Page 26 of Jager's Prey
I rubbed my eyes. “I’m probably gonna regret askin’ this—but why?”
“Over a woman.” Swede replied. “Mencini’s girlfriend at the time left him for Antonio Framaglia. Claudio got pissed and ordered the entire family wiped out.”
“So now, Antonio is returnin’ the favour?” I asked. “I won’t let him get to Cage. I’ll see him dead first.”
“That’s my girl.” Swede leaned toward the camera. “When you leave the house, I’ll set up a checkpoint so you can switch vehicles and make sure you have supplies. But I need the three of you out of that country ASAP. Mack, how’s your leg?”
“I’ll be ready.” Mack growled softly.
We spent another few minutes planning, and I was exhausted when I hung up. Mack took the phone from my hand, set it on the bedside table and pulled me into his arms.
“Mack…”
“Just relax.” His voice was soft, soothing. “Tomorrow is going to bring us whole new obstacles. But right now, none of those exists. Forget the idea I’m attracted to you. Right now, I just need you to exhale, breathe. Put down the weight of protection and just—be.”
I’d never had that before—someone taking everything away from me and giving me a moment to be light.
Closing my eyes, I shimmied closer to him and rested my head on his chest. He scooted down in the bed, taking me with him, holding me tightly.
“I want to believe that you’re real.” I admitted after a few minutes of silence. “I need you to be real.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m fighting this battle inside me—a major part of me wants you too.” I told him. “I’ve never had this before—I look the way I look. I was military and get into an octogen and beat the shit out of other women for a living.”
“And?”
I sat up. “Mack.”
He sighed and sat up to face me. “Arin, I’m going to tell you one last time what’s going on in my mind. I can’t keep ringing the same bell. I’m not the other men you’ve been around. I’m not threatened by a strong, educated woman. I don’t see why I should be.”
“I—”
Mack shook his head. “No. Don’t think about anything. Just rest.”
Silently, I settled back in his arms and closed my eyes. The sound of his heart steady and strong and under my ear was the definition of perfection. The longer I remained that way, his arms around me, his body hard under me, I knew I couldn’t keep hiding from the feelings he stirred in me.
“Mack?”
“Mm?”
“I’m afraid.” I admitted. “Could you…”
Exhaling, I pulled the sheets off us and climbed over his body, kneeling astride his body. Holding his shoulders to the bed, I stared down into his eyes, the moonlight streaming in through the window. The rays cascading across his face, and I sighed.
Mack dragged his palms over my ass and up to my hips then my waist.
The questions must have surged through my gaze because he smiled up at me and nodded.
Leaning forward, I kissed him—tenderly at first. When he moaned and tightened his grip on me, I kissed him deeper and deeper.
Mack flipped us over and stared down at me. When he licked his lips, I blushed and looked away from him.
“No.” He used a finger to turn my head back to him. “I want you to keep your eyes on me. I need to know if you want to stop. If you look away—”
He didn’t finish, but slowly stripped me. When I was bare, he leaned back to stare down at me. I tried covering myself but he wouldn’t have it.
Having him caress me with his eyes, then his fingertips caused me to tremble. I sighed and arched up at him, needing him to do it again—to do it forever.
