Her eyelids flickered closed at the precise moment her wet warmth contracted around me, her muscles spasming as she fought for breath.
“Yes.”Something about witnessing her euphoria ratcheted my own need right to the edge, taking me back to the brink in a heartbeat.“That’s it, baby.”
I breathed the words onto her skin as the wave of gritted carnality ripped through me, pinning her in place as I emptied myself inside her.Hot swells of urgency cascaded over me, and even when my strength succumbed and I released one of her feet to the floor, I refused to let her go, as though she was the oxygen I craved to stay alive.
“Sir.”Crushed between the hard structure and my body weight, she panted the word, her gasped plea bringing me back to the present.
“I’m sorry.”I inched back to give her space, but our bodies remained fused together, as though they, too, recognized the significance of the union.
“Don’t be.”Her lips tugged upward.“That was amazing, Sir.”
“You’re amazing.”Reaching for her, I stroked the loose strands of her hair from her face.“Look at what you’ve achieved, little girl.”
Her gaze darted around the tiny compartment.“Such luxury transportation, you mean?”
“No.”Nuzzling her neck, I nipped at her soft skin.“You just managed to get the second most important man in Britain to up and abscond with you, leaving everything behind him for the woman he loves.”
There were no regrets as I skimmed over the details of our last few hours.I knew there would be enormous challenges to come, but none of them outweighed the prospect of losing her to Ian’s repulsive plans.I only hoped some of the other women we’d freed managed to get as far away from Fortorus as they could.There, beyond its unyielding walls, they might stand a chance.There had to be some decent men still out in the suburbs.Men who behaved better than I had.
“Oh, that.”Her cheeks bloomed with fresh heat.“I think I might just be lucky, Sir.”
“Maybe.”God, she tasted so good.“But I think it’s more than only that.I never even wanted a long-term partner before I met you, and now, I’ve given up everything to be with you.”
The awe in my voice was justified.I might have had no compunction about saving her, but that didn’t mean I could quite believe the path I’d chosen to take.I’d lurched from a world where everything was available to me on tap to an indeterminate and risky future.Hopefully, my tentative strategy would unfold as I planned, but there was still the real prospect that I would be arrested.I dared not dwell on the outcome, but I was sure the International Criminal Court would have a few questions if I crossed their path.
It doesn’t matter.The conclusion echoed in my head.Either way, this is the only way we can be together, the only future with actual possibility.
“I can’t believe we did it.”She pulled in a breath.“Can’t believe you did that for me, Sir.”
“Believe it.”I wanted her to know I’d have done it all again.“I choose you every time, Caroline.”
Watery eyes met mine, the silence between us poignant as we considered what we’d managed to achieve.
“Thank you.”Ultimately, it was her gratitude that broke the hush.“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, Adam, but thank you.”
“There’s no need, little girl.I love you.”I held her close, relishing the feel of her skin.No indulgence I’d ever been granted felt as good as holding her close did.“And to your earlier point, I think this is considered five-star luxury for a pair of escapees on the run.”I snorted, making tiny circles on her cheek with my thumb.“Our next ride might not be so good.”
I regretted the quip immediately, her expression faltering as she replied.
“Really?”She caught her lower lip between her teeth, a sure sign she was worried, and who could blame her?I’d taken us from the frying pan and into the fire; the inevitability of her old, grim reality morphing to the stark lack of certainty about what happened next.“Do we have a plan, Sir?”
“We have the makings of one.”Pressing a kiss to her temple, I reluctantly withdrew from her heat, fastening my zipper before I steered her back to the bed.“Let me run you through what I know.”
She sat down on the unwelcoming-looking bunk, her eyes wide as I perched beside her.
“Want to get dressed first?”
It pained me to ask, but I knew how cold boats could be, and the last thing we needed was either of us falling ill.There’d be no Armitage on hand to help us anymore.For the first time in my life, I was going to have to rely on my own ingenuity to see me through.
“Thank you, Sir.”
She shifted to collect her discarded clothes, and while I waited for her to tug them on, I dragged the bag she’d packed closer.Everything we had in the entire world; a change of clothes, my gun, ammo, and my remaining cash in sterling, was in that one pack.
“Okay.”Adjusting her dress, she shifted closer.“What’s the plan?”
