“Lachlan, please. I want you,” she whispered.
Lachlan's sea-blue eyes darkened with desire as he found the wetness between her legs. He caressed her over the sheer lace until she was gasping before he took off her bra and panties. She pulled off his shirt and he stopped touching her only long enough to take off his pants and boxer briefs. Gina caressed his cock until he groaned, then she guided Lachlan to her opening.
Lach stopped her even as his heart pounded and his breaths came in hungry gasps. His sea-colored eyes gazed deeply into hers.
“I love you, Gina. Always have.”
“I love you, too. So much.”
His first thrust was slow and deep and filled her completely. He closed his eyes in bliss as she squeezed around him. When he opened them again, he didn’t look away. The room filled with the sounds of their pleasure as they brought each other to ecstasy.
Afterwards, as they lay tangled in each other's arms, Gina played with his hair. He was letting it grow out and she loved the way it was just starting to curl.
Lachlan's fingers traced slow circles on Gina's back, his touch soothing and comforting her. She nestled her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Thank you for finding me,” Gina whispered, maybe for the hundredth time since Switzerland, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
Lachlan pressed a gentle kiss on top of her head. “Always.”
They lay in silence for a while, Gina cherishing the luxury of being together without worrying about the next day. When she slept, she slept deeply and without any nightmares.
And so their lives went. Until the day she was ready to finish the job.
* * *
They’d been back in the States for five months when she got into the passenger seat of Watchdog SUV number one. Lachlan’s vehicle. She had wanted to drive everyone in hers—number eight, nicknamed The Shady Lady—but he insisted on driving. Costello got in, along with Jake, Camden, Nash, Elissa, and finally Malcolm. Now when Watchtower looked at her, all she could feel was the warmth of a concerned friend. She worried about him, too, but he insisted that he was fine. Talking to Annalie, she confirmed that the big man was doing all right, just the occasional headache.
Fleur was back in the Watchdog courtyard along with Sam and the other dogs. This was one trip she would not be taking with Gina.
“Ready?” Lachlan asked.
“Let ’er roll, Boss,” Camden said.
Lachlan pulled out of the Watchdog parking garage and turned the SUV toward one of the fancier neighborhoods. The guard at the gate took one look at the Watchdog logo on the SUV and waved them through.
Lachlan took a left onto Palm, then pulled into Senator Bennett’s driveway. He parked beside two other vehicles. The other guests of the senator were already there.
Gina smiled with anticipation.
Roger Bennett met them at the door with a big, friendly smile and firm handshakes as was his custom, and they all took off their shoes and put them on a low wooden shelf as was expected. Roger’s wife Cici Bennett was particular about her floors. But there was no sign of Cici or their twins as Roger led them through the foyer, past the kitchen, and into the main part of the house. Gina couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The last time she’d walked through this house, she’d been trying to save Roger’s life while worried about an assassination attempt on her own.
“Got some folks here who are excited to see you,” Roger told Gina as he laid his hand on her arm. “And…some others.”
Gina nodded and gave Roger a warm smile despite her worry about ‘the others.’ She felt Lachlan’s hand on the small of her back, reassuring her. Yes. Everyone here was a friendly now. At least, in theory. That was about to be tested.
Roger had set up a long table lined with chairs in the great room. As soon as they were within sight, three people stood up—two women and a man—while the others remained seated. The women both ran toward her and Elissa while the man trailed behind.
Gina wasn’t sure who to hug first—Kyla or Fia. The decision was made for them when Elissa announced, “Group hug!”
God, it felt good to see them again.
And while she hugged her friends, Walker shook Lachlan’s hand before pulling him into one of those three-pats-on-the-back man-hugs.
“How was Fiji?” Gina asked.
“Beautiful!” Kyla answered. “Fiji was everything I’d dreamed it would be.”
“Fiji?” Jake asked as he clapped Walker on the shoulder. “More like how’s it feel to be back from the dead?”
