Ford put his shin across the back of the man’s thighs to hold him down, and looked at Natalie, wishing he could ignore the scum beneath him and go to her.“Are you okay?”
“I will be.”Her cheeks glowed bright pink and her voice came out unusually tight and high pitched.“As soon as I get out of this bondage.”
“Can you breathe?”
“Well enough,” she said, jaw clenched.“Just make sure he doesn’t fucking go anywhere.It’s my turn to ask questions.”
God, this had to be killing her.Being restrained was literally her worst nightmare, but she was handling it like a champ.The sight of the rope cutting into the tender skin on her neck made him desperate to free her.He leaned a little harder on Wallace’s arm, earning a yelp from the human garbage who’d trussed her up.
Ford would relish returning the favor.If only he had some rope of his own.Sadly, he hadn’t even worn a belt and there was nothing useful within reach.He couldn’t take the chance of letting this bastard slip away.
The boat swayed gently and Natalie disappeared over the far side of the bed, followed by a soft thud.
“Nat?You okay?”
“Yep!”Her voice sounded remarkably chipper.“One sec.”Rustling noises and some low swearing floated his way.
Beneath him, Wallace continued struggling, and his angry stream of invective rang in Ford’s ears.Ford tuned him out and searched the man’s clothing for additional weapons as best he could while holding him down.He found nothing, but stayed alert.
Suddenly, Nat popped up holding a coil of rope and the double-edged knife he’d knocked from Wallace’s hand.“Would these help?”
Holy shit.Ford fucking loved this amazing woman.He grinned and took his first easy breath since she’d driven away from him two hours ago.“How are you with knots?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
IN BED A week later, Natalie rolled away from the bright sunlight burning through the cheap plastic blinds in her room.She buried her face against Ford’s bare shoulder and greedily inhaled his scent.
They’d survived and now they were here together, ignoring all the real-world things they probably needed to discuss at some point, just enjoying the time to learn each other in every sense.To celebrate not being murdered by some greedy asshole mother—
“Morning,” Ford murmured against her hair, sliding his warm palm down her back.
Tingles followed in the wake of his hand’s path.“Mmm.”They were supposed to be at Night Heron Used Books for a team meeting at eight-thirty—less than two hours from now—and as much as she wanted to see everyone, she had no desire to leave the bed.
She snuggled fully against him and twisted to look up at his face.God, he was handsome.Somehow, he got better looking the more she got to know him.At this rate, he’d outshine the sun in another month.
She went in for a kiss, but he leaned back.
“Hang on.”He lightly nuzzled her nose.“How’s your lip?”
Honestly, still a bit tender where Wallace had backhanded her when she fought against being tied up like a Christmas ham.“I told you I’m fine.It looks worse than it feels.”She stuck out her slightly bruised lip in a mock pout.“Come on,kissme.”
They’d done nearly everything else, but Ford had been afraid to hurt her, diligently avoiding hard kisses, her still healing shoulder, and the rope burns and bruises on her neck.
She loved him for it, butGodshe missed their wild nights—and afternoons, mornings—in Nice and Marseille.
“Happily.”He gently rolled her onto her back and straddled her.His nude form was breathtaking in the golden morning light as he leaned in on one arm, right biceps bulging, and placed a whisper soft kiss above her brow.
He continued at a maddeningly slow pace, working his way down the side of her face, behind her ear, skipping the abrasions at her throat, but softly sucking on her collarbone.By the time he made it to her breast, she was ready to switch places and ride him like a cowgirl.Ford had other plans.“Hold the headboard?”
Skin alight, she eagerly complied, awash in sensation, every touch of his lips and tongue driving her higher as he moved further down her body.When he finally began exploring between her thighs, licking, kissing, plunging inside her, she came so fast and hard she couldn’t breathe.“Holy shit.”
He chuckled, a self-satisfied grin on his gorgeous face.“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she said, still winded, and only a little sorry that she couldn’t be more articulate.
“Ready?”The silver in his pale blue eyes sparkled, andgoddamnshe wished they could stay like this forever.
She nodded.“Born.”
