“Please what?”
“Stop teasing.”
He smiled against her skin. “I’m not teasing. I’m savoring.”
“Savor faster.”
He laughed—actually laughed—and then gave her what she wanted. Over and over again.
***
Later, they lay tangled together, sheets twisted around them, both breathing hard.
Nora’s head rested on Carson’s chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin. She felt boneless. Sated. More at peace than she’d ever felt in her life.
“That was—” she started.
“Yeah.”
“I mean, really—”
“I know.”
She propped herself up on her elbow to look at him. His hair was mussed, his eyes soft in a way she’d never seen, a small smile playing at his lips.
“You’re smiling,” she observed.
“I smile.”
“Not like this. This is different. This is...happy.”
“I am happy.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Haven’t been this happy in a long time. Maybe ever.”
The admission made her throat tight. “Me too.”
They lay there in comfortable silence, just holding each other, until Carson’s phone buzzed from the nightstand.
He groaned. “I told them not to call unless it was an emergency.”
“Then it might be an emergency.” Nora sat up, pulling the sheet with her. “You should check.”
Carson grabbed his phone and frowned at the screen. “It’s Finn.” He answered. “This better be good.”
Nora watched his expression change as he listened—from relaxed to tense in seconds.
“When?” A pause. “How? I thought—” Another pause. “No. No, don’t tell her yet. I’m on my way.”
He ended the call and sat up, already reaching for his clothes.
“What happened?” Nora asked, dread pooling in her stomach.
Carson turned to look at her, and she saw something in his eyes that terrified her. Not anger. Not fear.
Guilt.
“Eugene escaped custody,” he said. “He’s gone.”
***
