Page 57 of Loving Lex

The panic attacks and disorientation still happened here and there. The nightmares were getting fewer, but sleeping in a new place had triggered them again over the last four days, which was annoying but not all that unexpected. All in all, though, things were improving. It had been two months since the worst day of my life.

Day.

Just one day spent in the horror those other women lived through for much longer, was enough to stay with me for the rest of my life. I couldn’t imagine trying to come back after weeks and weeks. Or worse—being sold into a fresh new hell.

Or Nicki. Living with it for months.

She’d “disappeared” once she rolled on Sloan and what she knew of his operation, and even the heavy hitters above him. She had absorbed a lot of information while being their little slave, filing it all away for a rainy day. That day came in the form of the witness protection program, according to myconnections, allowing her to start over. And if that ever went south, she also had a few heavily armed guardian angels keeping tabs as backup.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I turned to see my favorite person in the world stroll into the room, looking like a dream in jeans and an open button-down shirt, two steaming mugs in his hands. His smile faltered. “You okay?”

I looked down at my stiffened, ready-to-pounce stance, bedding thrown to the side like I was ready to run naked from the room. “Yeah,” I said on a shaky chuckle. “Just one of my little panic moments. I’m fine.”

“Sorry I wasn’t here,” he said, handing me one of the mugs as he set his down and climbed onto the bed. He curled his body around mine from behind, his freshly showered scent washing over me in a blanket of warm, delicious sexiness.

“It’s all good,” I said, sipping my coffee and relishing the bitter brew as it soaked through me. “Especially when you bring me magic nectar.”

One hand slid up to hold my breast as he nipped at my shoulder and upper arm, making me giggle. “Speaking of magical nectar,” he mumbled against my skin, moving downward.

“I think we used it all up last night,” I said, my breath catching as his hand slid from my breast and moved south.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure it’s been replenished,” he said, one finger moving along the side of my wet clit as if to make his point.

“Shit,” I whispered, laughing and then sucking in a breath as he circled the sensitive nub. “Let me put my mug down before I scald us both.”

The second I did, he yanked me back, bringing a yelp of laughter from my throat that quickly dissolved into a purr of desire as his mouth instantly found what it sought. Sucking and licking my clit, making love to my pussy with his mouth like a man who hadn’t had one in years. It took less than a minute to pull a toe-curling orgasm from me, my fingers pulling what was left of the sheets into my fists as I arched my back and let the waves crash.

“Good morning, my queen,” he said finally, lifting his face with a triumphant smile.

“My goodness,” I said, catching my breath. “What was in that shower water?”

A low chuckle vibrated against my left thigh as he planted a kiss there and sat up, picking up his mug to take a drink like that was the natural next step. “Ready for your bath?”

I frowned and sat up. “What?”

“You’ve been eying that clawfoot tub in there since we got here, so I have it all ready for you,” he said. “Bubbles and all. Time to go bask, and then go get ready. We’re going out.”

I sat gaping like a fish. “But—you—what?”

He blinked at me in mock innocence. He was so up to something. “You look confused.”

“We’re in the middle of sex here?” I said, raising my eyebrows.

A sexy smirk pulled at his lips, and he couldn’t hide the appreciative lust darkening his eyes as he looked down at where he’d just been. “I just came in to tell you I ran you a bath, my love,” he said. “I can’t help what happens when I find you naked in my bed.”

“And did you forget a little something?” I asked. “Like your turn?”

He shook his head and dropped a kiss on my lips. “I’ll take mine later,” he said. “I can spend the day thinking about all the ways you’ll owe me.”

I tilted my head. “Hot.”

“You know it.”

“What are you up to?” I asked. “And where are we going at—” I glanced at the big iron clock on the wall. “Ten thirty-five in the morning? I thought today was supposed to be a down day.”

We’d done our fair share in the last few days. The two of us, joined by Lucky and Grace, and Jarod and his girlfriend, Sophia Kane, had taken off for a much-needed vacation to the decadent city of New Orleans. Lex’s other military buddy, Maverick, that had helped rescue me via drone, had even shown up with his wife, Rebekah, on the third day.

Two things I learned quickly—these people loved each other like family, and they loved to party. We closed down every bar. Hit up every club and show we could find. Took in every NOLA experience we could absorb. I could crazy it up with the best of them, but this was a little early, even for me.

---