The desperate need to have her.
To keep her.
To protect her.
To love her.
It’s only when she grabs my hands and places them on her breasts moments before her first orgasm hits that I see the blood I’ve missed, shining like a beacon on the base of one thumb nail.
I stare at it for far too long, only ripping my gaze away as she moans my name and comes a second time, her body gripping mine inside it like it can’t stand the thought of ever letting go.
Her eyes hold mine as she works herself up and down me, inching me closer and closer until I spill inside her with a choked growl.
I pull myself up while I’m still emptying inside her, and crush my body to hers, my mouth taking hers in a fierce kiss as I wrap her in my arms.
I failed to save and protect my family once. I cannot let that happen with Hallie.
No matter what, I can’t ever let anyone hurt her.
But I also have to be the man she deserves.
I can’t lose her.
I wouldn’t survive it.
28
HALLIDAY
“What are we doing here?”I look out of the car window at the aircraft hangar we’ve driven into.
“I’ve got something to show you.” Sterling’s eyes glitter as we come to a stop.
He steps out of the car and then leans back inside it, holding his hand out to me.
“What is it?”
He chuckles. “Come and see.”
I grin and take his hand to climb out.
I’ve been worried about him. He hasn’t been himself since I found him out of bed the night we saw Rory. He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. And the way he said he has to protect those he loves almost had me in tears. He’s been through so much. And that fact that he thinks he has to explain his need to protect people, that he has to apologize for it, breaks my heart. I will never feel anything other than blessed that he deems me worthy enough to fight for. That he’s chosen to love me with all of his strength, whatever that looks like.
Seeing him smiling again today, the soft lines at the edges of his warm blue eyes back again, makes my heart lift. I don’t care what he’s brought me to see. I’ve already got the sight I’ve been wishing for.
I gaze around the giant space. There are three small jets lined up with their front steps lowered.
“I still don’t know what we’re doing here,” I say as I look at their perfect sleek white fuselages glinting in the morning sun, like three graceful swans sitting on the calm surface of a lake.
“I wasn’t sure which one you’d like most, so I bought all three.”
I start to laugh, but the serious look on Sterling’s face stops me.
“Wait. What?”
“Choose which one you want to keep, or keep them all, either is fine with me.”
“Um…”
