Page 34 of Inevitable Dream

“Do whatever you want, as long as you don’t paint the walls purple or pink,” he says, and I imagine his grin and pretty blue eyes twinkling.

“How about fuchsia or lavender?” I tease.

“Itching for a spanking?” His voice becomes gravelly and even more sexy.

“That’s not the deterrent you’re hoping for, honey,” I advise. He bursts out laughing. “But I promise to stay away from pink or purple. Dad wouldn’t be able to sleep in a pink room. I think he’d be waiting for confetti to drop from the ceiling. He’d probably sleep on the couch.”

“See, we have something in common already,” he responds. “Glad you called, babe. There’s something I want to tell you.” His tone grows serious and quiet.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my heart beginning to race.

“Do you remember me telling you about that missing man we’ve been looking for? Well, I think we got a lock on where he’s being held. The team is going in to get him. It’s happening tonight. I’ll be home in a while, and we’ll regroup to make final arrangements before we head out.”

Rebel is calm, and I am anything but. My mind is reeling. All these crazy thoughts are running through my mind. I want to beg him to stay home with me. What if he gets hurt again, or worse? But loving someone means you accept all of them, and what Rebel does as a career is important to him.

Instead of begging him not to go, I say, “Is it a good plan?”

“Pretty solid,” he replies. “Sadie, they took Mitchell’s daughter to gain leverage over him. He gave himself to the enemy in hopes of saving his daughter. Two people’s lives are on the line. We know who these people are, and we’re going in prepared and ready,”

I gasp. How diabolical are these jerks to take a man’s daughter? This alone tells me that Rebel and his buddies are walking into a perilous situation. I keep my thoughts to myself but say, “Then Mitchell and his daughter are coming home safely.”

There’s a pause before Rebel says, “Coming home,” and he hangs up.

The slamming of the door jolts me. I look over my shoulder to see Rebel standing there. He stands with his legs firmly planted shoulder-width apart, looking me over from head to toe. My eyes take in his thick thighs, his muscles pressing against his denim jeans, his tapered waist, and the way his tight T-shirt accentuates his abs and massive chest. Rebel rests his hands on his hips. When our eyes meet, I see the smoldering heat burning in them.

“Sadie, here,” he orders. I cross the room, leap into his arms, and wrap my arms around his waist, my mouth seared to his in a punishing kiss. My fingers weave through his hair as I dig my nails into his scalp. Our mouths move this way and that, and his hands squeeze my ass. He wrenches his mouth away with a growl.

Suddenly, my back is pressed against the wall, and his hands are skimming up under my skirt, along the back of my thighs.

“I need you, baby,” he groans as he kisses me again, long and sweet.

“Yes,” I gasp as he licks and nips a trail along my neck, causing a shiver to run through me. His fingers slide under my panties and through the slick wetness between my legs.

“Thank fuck, you’re ready for me,” he groans. I hear him unzip his jeans, then he pulls aside the gusset of my panties. “This is going to go fast and hard.”

“Okay,” I pant, and with one thrust, he’s inside me, filling me up to the hilt. I moan as he slides out and back in, deep, penetrating strokes. I’m braced against the wall, powerless to do anything but hold on to his strong arms.

“Let me see those pretty eyes,” he says with a groan. I didn’t even realize I had closed them. I open them to find his staring deeply into mine. Those eyes tell me everything I need to know. I’m loved. Jasper loves me, and I adore him.

So close to coming. “More. Please,” I moan. Jasper gives me exactly what I need, and I float in a haze of delight. He grunts his own release in my ear, his face buried in the curve of my neck, the bristles from his stubble rough against my skin.

I’m not sure how long we remain like this before he slowly pulls out. He sets me back on solid ground, although my legs are as shaky as a baby fawn’s. Rebel holds me steady, then moves my hair out of my face.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he says, his fingers gliding over my cheek. “Luckiest thing that ever happened to me was getting shot. I’d go through it all over again as long as it means having you with me.”

I’m trying not to cry, and he knows it. He bushes his lips over mine. “Go clean up and come back to me,” he whispers. He gives me a little nudge and lets me go.

When I come back, Rebel is waiting for me on the sofa. He extends his hand and settles me in next to him. I’m cradled in his arms, and we’re both quiet for a long time. It’s a comfortable silence that just feels peaceful.

Rebel is the first to break the silence. “I want to give you everything. I want you to be happy.”

“All I need is you,” I reply, tilting my head, kissing his jaw, and settling back into his arms.

We spend the afternoon cuddled together, until there’s a knock on the door. Phoenix and Bull are on the other side, here to pick up Rebel for their rescue mission.

Watching him leave hurts so much, but it also makes me proud to know that my man and his team are going to bring a husband and daughter back to the woman who loves them.

Chapter16

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