Page 60 of Striker

When I see her framed on either side by the men, a sob catches in my throat and she turns at the sound.

“Delly!” she screams, running forward.

We crash together, arms tangling and drop to our knees as I weave my fingers into her soft curls, pressing my face to her neck.

“You’re okay,” I say over and over, pulling away to look at her face. My hands move all over her as a painful sob escapes creaks from her throat. I feel her chin. Her cheeks and the tears streaming down them. Her pretty lips and her thin arms. I cup her face, running my thumbs over her perfect cheeks, eating up the sight of her.

“Are you hurt?” I ask, barely able to contain the joy bursting through my chest.

Cora shakes her head, curls falling around her shoulders. “I’m fine. Worried sick about you, but I’m fine.” She wraps me in a hug, burying her face in my neck. “Oh god, Delly. You’re real, right? You’re here?”

I pull her back. “I’m here.” I press my lips to her cheek. “I’m here and you’re okay.”

A fresh sob escapes and I realize it’s me. My entire body shakes, trembling as I clutch at her, then press her to me. I’m suddenly aware of everything around us. Her delicate tears, her body molded to mine. Her fingers in my hair. The men before us, Reaper at my back. How her tears feel so warm as I kiss her cheeks again. The terrible aching desperation coursing through me. The need to have her close. Feel her against me. Her realness. Make her feel safe and me, too.

I want to absorb her. Mold her to my body and never let her go, so she’s never away from me again.

“Delly,” my name is a whisper and I nod, knowing she feels this terrible ache too. “Oh god,” she chokes out, weaving her fingers into my hair and pulling me close. Her lips press to mine.

My whole body melts. I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her closer, sitting upright to press my chest to hers. She whimpers, angling her head and parting her lips. I sweep my tongue into her mouth, devouring her. Wanting to consume her until she’s a part of me and I can’t lose her again.

We calm down after a minute and pull away, our breaths ragged,

Her green eyes lift, and I remember Reaper behind me. “Please don’t take her again.”

My gaze darts to Striker at her back, then Viper and Breaker. They wouldn’t dare. A wild rage crashes through me at the thought they may try to take her from me. I’ll fucking make them bleed. But they say nothing and back away, leaving us alone.

As Reaper passes by, following them, his hand slides over the top of my head and I feel like I was just given a gift.

And I was.

I got Cora.

And I was given another moment of his gentleness.

Chapter 24

Striker

Delilah’s sobs wrack herbody as she clings desperately to Cora, burying her face in the crook of her neck. A painful, searing ache twists my heart, knowing all too well the pain of missing someone so deeply that it feels like a piece of you has been ripped away. It’s like walking through life with an open wound, always throbbing with pain.

I’ll never know what it feels like to have that part of me back.

None of us will.

“Delly,” Cora whispers, running her fingers through our Princess’s hair repeatedly. When her lips press to Delilah’s, both women still, hands clutching at one another. Then lips part on an exhale. Delilah’s eyes squeeze shut tighter, another tear slipping past. Her fingers tighten on Cora, then suddenly her arms wrap around her and they crash together.

A sharp intake of breath escapes my lips, taken aback by their explosive reaction. My eyes flicker up to Reaper. He’s watching them intently, yet doesn’t seem surprised. Eventhough the mask hides his face from me, I know every detail of his features as if they were my own, and I can picture the stern set of his jaw and the way the muscles in his neck stand out as he clenches his teeth. I can picture his face now and know that he guessed they’d react this way upon being reunited.

Delilah lets out a soft whimper, reminding me of the night in the woods. My heart thunders, watching as the kiss deepens. Turns feral and desperate. Viper shifts next to me and our arms brush. A bolt of awareness shoots straight to my cock.

I close my eyes briefly, trying to calm the thoughts swirling through my head. Of us together again, but this time Delilah and Cora kissing like they are now. Not holding back, not exploring, but desperate for one another.

They break the kiss and stark blue eyes flash up to mine. The lust mixed with fear makes my stomach fall.

As Reaper’s finger slips over her hair, our eyes lock. I see it then. Understanding floods me as I rip my gaze from him, looking back at the girls as I back away and follow my brother’s to the back of the house.

He doesn’t have to say it. I get it now and I wonder if Breaker and Viper do too.

---