Page 37 of Hellfire

“Why?” she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Because you need us just as much as we need you. Because your daughter deserves a safe space to grow up. Surrounded by people who adore her and have andwillkill to protect her. Because you deserve to be loved. Because I want you here. Pick any of those reasons. They’re all true.”

“Are you saying you love me, Tank?” she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, hoping my words wouldn’t scare her away. “I’ve been falling for you since the moment we met. If I have to tell you that you’re beautiful every day, I’ll do it. Until one day you see yourself the way I see you. A woman who has been dealt a shit hand and does everything she can to survive in this fucked up world. A mother who will go to bat for her child and puts her daughter’s wellbeing above all else.”

A sob burst free from her throat, one she tried to muffle with her hand. I couldn’t take the distance between us anymore. I pulled her into my chest. Her arms banded around my waist as she cried.

Once she finally calmed down, she leaned back and gave me a small grateful smile. I brushed the stray tear from her cheek and gently kissed her lips. I expected her to pull back, but then she rose up on her knees to deepen the kiss. Her hands tangled in my hair. I groaned. She tasted sweet and salty.

Delicious.

“Tank,” she murmured against her lips.

“Lay down."

Katrina crawled up the bed and positioned herself on my pillow.

Damn, even after crying, she still was beautiful.

Letting go of the towel, I crawled up the bed. When I reached her parted legs, I ran my hands down her thighs, tracing along her smooth skin. Her scent sweetened, telling me she wanted me to go further, but I needed to hear it with words.

“Tell me what you want,” I said huskily, still tracing small circles on the sensitive skin of her thighs.

Everything about her was soft against my calloused fingers. Katrina’s breath caught when I inched higher. Her legs fell open, silently inviting me to explore her more.

“Do you want me to touch you, pretty girl?” I purred.

She nodded, and a sexy as fuck blush crept up her chest. I smirked.

She was nervous.

“Words, Katrina,” I growled, leaning forward and placing a kiss on the inside of her knee.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Yes, you want me to touch you?” I asked again. She nodded.

I kissed and licked a trail down her inner thigh. Her soft gasps and moans—the sweetest sounds. I swirled my tongue along her breast's underside before biting down softly. Her fair skin turned red almost immediately. I groaned in satisfaction. My Cerberus loved how beautiful her skin marked for us.

My fingers found the hem of her shirt, but her hand shot out and gripped my wrist to stop me. My gaze flicked up to hers. The firm set of her jaw and the way her brows pinched made me hesitate.

“Are you hiding from me?” I asked softly.

“I told you, I’m not beautiful. I have scars and-–”

A deep growl rumbled through my chest. “I don’t care. I want to see you. All of you.”

Slowly, her grip on my wrist loosened, but despite that, she wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“Do you want me to stop?” I asked, brushing the hair from her face.

Her cheek pressed into my palm, a breath of relief fell past her lips. I would never force her. I would wait for her if she didn’t want this to go any further.

“You tell me if you want to stop. You hear me?”

“Okay.”

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