Page 81 of Fast Justice

At the male voice Malcolm turned her around to find a truck pulling up next to them. Kai Maka slid out. “Hamilton said you guys just left the hospital. Glad I caught you.” The huge, good-looking Hawaiian leaned into the back of the cab and emerged with a big box in his arms. “Brought you guys some food.”

Aww. Rowan offered him a smile. “That’s so sweet of you.”

He shrugged. “Wasn’t just me. Colebrook brought over some stuff too. Piper’s got some baking in here.” He reached into the box to shift things around. “Looks like a fruit pie and some of her famous brownies.” He frowned down at them. “She’s never mademea pan of brownies.”

“Piper?” Rowan asked.

“Colebrook’s better half,” Malcolm answered. “And Colebrook’s sister is Rodriguez’s better half.” At her confused look, he laughed. “You’ll meet everyone and get their names and connections sorted out soon enough.” Then to Kai he said, “Thanks, man.”

“No worries. I’ll bring it up for you. Being that you’ve got your hands full right now.” He winked at Rowan.

Rowan laid her head on Malcolm’s shoulder and closed her eyes, enjoying the sense of security it brought her to have him take care of her this way. She’d been so much luckier than Anya or Victoria, and the other women in the container had been saved from fates worse than death.

ThreeVenenothugs were dead. Even if Juan Montoya was still alive and at large, some positive things had happened today. And he couldn’t evade justice forever. She and the others involved with this case would see to that. Right after she helped hand Ruiz a life sentence without the chance of parole.

They reached Malcolm’s condo and he continued to hold her as he fished the key from his pocket. “You really can put me down for a minute.”

“Nope.” He shifted her, stubbornly held her to him as he unlocked the door and walked inside.

Kai followed them in. “So, you guys hungry? I’ve got one of Abby’s lasagnas in here. I can pop it in the oven for you.”

Malcolm looked at her, raised his eyebrows. She shook her head slightly, hoping he understood. “Thanks, man, but I think we’ll wait on dinner for now.”

“Yeah, no worries,brah,” Kai said. “I’ll put everything in the fridge.”

Malcolm carried her into the living room and set her on the couch, wrapped in the blanket. By then Kai was finished putting the last of the food away and Malcolm walked him to the door. “You guys just call if you need anything, yeah?” Kai said, his gaze shifting between Malcolm and her.

“We will. Thanks, brother.” Malcolm held out a hand.

“Anytime.” Kai looked down at the hand, gave Mal ayou’re kidding melook then gathered him up in a manly back-clapping hug instead, and left.

After locking the door, Malcolm turned back to her with a smile and sighed. “Alone at last.”

“Yes.”

He crossed back to her, put his hands on his hips. “What do you want right now?”

“A shower.” Oh, God, she’d kill for one. “Then bed.”

“Perfect.” Without pause he scooped her up and headed straight for the master bedroom, carrying her into the en suite.

Setting her on the granite counter with the blanket still wrapped around her, he turned on the shower before coming back for her. He ran a hand over the top of her head, smoothed it down her hair, his warm, chocolate-brown eyes searching hers. “You know how much I love you, right?”

Startled, a smile broke over her face. “I was hoping you did.”

One side of his mouth tipped up, that ridiculously charming dimple appearing in his cheek. “Well I do.”

She put her hand on the side of his face. “I love you too.”

He inhaled what seemed like a relieved breath, curled his fingers around the back of her neck. “Good,” he muttered, and leaned in to kiss her.

Rowan sank into him, her breasts flattened against his chest, her free arm banding around his back. The kiss was deep but slow, almost reverent. As though he wanted to worship her, reassure himself she was here in front of him.

She barely noticed when he pulled the blanket from her shoulders and began taking her clothes off, too intent on maintaining the connection of their kiss. With a few twists of her spine and an arch of her hips, she was naked and reaching for the waistband of his tactical pants.

Malcolm reached behind him to fist the back of his shirt and peeled it over his head, revealing his sculpted chest and shoulders in all their naked glory. While she explored them with her mouth and hands, he shucked his pants and underwear and lifted her, bringing her legs around his waist as he stepped into the shower.

Rowan sighed at the feel of the hot water rushing over her skin, the sensation of being pressed to his hard, warm body, those strong arms cradling her so protectively it made her throat tighten. “I’m never letting anything bad happen to you ever again,” he vowed against her temple, hugging her tight. “You’re mine now, Rowan, and I protect and take care of what’s mine.”

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