He nipped her lip and let her breathe. “There you go.” Then he pressed into her, going slow, the muscles bunching in his neck as he held himself back. Then he paused. “You still on the pill?”
She’d forgotten. Actually forgotten. “Yes,and I’m clean.”
“Ditto.” He pushed inside her again, sliding along nerves that nearly sent herover the edge.
She stretched to accommodate him, trying not to wince. Had he gotten even bigger? She wiggled against him, trying to hurry him up, but hetook his time.
Finally, he was inside her, all of him. He smoothed the hair back from her face, his gaze both gentle and intense. Then he pulled out to push back inside her. Even deeper this time. She gasped and widened her thighs, shifting restlessly against him.
He thrust again, and she moaned. Then he set up a slow and relentless rhythm, still in control, keeping her on the edge and taking every bit of her with each thrust. His mouth wandered along her jaw and down her neck, moving up to bite her earlobe. “When I was over there, doing things I can’t talk about, I thought of you. Of you in the sunshine, of you in the rain, and of you just like this,” he whispered, his mouth hot on her skin.
She blinked. “I thought about youall the time.”
His movements increased in force and speed, taking her over. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and then down his rigid arms, trying to wrap them around his wrists.
He pounded harder, and she lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, wanting never to let him go again. His teeth latched onto her shoulder, and she cried out. It was one more sensation piled on a million others, all centered around Hunter Holt. An orgasm swelled inside her, forcing her to climb, just out of her reach.
He reached between them and brushed his thumb across her clit.
Wild coils sparked inside her, and she shut her eyes as the room sheeted hot and white and blinding. A liquid rush of pure pleasure took her, and she whispered his name, her body gyrating as the climax stole her breath.
In the far distance of reality, she felt his arm wrap around her waist and pull her off the bed as he gave one last, hard shove inside her. His mouth found her neck, and he groaned, his body shaking with his climax.
She gasped, her heart thundering, as she came down. He lay on top of her, most of his weight held by his arms. She was spent, exhausted, and so satisfied she could purr like a kitten. He rolled them over, curling around her, his big body protecting her from any possible dangerin this world.
Sex with Hunter had always been incredible. Wild and complete. But this had felt different. They were adults, both settled in life, and no promises had been made. He tightened his hold around her, and she settled againsthis hard body.
What did this mean? What did she want it to mean? Aside from everything. Hunter had always held a part of himself back, and she understood that. But she needed all of him for it to work. He’d promised her nothing, but even now, she knew without question he’d protect her with his life in a second. If danger came through the door, he’d be between her and the outsidein a heartbeat.
But would he give her his heart? Completely?
He lived with so many ghosts already. What if they couldn’t save Jackson? Would there be anythingleft of Hunter?
Chapter Twelve
Jackson Holt sat on a bed in a motel room somewhere in the middle of Montana. They’d driven all night from South Dakota to this small town, and he was tired of being on the road. Soon they’d be at the lake in Washington state where Louise had happy memories. She deserved happy memories, and he’d help hermake some more.
She was out getting something to eat, and she’d left the shotgun as well as the handgun, so he could relax a little. They’d mainly slept in the car and at campgrounds, so it was nice being ina motel again.
He flicked on the television, but it didn’t work. Louise had mentioned that when he’d been in the shower earlier. It had been about a week since he’d caught up on the world. Were he and Louise mentioned on the news as missing? Surely her robberies had been covered, although they’d crossed several states, so maybe not.
He pushed himself off the worn bedspread toward the box television on the rickety old table. Then he leaned down and looked at the back. It was unplugged. Awareness crackled over his skin. Louise would’ve figured that out, right? He bit his lip, plugged the cord in, and turned onthe television.
A show on fishing in Montana came up first. He changed channels, caught a rerun ofThe Officeand watched for a while. Then the news came on, flashing his picture as well as Louise’s—along with a report that a policeman she’d shot was recuperating in South Dakota.
She’d shot a cop?
What the hell? That was a capital offense. Even he knew that.
Oh, he had to find out more information. How could he access the internet?
He needed his phone, but they’d destroyed all electronics and left them behind in either Iowa or Illinois. The states were running together in his head. Shoving a ball cap on his head, he strode outside and ran across the dirt road to a lonely-looking casino. Only the sign’s C and N were lit up. Once inside, the smoke hit him first, followed by the stench of mold. A couple of old guys played video poker in the corner, while most of the machinesremained empty.
He meandered around a corner toward a small restaurant, where a family sat at a far booth. Damn it. The kids were too youngto be of help.
A counter ran the length of the kitchen with blue stools, and a waitress of about twenty stood by the cash register, her blond hair streaked purple. He moved toward her, already plastering on his smoothest smile.
She straightened and smiled back. “Hi.” Her gaze wandered down to his boots and back up, and thatsmile widened.
