Page 89 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
Kade follows seconds later, his rhythm faltering as he drives deep, cursing breathlessly as his cock pulses inside me. The hot splash of his cum filling me triggers another wave of pleasure, my body greedily taking everything he offers.
"Fuck, Alina," he groans, his powerful body shuddering above mine. His thumb finds my clit, circling roughly to prolong my orgasm until I'm writhing beneath him, oversensitive and begging.
With gentle strength, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close on the couch. I can feel the sticky evidence of our passion between my thighs, his cum slowly leaking from my well-fucked pussy. The evidence of what we've done makes me shiver with lingering desire even as exhaustion washes over me.
We remain tangled together in comfortable silence, savoring the lingering waves of pleasure coursing through us. My fingers trace lazy patterns on his skin as I breathe in his masculine scent, feeling utterly content in this haze of intimate connection.
"Are you okay?" Kade murmurs, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my skin.
I nod, not trusting my voice just yet. There's a vulnerability in this moment that both thrills and terrifies me. My body still hums with aftershocks of pleasure, hypersensitive to every brush of his fingertips.
What have we done?The thought flits through my mind, but I push it away. Right now, I don't want to analyze or overthink. I just want to be here, in this moment, with him.
Kade's arms tighten around me, as if sensing my inner turmoil. "Talk to me, Alina," he says softly.
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I'm... I'm good. Better than good, actually." I look up at him, searching his face. "What about you? Are you okay?"
A shadow passes over his features, reminding me of the grief that led us here. "I..." he starts, then pauses. "I didn't expect this. Any of it. Roman's death, you... it's a lot to process."
I reach up, cupping his cheek. "I'm here," I whisper. "Whatever you need."
Kade leans into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. When he opens them again, there's a raw honesty there that takes my breath away.
"I've lost so many people, Alina," he says, his voice barely audible.
The admission hangs between us, heavy with implication. I feel my heart swell with a mix of emotions—compassion, fear, and something dangerously close to love.
Kade pulls me closer, burying his face in my hair. I can feel the slight tremor in his body, a physical manifestation of the emotions he usually keeps so tightly controlled.
"You won't," I promise, even as a part of me wonders if I can truly keep such a vow in our dangerous world. "I'm not going anywhere."
twenty-six
Kade
Istride into the Command Center, my boots echoing on the polished floor. Alina's touch lingers on my skin, memories from last night threatening to crack my careful control.
The team gathers around the mission planning zone, their faces illuminated by the glow of multiple screens. I keep my eyes fixed on the displays, avoiding Alina's gaze.
"What do we have?" My voice comes out rougher than intended.
Asher steps forward, gesturing to a map on the main screen. "Three primary shipping routes that align with Roman's notes." He zooms in on a section of the Pacific. "I've been staring at these financial patterns so long I'm starting to dream in spreadsheet format."
I nod, studying the intricate web of lines while trying to ignore Alina's scent as she moves closer to the display.My mind keeps drifting to her body against mine, the vulnerability I'd shown her in the darkness. Weakness I can't afford.
"Financial records show large transfers to shell companies along these routes," Cole adds, his voice grounding me as he pulls up a series of charts. "The pattern suggests systematic money laundering."
Alina leans forward, her body angled toward Cole rather than me. "Those shell companies match patterns I've seen in tech firms hiding illegal activities." She turns toward me, eyes flashing with determination. "We need to move on this now. Every day we wait, more people get hurt."
"We need more intel," I counter, jaw tightening. "Rushing in gets people killed."
Cole clears his throat. "The data suggests—"
"The data suggests we're dealing with human trafficking," Alina interrupts. "We already know children are involved. How much more evidence do we need before we act?"
Her challenge grates against my nerves, already raw from last night's vulnerability. "We move when I say we move."
"While you're being cautious, people are suffering." She steps closer, defiance rolling off her in waves.
