Page 36 of Marked for Danger

“Iz?”

“You want to know what I’m thinking?” She waited for his nod and then, “How ‘bout I show you, instead?”

Izzy leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Grady stiffened beneath her touch, clearly surprised by her invitation. Thankfully it didn’t take long for him to catch up.

Their kiss was a collision of desire and longing. It starts slow, a gentle exploration of each other’s mouth, but soon escalated into a passionate tangle of tongues and urgent need.

Grady’s hands slid down Izzy’s body, tracing the contours of her curves through the thin fabric of her shorts and tank sleep set. Each touch, each caress, fueled the fire that raged between them. Their need for one another threatening to consume them both.

Breaking the kiss, Grady pulled his head back just far enough to look into her eyes. “You’ve had a helluva day, Iz. Emotions are running high, you’re probably still coming down from a massive adrenaline rush—”

“I know what I’m doing, Grady.” She needed to make that point crystal clear.

“The other day we stood in that parking garage and you told me you were done. You said we were done.” A strong hand rubbed across his salt-and-pepper beard. “I want nothing more than to be with you again, but I can’t…Iwon’t…take advantage of you. Not like this.”

Always protecting me. Even from myself.

Her heart swelled and her body ached for the love she felt for this man. A love she could no longer deny. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Grady, but his isn’t what you think.”

“Then what is it? Because from where I’m standing, it feels a lot like a woman who nearly died need the reminder that she didn’t. I get the need to feel alive after a close call like that, sweetheart. Trust me on that. And I’m more than happy to make that happen for you, but—”

“I love you.” The blurted confession was unplanned and much louder than intended. But it was out there now, and she couldn’t take the words back.

Shock left his mouth slack jawed and his eyes as big as saucers. “What did you just say?”

Can’t lie your way out of this one, Iz. Go on. Tell him again.

“I said I love you.” A hard swallow. “I’m…inlove with you. And I know because I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

“I…uh…”

“You don’t have to say anything. Really. I’m not fishing for platitudes or false promises. I don’t even know if you feel even close to the same way, and that’s okay. After tonight, I realized…I didn’t want another moment to pass without you knowing.”

Still staring back at her as if she’d just asked him to calculate some rocket-science-level algebraic equation, he cleared his throat and said, “But the other day, in the parking garage. You said—"

“I lied.”

“You lied.” He continued staring. “Which part did you lie about?”

“All of it. When I told you I didn’t want more. That I had no interest in a serious relationship. It was all a lie designed to cover up the soul-crushing fear I’ve been living with since I was fifteen. Which is a whole other story, and one you absolutely deserve to hear. But right now, I don’t…” She licked her lips again. “I don’t want to talk, Grady.”

“What do you want, Isobel?”

Her heartrate spiked at the sound of his entrancing voice uttering her given name. “I want you to make love to me, Grady.” Izzy lifted a hand to his cheek, his beard tickling her palm as she brushed her thumb back and forth in a gentle motion. “Please. Tell me I’m not alone in this.”

“You’re not alone, baby.” He pulled her close. “I love you, too, Iz. So fucking much. And as long as there’s breath still left in my lungs, you’ll never be alone again.”

Izzy wasn’t sure who moved first, and she didn’t care. All she knew was one second she was staring up in to the eyes that had changed her entire world when she wasn’t looking, and in the next, Grady was sweeping her into his arms and carrying her into her bedroom.

They reached the bed, and she expected him to place her on the mattress. He didn’t. Instead, Grady sat her down gently, his hands never leaving her until he was sure she was steady.

Izzy’s heart pounded against her ribs, the anticipation of what was about to happen the greatest foreplay she’d ever experienced. It wasn’t like this was their first time having sex. Not even close.

But it would be the first time Izzy had truly madelovewith anyone. And she couldn’t wait.

She reached for Grady, but he surprised her by taking a step back, keeping himself just out of reach. The intensity in his gaze made her pulse quicken and she watched with bated breath as he slowly unbuttoned his light blue dress shirt.

His sculpted chest was revealed, and though she’d touched him countless times before, Izzy’s fingers itched to reach out for him. But she waited.

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