted ways one day, the Ashcroft line would die with me, and I was okay with that. What I couldn’t do was be with any other woman, raise a family with any other woman. Yes, it was crazy that I fell in love with her when we were children. It didn’t make it any less real.

The drive to the cottage was as silent as it could be, given we were in an ancient golf cart. Had we wanted to talk, we wouldn’t have been able to hear one another anyway.

“I don’t know about you, but I could stand to eat something more substantial than Christmas cookies,” I said once we were inside the cottage, warming ourselves by the fire.

“We could eat,” she said, her eyes smiling as much as her lips.

“Or?”

Sullivan took my hand, then led me into the bedroom and over to the bed, where she pushed me until I sat on the edge.Starting with my shirt, she removed all my clothes, then stepped back and removed her own.

Once we were both naked, she moved the bedclothes out of our way and lay down, pulling me with her.

Since she didn’t speak, I didn’t either. Instead, I remained still as she ran her hands and mouth over the entirety of my body. When I moved my arm once, she shook her head.

After taking me in her mouth and refusing to stop even when I told her I was about to come, Sullivan kissed her way up my torso, stopping at my heart to rest her hand and bringing mine up to cover hers. Then she looked up at me.

“I believe we’ve owned each other’s hearts since the moment we met. How else could you have possibly recognized a woman you hadn’t seen since she was a little girl, unless something in your soul whispered you’d finally found your other half, something we both believed might never be?”

“I—”

Sullivan put her finger on my lips. “I love you, David.”

My restraint snapped, and I rolled our bodies so I was on top of her, wanting to kiss every inch of her like she’d done to me, but I needed it all at once. I settled on her lips, my tongue twining with hers between repeatedly telling her I loved her. At some point, I realized it wasn’t my voice alone. She said it back as often as I did.

After makinglove again more times than I could count, Sullivan and I foraged for food in the kitchen, then sat by the light of the tree, snuggling in front of the fireplace.

“It’s hard to believe that the scariest night of my life had led to me being happier than I ever imagined possible.”

I kissed her temple. “I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thanked God, a higher power, or the universe that it was me whoTyphon sent that night. That I was close enough to be first on the scene.”

She shuddered.

“Sorry. I was, and we’re here, and that’s all that matters.”

Sullivan rested her head on my chest. “I’ve wondered too if maybe it’s why we’re both loners. Or we were. What if you found someone else? What if I did?”

“Remember, my love, I’m the best sniper SIS has ever had. Sadly, you might’ve been a widow until you found your way to me.”

She giggled. “It’sawfulthat I find that funny.”

I shrugged. “No one here to judge us.”

When she yawned, I took her plate to the kitchen, then scooped her up and returned to the bedroom with her in my arms.

“Father Christmas will not come unless we’re asleep before midnight,” I said, holding her close.

“He wouldn’t get here at all with the amount of security roaming around, not to mention that which can’t be seen.”

“You weren’t meant to see any of it. Or them. I suppose thinking you wouldn’t notice was naive on my part.”

“David, wake up! It’s snowing,”said Sullivan, jostling me.

“You’re dreaming, my love. It rarely snows in this part of Scotland.”

She tugged on my arm until I opened my eyes and looked out the window, where, just as she’d said, snow was falling.

“It’s perfect.”

---