“I’m here.” He holds me for a good long time before letting me go. “I need to be at the debriefing. Wait for me in our room?”
I nod and step back. As I watch him go, I realize, this is real. Every part of my heart was caught up in him coming back.
This isn’t a fuck buddy situation at all.
Maybe it never was. Maybe I always knew what I could feel, but I didn’t know how to get there.
But it’s here.
I should check on Betz and the others, but I’m afraid of getting stuck in a conversation or chores, so I do as Merrick said and head to our room. I fuss in there, putting on a bra, taking it off, brushing my hair, chewing some mint gum long enough to taste like it, then spitting it out.
I try to read one of my romance novels, but I can’t focus. I’m a mess, my situation as wild as those stories. For a moment, I think, is any of this real? How can it be real?
I dig around until I find one of the MC romances. What do the heroines do when the club goes wild?
But I don’t have time to find out. The doorknob twists, and then he’s back in the room, stripping off his cut and boots.
I stand, my heart feeling like it will burst.
“You okay?” he asks, pulling off his shirt.
I rush up to him, my hands on his skin, assuring myself he is fine. “I was so worried.”
He squeezes both my shoulders. “I was all right. And things ended rather unexpectedly.”
This makes me look up at him. “Really?”
“Yeah, law enforcement showed up. Iron Jack and I barely got past them.”
“The sheriff?”
He nods. “Hauled off the entire Kin. Every last one.”
“Were there kids?”
“No. Iron Jack made sure there weren’t any before the raid. We hung out at the highway intersection to watch them go by. Just a lot of pissed-off Kin and a few of their women.” He fiddles with my hair.
“Did you guys call the police?”
“Nope. I’m not sure who did. Maybe the angry sheriff got involved.”
So, I really did help? It doesn’t matter. Merrick is here. And I have to tell him how I feel. We’re already halfway through our two weeks.
I can’t let it end in seven days. Not after what we’ve been through.
But his mouth captures mine, and my words are swallowed in the passion of the kiss. I relax into him. This is where we shine. Our bodies in sync. Our needs aligned.
His hands reach beneath the sweatshirt to hold both sides of my waist. This position sets off another rush of emotions in me. I feel claimed. His.
But am I?
His hands make their way up, and I’m glad I opted against the bra when he cups both breasts. I suck in a breath against his warm mouth.
“I thought about you out there,” he says, his lips brushing mine with every word.
“You did?” I peer up at him, hope coursing through me.
His brows are guarded, like he’s finally considering the impact of everything that happened.
