Page 35 of Shattered Dreams

“Yep. Go to sleep. I need to go to work after your appointment, but we can spend tomorrow evening together. You need to go to bed early—I don’t want you tired on your flight.”

She opens her mouth, and I hear the objection before she makes a sound.

“I still want you to go. You said Mel misses you.”

“She does, but—”

“Then you should go. You’ll have fun, and Pop and I can use the time. There are plenty of cases we need to work on. Enjoy the freedom you wanted, Zarah. It might be better if you got out of the city for a bit, anyway.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Pop and I found a couple of leads and we’re going to talk to one or two people about Ingrid. I would feel better if you weren’t in King’s Crossing while we look into her death.” I rub her back, my fingertips tracing the delicate bumps of her spine. She’s so tiny, so fragile, my little girl. I try so hard to keep her safe, and it seems all I do is throw her into more danger.

She peers up at me through her thick lashes. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, but nothing will be harder than when you told me you didn’t want to see me anymore. It will work out, but you have to trust me.”

“I do.” She rolls onto her back and lifts my hand. “I love your hands. They’re so strong.”

I try to see what she sees, but all I see is ragged fingernails, callouses, and what the winter cold has done to my skin. Sheflutters kisses over my fingertips, and my dick stiffens. It’s been a few days since we’ve made love, and my cock knows it. Zarah pushes the comforter down and places my hand on her flat belly.

“Touch me,” she says, widening her legs and easing my hand under her panties.

I resist. “I said no sex.”

She cups my cock through my boxers. “You want me just as much as I want you.”

Unwillingly, I push into her hand, craving her more than I’ve wanted any woman in my life. “That doesn’t mean we should have sex. You have a lot of complicated feelings about it, and there’s no way I want to attach myself to any negative ones. I never want you to think I’m in this relationship for sex, and I never,everwant you to get any ideas that I would leave you if you don’t give it to me when I want it. You have the right to say no, and I’ll respect it. Every time.”

She wiggles onto my chest and covers my lips with hers. “Then respect it when I tell you I want you.”

Gently, I ease my fingers past her trimmed hair and slide my middle finger into her. She’s so wet, so tight, and her muscles tug at my finger, wanting more, drawing me deeper inside. “Like this?”

Moaning, she grinds against my hand, increasing the pressure. “Yes. You make me so wet. I want you all the time. I feel so safe when I’m with you, and I know you’ll never hurt me.”

She moves the waistband of boxers down and holds my cock, skin to skin. I groan and nudge her onto her back, capturing her mouth so forcefully I know I’m bruising her lips. I can’t help it, and I don’t stop, finger fucking her as she lifts her hips. My thumb finds her clit, and the nub quivers under my touch. She’s already close to coming.

She pumps my cock in her tiny fist, and her fingertips swirl the cum that’s already leaking out of the tip. She saidshe’s obsessed, possessed, but no less than I am. I constantly hunger for her, the need to devour her warring relentlessly with her wishes to keep my distance. The tightrope is there, and underneath, there’s no safety net, only a pit of lava threatening to burn me alive.

Suddenly, she pulls away, and I suck in a breath. I was about to come, blow all over her hands and my stomach. She shimmies out of her panties and shoves my boxers down farther. My cock springs free, my balls heavy.

I need her so fucking much.

“I don’t have a condom. We can’t do that again.” I want to, though. The feel of her pussy with nothing between us threatens to drive me insane. Shooting my load into her, claiming her as she looks into my eyes, consumes me on a level I’ve never felt for another woman before. Not even Viv.

“I have some. In my nightstand.”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure I have them?” she teases, leaning over and opening the little drawer.

I tickle her, delighted we can have fun. “I mean, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Ah!” Laughing, she bats at my hands and sits up. “Stop it.” She pulls a shiny foil packet out of the drawer. “I’m sure.” She pauses, and framing my face in her hands, licks at my lips. The mood changes from playful to, I don’t want to say serious, but her mischievousness falls away, and there’s only love, faith, and a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I love you, Gage. More than I can ever tell you. And I’m sorry I’m so messed up.”

“Sweetheart, I love you just how you are, or I wouldn’t be here. Remember that, whenever you have doubts. I’m here because I want to be.” I slide her nightgown off her body. Her breasts are perky and high, her nipples a beautiful pink taupe.They’re hard, pointed in desire, and I rub my thumb over one as she shudders.

“There’s nothing better than you touching me,” she says.

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