“Do you want to touch someone else?” Rowan asked, completely serious.
I raised an eyebrow, but not a hint of humor filled his face at his wording. “A bit forward, but yes.” I put a finger up in the air and bopped Rowan’s nose, keeping the conversation light.
Rowan laughed, grabbing my hand and kissing my palm.
I took a deep breath. Brit’s excited face filled my memory and warmed my heart. “Jokes aside. Yeah, I think I do.”
“I miss being able to feel your emotions,” Rowan said softly. “You’re strong, Q-tip. Whatever spiral of thoughts and feelings you're going through, I’ll be here for you. All of us will. Even if the others are struggling to pass Silas’s little test.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not the only one who came to see me?”
Rowan wrinkled his nose. “Truth be told, I was the last. I got our training program back on track before I came down.”
A grin stretched my face, and my voice came out more excited than I wanted to admit. “Everyone’s tried to see me?”
“Yes,” Rowan growled. “Cayden tried yesterday afternoon and this morning.”
I wiggled. They liked me.
“What’s Silas’s test?” I asked.
Rowan shook his head. “I don’t know. He asked me why I wanted to see you, and apparently, I gave the right answer.”
“What was your answer?” I asked.
Rowan cupped my cheek and met my gaze. “Because I’m in love, Q-tip.”
Love. The word sank into me as his white eyes held mine, raw and unflinching. With the collar on, he wasn’t feeling his tether. He wasn’t getting emotions from me. Everything he felt came from his heart. I pushed up at the same time as he brought his lips to mine.
Fire, lust, and pure joy shot through me. He slipped a hand under my shirt and pressed his fingers into my waist to guide me onto my back. My skin literally rippled at his touch. His growing erection pressed into my thigh. He hovered over me, memorizing my every feature while I did the same to him.
He was stunning, muscles straining under his shirt, rugged face melting my brain… and my panties.
This was real.
A tear slid down my cheek. “I love you too, Rowan.”
Rowan lowered himself down, his biceps flexing, and kissed my tears away before capturing my lips once more. Our tongues danced, and the world became only us. His large hand, not supporting his weight, traveled up my side to caress the edges of my breasts, and I slid my hand down his back, finally squeezing the round curves of his bubble butt.
Rowan pulled back. “You like my ass, Q-tip?”
I grinned and squeezed it again.
“Your hands are so small, so perfect,” Rowan purred.
My face heated, and Rowan sat up enough to peel off his shirt. I wasn’t perfect, but who was I to argue with a now shirtless man who only had eyes for me?
He trapped my fingers against his stomach and guided them down his thick abs until I brushed the hard bulge straining against his pants.
“I’m so fucking hard. All for you.” His voice rumbled through me.
My heart pounded as he captured my hands above my head and buried his scruffy face against my neck. His soft lips were like the eye of a storm as he kissed and sucked.
I gasped, and Rowan doubled his efforts, making tingles run up and down my body. We were wearing too much, at least I was. He released my hands and kissed down my clothed front until he could pull my sweater up enough to lightly nip my stomach. He sucked my belly ring, tugging the sensitive skin. A shudder rippled across my body. He hummed appreciatively and continued his journey down, undoing the button on my jeans to kiss the little ‘V’ it exposed. My breath hitched. I bucked into him. I wanted this so badly.
A boom rattled the room, and Rowan shielded me. The universe had other plans.
The aftershock of the distant blast rained bits of debris down. A woman screamed in the distance, followed by two men shouting. Rowan rose high enough for me to peek over the couch. Icouldn’t see anyone, but a pot dropped, and curses cut through the unnerving quiet. The kid started crying.
