"So," Yakov says, breaking the moment. "Laney, are you staying in Vegas?"
I look at him. At this man who shot his way into my life with brute force, who saved my sister, who makes me feel things I've never felt before.
"Yeah," I say. "I'm staying."
Yakov
We leave the safehouse an hour later. Laurie is staying there for a few more days while she searches for her new apartment. Maksim and Kaiden are coordinating the search for Zajmi and his associates. Everything is in motion.
But all I can think about is getting Laney alone.
She's quiet in the passenger seat, staring out the window as Vegas sprawls ahead us in the afternoon light. Her hand rests on her thigh, close enough that I can reach over and cover it with mine.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah." She turns to look at me. "Just processing everything. Laurie's really okay. After everything…"
"She's strong. You both are."
"I know. I just..." She trails off, then laughs softly. "I don't know what to do with myself now. This last week, everything has been about finding her, and it felt like forever. Now she doesn't need me at all. It feels a bit like I’m tangled up in a time vortex. It’s giving me whiplash."
"She'll always need you," I say. "Just differently."
"I know." She turns her hand over, threading her fingers through mine. "It's weird, feeling relieved and terrified at the same time."
"Terrified of what?"
"Of this." She gestures between us. "Of wanting something this much. Of letting myself have it."
I pull off the main road, taking a side street that leads to a lookout point overlooking the city. The sun is almost at it’s highest, causing the windows in the distance to glitter.
"Where are we going?" Laney asks.
"I need to pull over before I do something stupid while driving."
Her breath catches. "Like what?"
I park the car and turn to face her. "Like this."
I cup her face and kiss her, hard and demanding. She makes a small sound of surprise that turns into a moan as she kisses me back. Her hands fist in my shirt, pulling me closer.
She moans against my mouth.
"I've been thinking about you all day," I admit. "About having you in my bed this morning. About how you looked when you rode me. About how you sound when you say my name."
"We're in a car," she points out, but her pupils are dilated, her breathing quick.
"I know." I slide my hand down her throat, feeling her pulse racing. "And I don't care."
"Someone could see—"
"No one's here. And even if they were..." I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. "Let them watch. Let them see who you belong to."
She shivers, and I feel her resolve crumbling as I kiss down her neck, finding that spot that makes her gasp. "Take off your jeans."
"What?"
"Now, Laney."
