Page 49 of Atone in Darkness
Although he understood her need to rush things. They bothknew the clock was winding down. Eventually they’d find their way out of this mess and resume their real lives, the ones where a newly minted doctor could pursue her dreams and a Paladin could return to the front lines of the endless battle that defined who he was. She could get a fresh start while he figured out if what he’d experienced in the compound had significantly shortened his “use by” date.Not exactly a happy thought.
Marisol captured his face with both hands, her voice revealing her concern. “Chase, are you still with me?”
Damn, he was a total idiot. He’d gotten so caught up in his dark thoughts that he’d lost track of what was really important. The future would take care of itself no matter how it played out for each of them. This moment, though, was theirs to control, and heowed it to both of them to make the most of it.
The least he could do was apologize. “Sorry, I got... to thinking.”
“About?”
“Too many things, none of which are important rightnow. I promise it won’t happen again.”
She stopped him when he started to pick up where he’d left off now that he’d gotten his head back in the game. “Seriously, we don’t have to do this if you’ve changed your mind.”
He pinned her hands over her head. “I haven’t changed my mind, Marisol. I want this. I wantyou. Never doubt that. It just hit me hard that this is all going to come to an end one way or another. While I’ll be glad to say good-bye to the rest of this, I won’t be happy to say good-bye to you.”
Rather than let the conversation continue, he finally gave her the kiss she’d been asking for. Initially,her response lacked enthusiasm, but he could hardly fault her for that. Rather than up the ante, which might feel more like desperation rather than passion, he slowed down to coax rather than demand.
His patience paid off, and Marisol let herself be seduced. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, as their passion ebbed and flowed, the rest of the world retreated to a safe distance,leaving only the two of them in their makeshift bed. It might have consisted of two sheets of thin plastic and tree branches, but at that moment he wouldn’t have traded it for a room at the finest five-star hotel.
The cool night air kissed their skin with the fresh scent from the cedar branches that cushioned them from the ground. The hour had grown late enough that the moon now hung directlyoverhead and bathed the mountainside with its silvery light.
Marisol rested her head on his chest and stared up at the narrow sliver of the night sky. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars.”
He gave her a quick squeeze. “I paid extra for the view.”
She giggled. “And I hate to think how much all of that fancy food you’ve been feeding me set you back.”
“Nothing but the best green beansand canned meat for my girl. And the good news is we’re having more of the same for breakfast.”
“What a guy!”
Had he ever laughed with a lover like this? If so, he couldn’t remember when. For sure, she was the only woman he’d ever bedded who knew that he wasn’t like other men, even if she didn’t know everything thing about the world he normally inhabited. It was so freeing not to have to watchevery word and protect every secret in his life.
He didn’t want it to end.
For now, he would pretend that the sun wouldn’t rise and their enemy had given up the chase.
“Marisol, do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
He lifted her so that she was stretched out along the length of his body. As soon as he had her positioned she put her hands on his chest and pushed herself upright. With her best sirensmile, she rocked the core of her body directly against his, bringing his desire to full attention. He settled his hands on her hips, encouraging her to do that again... and again. Smart woman knew exactly what he was asking, what they were both needing. She rose and guided the tip of his cock to the entrance of her body, sliding back down until he was seated deep within her slick heat.
Sherocked again, her pretty breasts swaying gently asshe moved. Her voice was husky with hunger when she said, “You never said what the favor was.”
He smiled up at her. “Honey, if you haven’t figured that out by now, I must be doing this wrong.”
Once again, her bright laughter rang out in the night as they did everything just right.
