Page 100 of Kings Against the World

I shrug. “Because you’re you, Special Agent. You’re pretty fucking amazing, whether you realize it or not.”

“I can always count on you to make me feel like a badass.”

We both laugh, the mood in the air lightening some. Zoe wipes at her eyes and takes her time seemingly sorting through whatever thoughts fill her head. I’m patient letting her. We’re on her timetable tonight.

“You’re pretty amazing too. I’ve told you before, I admire how… free and open you are. Just so unfiltered. I need a little bit of that.”

“I’ll rub off on you again, fed. Don’t forget how it started to happen in Vegas.” I cut her a crooked grin that she bashfully looks away from.

“You know,” she says, “I thought about you a lot these past couple months.”

My ears warm up at those few words. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. A lot. I wanted to reach out. I almost did. But I stopped myself.”

I let my hand travel from her back to her lap, where I scoop up her hand in mine. “That’s alright. We’re with each other now.”

“I was so surprised to see you. I’ve been in Pomona for my leave of absence, because what else would I do if not fixate on my parents’ mess? I had to question if I were in Texas.”

I clear my throat, suddenly nervous. “About that. I came to Cali to confront my parents—fucking stupid, I know—but then I was thinking about you and I called the number to your burner phone. Your partner, Rodriguez, answered, and I figured out the rest from there.”

“The rest? As in my parents’ address?”

“The internet has way too much info on it.”

She laughs. “I had a feeling that was the case.”

“I had to come see you. I couldn’t stand never getting the chance again. There I was, about to bury myself in a bottle of whiskey, and I couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t solve anything. But it sure as hell would make things worse. I’ve got a lot of changes to make. Including going back on my meds. For good this time.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Ozzie, you went off them?”

“As of twenty-four hours ago. I know,” I say quickly. “I know I shouldn’t have. I was being a fucking idiot. I’m going back on them. I promise I’ll stay on them. This is about proving to myself that I can. But also…”

“Also what?”

“Showing you I can be the kinda guy you can depend on. I want to be the person who gets clean for you.”

She glances down at our linked hands resting in her lap. “Ozzie…”

“Look, I know any kind of closeness makes you uncomfortable. We can take things slow. Real slow. Get to know each other more. Figure ourselves out together.”

“I think…” she pauses to give my hand a squeeze. “I like the sound of that.”

Before I can stop myself or think about all the reasons I probably shouldn’t, I cup her by the cheek and turn her head toward me, placing a warm kiss on her mouth. She immediately relaxes against me, parting her lips, seeking more.

Not to be dramatic or a fucking sap, but kissing Zoe after months apart feels like the first burst of sunlight in a long time.

I’m left reveling in how sweet and supple it is. How her lips feel so damn right pressed against mine. How I’ve never felt closer to anybody than the woman who makes me want to be a better man.

In Vegas, we discovered an insatiable sexual appetite for each other. But we’ve come full circle, finding something much deeper. Something that’s not fake or superficial like the relationship we’d created to take down Boone.

This is real. This is so damn real that it’s not perfect and it’s not easy, but that’s what makes it worth it.

I pull back just enough to rest my forehead against hers. “Bed?”

“Bed,” she answers. Then she adds, “Stay?”

A half-grin comes to my face and I kiss her again. “Stay.”

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