Page 107 of Invisible String
“Max.” She laughs, her cheeks pink.
God, I missed her so much—her laugh and that smile.
Opening the door for her, and before she gets in, I squeeze her cheeks together and kiss her because I can now and won’t stop. My free hand grabs her ass. “Better yet, queen treatment sounds more suitable for you.”
“Who are you?” she whispers when she closes the door—the man baring his heart for her a little at a time.
The sunlight driftedthrough the open curtain window in the bedroom. I close my eyes to adjust to the intense rays blinding me. When I open my eyes, I turn carefully in the opposite direction of the window to face the beautiful woman asleep beside me. My gaze caresses her body like a soft whisper. Her arms hug my biceps with a tight grip, as if she’s afraid I’ll disappear. Her chest rises and falls, and her luscious lips part in a deep sleep. “I’ll never leave you. Not again,” I whisper, the back of my finger brushing her cheeks. “So much I want to tell you,” I add in a low whisper. Last night was the first night I’ve had with her. I’m not sure if she will regret me when she wakes up.
When we arrived at her place, it was everything I’d expect in Rainey’s home—inviting, clean, organized, with family photos on the wall. It was close to eleven at night, and I was exhausted from the fight. It took a lot of energy to fight two huge men. We both showered, separately, unfortunately. She handed me some blankets for the spare bedroom. I didn’t want to overstep by requesting to sleep in her room. However, after a nightmare about something bad happening to her, I slipped into her bed. She glanced up at me, and I wrapped her in my arms. She allowed it.
I rub my head, trying to relieve the splitting headache. The swelling in my eye seems to have gone down. I can see out of it. Rainey stirs in her sleep, scooting closer, our noses touching. Scorching heat erupts, and my morning wood is poking at her stomach. With the tip of my tongue, I trace the outline of her lips.
“Mmm.” She wraps a hand around the nape of my neck. “Good morning.” Her smile lights the room—a smile I longed for.
My lips reach her lips with a graze. “Good morning, my sunshine.” Heat rises in her cheeks. I love that I can make her blush, her eyes downcast. I’m worried she will jump out of bed and demand that I leave. “How did you sleep?”
She tilts her head to the side. “You’re asking me how I slept when you jumped in bed with me like a scared toddler last night?” she muses.
My thumb follows the lining of her collarbone. “My dream was about you.” My emotions clog my throat. “You were hurt again.”Again.
Her eyes flicker at me. Her eyes soften. “Max, I’m fine. Everything will be fine. I assume you don’t want to go to the police about this, right?”
Going to the police about the organization would only get us both killed. In all, I’m not the type of man to run to the police. I will deal with my own messes.
“No, that would not be a good idea, but if you’re scared even after meeting your bodyguards outside, I will do as you please to keep you safe.” I sigh, playing with a strand of her hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” she counters, running her hand up and down my biceps. She scoots back, clearing her throat, like she’s realized her hands are all over me and we are too close. “I’m going to take a shower.” She jumps out of bed and rushes to her very large bathroom, like she’s in a hurry to get away.
I sigh and lie back on the bed. What should I do? Stay in bed and wait, leave, or make her coffee and breakfast? She probably would think I’m overstepping if I cook for her. I’m trying to be everything she needs. It’s hard when you’ve never had a long-term role model. Sure, I vividly remember how my dad was withmy mom. He looked at her like she was the apple of his eye. I was young and remember him always being affectionate with her. And Carlos gives advice, and I see how he treats Nessa. He would do anything for her. I would do the same for Rainey.
The shower door closes, and the humming sound of the sprayer turns on. The urge to walk into the doorless bathroom to see the droplets of water cascading down her body overcomes me. I harden at the thought of her, and she’s only mere feet away. Instead of torturing myself, I walk to the kitchen and brew us some coffee.
Twenty minutes later, when I’m approaching an empty cup, Rainey steps into the living room. I nearly choke on my coffee. Sexy wouldn’t even be the top-tier word to describe Rainey. Goddess. Yes, goddess. Anything wrapped around my girl’s flesh is like hot coals to my skin.
My mouth unhinges. Her black cotton skirt clings to her form, extending well past her knees. Her tall boots give her an added height, yet I know I would still stand above her. The crimson sweater hugs her curves, emphasizing the fullness of her breasts.
She gawks at my bare chest and trails down my torso to my loose gray sweatpants, past the hips. I had grabbed them from the backseat of my car. Luckily, I had clean clothes in my gym bag. Shirtless and gray sweatpants make her mouth water. Noted.
“Coffee,” I manage to say, hinging my mouth back in place.
“I might need CPR,” she murmurs.
“Huh?” I stand. She has always and only been the one to make me nervous as hell, especially when she’s looking at me like that.
“Yes, coffee sounds good.” She walks with me into the open kitchen that connects to the living room. She reaches into thecabinet for a mug. “I have one for you already.” I pour the hot steam of coffee into the mug. “Extra cream, right?”
She nods. “You remember?” She pops a hip against the counters as her eyes soften.
“Anything and everything.” I pass her the mug. “When it comes to you.”
“You’re sweet.” She takes the cup to her lips. “Are you hungry?”
Hungry for you, I want to say. “Kind of. How about you? Do you have plans today?” I ask, refilling my cup.
“The only thing I planned was to have lunch with my brother. The last time we had dinner with our father didn’t go so well.” Her brows bunch up. “We tried to, you know, patch things up.” She shrugs. “I don’t know what his problem is.” She huffs, staring into her cup. Then seconds later, she cranes her neck to look at me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, anything?”
