“But how did . . . you worked today.”
“I picked it up when I got the food order from Tully.”
She looked down at the book because the tears were starting. “Shit,” she murmured.Stop.
“Hey.” His hand was under her chin, his touch gentle. She had no choice but to look up at him. His eyes were shadowed, and she held her breath when he lowered his head. The kiss was the sweetest thing she’d ever experienced. His mouth claimed hers slowly, and he took his time, then deepened it.Good Lord.Gus David knew how to kiss. She was on fire, her body turning molten.
She sagged against him, and they broke apart, each needing a moment because their need was that strong. There were no words. There was only touch and feel.
Gus scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. She was already shimmying out of her dress while he quickly shrugged off his clothes. They landed in a pile on the floor as he moved over her, kissing every inch that he could.
She sighed and opened her legs. She reveled in the feel of his tongue on her — his hands holding her steady as the familiar wave built and crested, leaving her limbs shaking and her body limp.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispered hoarsely, making his way up her body. He worshipped her breasts before claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss that left her head spinning. She barely had time to breathe when he eased inside her, filling her fully, and she wrapped her legs around him, urging him on because she couldn’t wait.
“Demanding,” he growled before claiming another kiss. Their bodies rocked together, their tempo fast and hard, and when they came together, it was his guttural, male growl that rang in her ears.
Afterward, she lay on her side, fingers tracing his tattoos. “Tell me about them,” she said softly, her fingers on his neck. “This one is because you were a SEAL, right?”
He nodded.
She moved her hand to his shoulder. To the vines that drifted over the muscle there and across his back, then down his left side. There were names hidden among the leaves. And symbols.
Gus was silent for a few moments, his eyes closed. When he opened them and looked at her, their depths were sad. “Thoseare the guys I knew that didn’t make it back from missions. Some of them were SEALS. Some Rangers. Two were Delta.”
“I’m sorry.” She leaned into him. “Why did you join?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I wanted to make a difference. Do something that mattered. Joining the service seemed the way to go.”
“It must have been hard though. Being away from your family for that long.”
He nodded but didn’t answer.
“You never talk about them.”
He glanced at her. Held her gaze. “That’s something we have in common.”
Her heart fluttered at that, but she didn’t look away. “My family is complicated.”
He ran his thumb along her jawline and then traced the outline of her lips. “Mine is fucked up.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “No.”
Faith kept her cool, but inside, his denial was like a dart through her heart. And it hurt. A lot.
“At least not now,” he murmured, reaching for her again. His mouth was demanding, his touch rough, and her body responded like an instrument to be played. “I can’t get enough of you,” he breathed into her, hands between her legs, seeking, stroking.
She whimpered, her body on fire with a need that was hard to articulate because everything felt different. It was intense and hurried, as if they were running out of time. He ravaged her mouth and then sank into her once again, their bodies perfectly aligned and in tune.
“You feel so right,” she whispered fiercely.
As Gus held her face between his hands and moved inside Faith, something shifted. Something bloomed. Something bigand warm and overwhelming. She could only cling to him, helpless to stop the tide that rolled over in a fury of passion and want and need.
He meant something more than casual.
And I have to give him up.
