His thumb traces my cheek, his breath hot against my lips. He’s made it clear I’m leading this. It’s all on my terms. And when I tug him closer, he follows without question. When I kiss harder, he answers. When I hook my leg around his hip, his groan vibrates against my mouth.
Heat coils low in my stomach, sharp and dizzying. My hands slide under his shirt, skimming warm skin stretched over muscle, and he shudders.
“Remi,” he murmurs against my mouth, voice rough, “tell me what you want.”
The truth burns in my throat, terrifying and undeniable. “You,” I whisper. “All of you.”
For a second, he stills, like he’s making sure he heard me right. Then his mouth is on mine again, hungry, devouring, his hands skimming down my body in a way that makes me tremble.
He pulls back, stripping from his clothes in record time, like he’s scared I’ll change my mind. And then he brings his attention back to me, tugging the button on my jeans, pulling them down my thighs and dropping them on the pile. My top follows, and then he stares down at me, taking in the underwear Lexi brought. It’s not sexy at all—she went for comfort—but I didn’t expect to be getting naked in front of anyone. I blush, feeling the weight of his stare, and I shift, trying to sit.
He smirks, crawling back over me again, “Don’t move,” he murmurs, pressing kisses across my chest. “You look beautiful.” His forehead presses to mine, his breath ragged like he’s holding himself back for me. “It’s just us,” he says, voice breaking. “Only us.”
My legs part to accommodate him, and as his fingers slip between my legs, I close my eyes. I hear the sound of the condom wrapper being torn, and when I next open my eyes, he’s stretching the rubber over his impressive erection.
His eyes fix to mine. “You ready?” he asks, and I nod, even though my mind is racing with a million thoughts. Like maybe this isn’t a great idea. And maybe after this, he’ll run a mile.
And then he’s there, pushing at my entrance. I close my eyes again, this time gripping onto his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin. And then he fills me, stretching me to accommodate his size. And as he runs kisses over my shoulder, I relax. He’s gentle and slow, making sure I don’t feel pain as he moves inside me.
I move with him, soon meeting every thrust, every kiss, until there’s nothing left of my fear, just the rush of heat and the sound of my own moans filling the room.
When my release rips through me, it’s blinding, unstoppable. I cry out, holding him close, and his groan follows, his body shuddering against mine.
We collapse together, tangled and breathless, my head against his chest, his heartbeat pounding under my ear.
I should feel guilty. I should feel scared. Instead, for the first time in forever, I just feel safe.
For a while, we just lie there. My body feels boneless, warm, wrapped up in him. His chest is solid beneath my cheek, his heartbeat steady and strong. The room smells like rain and soap and him. For once, I don’t want to move. I let myself bask in it—the glow in my skin, the hum still low in my stomach, the way his arm curls tight around me like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he lets go. Safe. Wanted. Two things I’ve never felt and don’t deserve to feel. Not really. But for a moment, I let myself pretend. Pretend I’m normal. Pretend I belong here, in his bed, in his world.
But it’s not long before the intrusive thoughts creep in like cracks spreading across glass. Colin. His smirk. The photo outside the church. The silver car. The man with the scar who pressed a ticking bomb against my future and demanded twenty grand. My stomach twists.
No matter how tight Shadow holds me, trouble is coming.It always does.And when it arrives, I’ll drag it straight to his door. To his brothers. To everyone under this roof.
The glow fades, and my throat closes.
Because lying here with him feels like the best thing I’ve ever had, and I know, deep down, I’ll ruin it.
Chapter Twelve
Shadow
Morning light slices through the blinds, but for once, I don’t hate it. She’s still here, curled up in my bed, hair spilled across the pillow, lips parted in sleep. For a minute, I just watch her breathe. She looks younger like this, softer. Like all the weight she carries finally let her go for a few hours.
I should let her sleep. Instead, I find myself planning.
She’s got nothing. No coat, no bag, not even a purse. Nothing but what Lexi put together for her, along with some waist-high knickers that she picked up from the local supermarket. All of which bury her thin frame. Remi deserves more.
Hell, she deserves everything.
By the time she stirs awake, I’ve already decided.
“Get dressed,” I say, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek and pulling on my jeans.
Her eyes crack open, wary. “Why?”
“Because I’m taking you shopping.”
The suspicion hits her face instantly. “Shopping?”
