Diggs cupped her shoulder and rolled her onto her back. She could barely make out his features in the darkness but was once again struck by his masculine beauty. She rubbed at a five o’clock shadow over his granite like jaw as he leaned over her. He wasexquisite.
“You don’t have to thank me,sweetheart.”
Her hand snaked down the mattress in search of his, tangling their fingers with a viselike grip. “I do have to say thank you. You saved my life when I’d done nothing but insult you. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here.” In her ignorant innocence, she thought she could take on an army in search of justice for her brother. She’d never been so wrong in her entire life. She was completely unprepared for the attack and even now could barely process the violence perpetrated on her and Trigger at that house. She’d been so trusting. Soblind.
“Hey, what’s going on in that head of yours?” Diggs brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Moonlight washed in through a crack in the curtains behindhim.
Audra let out a bitter laugh. “I was so stupid. I believed every word Rex said. I followed him to the house in the middle of nowhere for Christ’s sake, thinking he was taking me to a vet. I thought his accent was cute.” Her voice was rising with each word but she couldn’t helpit.
Diggs was shaking his head. “You saw what he wanted you to see. Those men were trained professionals. They knew what they were doing. You’re not stupid, you just haven’t been around trained killers very much. It’s not yourfault.”
“Really? It’s not my fault I took Trigger and ran? I made the decision to follow him. I thought I could do this all by myself.” She hated herself that her voice was cracking; she could feel the sobs working their way up from deep in herchest.
“You were doing what you thought was right. It’s never wrong to do that. Yes, I wish you would’ve trusted me then, but no one can fault you for yourbravery.”
“Brave?” she burst out. “I wasn’t brave, I begged them to stop. I was scared to death.” She’d thought they were going to kill themboth.
“Anyone would’ve been scared in thatsituation.”
“You weren’t. You’re not afraid of anything.” Even when their lives had been directly threatened he’d been calm.Unaffected.
“You’re wrong, Audra, I was scared. When I looked through that window and saw you in that chair, bleeding and unconscious, I’d never been more scared in my entirelife.”
Her breath hitched in her throat and she searched his gaze. “Really?”
“Really. And believe me, I’m not used to being scared of anything, but I was terrified of losingyou.”
All the air rushed from her lungs leaving her chest burning. She was completely trapped in the intensity of his dark chocolate eyes, and felt like she was falling intohim.
Diggs hooked a finger in the top of her robe and tugged it free, and almost unconsciously she lifted so he could pull it from beneath her and toss it to the floor. Then he settled himself on top of her, his hips nestling between her thighs and his forearms caging her head. He kissed her lips. “You’re so beautiful.” He kissed her nose, her jaw, her chin. “So, perfect.” He kissed her collarbone, shoulders, and then her lips again. “So,brave.”
Audra couldn’t speak. All she could do was watch with stunned fascination as he covered her body in light, satiny kisses, working his way across her collarbone and down to her chest, every touch light as a feather. The entire surface of her skin felt like it was charged with electricity. She shifted restlessly, wantingmore.
“You’re one of the most courageous women I’ve ever met.” Diggs continued to trail his way down past her belly button and then he was at her core, nuzzling her thighs. He growled deep in his chest and she felt the vibrations through her entirebody.
Audra speared her fingers through his hair, her breaths coming in rapid bursts of anticipation. She felt his hot breath fanning across her center. “Diggs.”
His head lowered and he kissed her there just as gently as he kissed her everywhere else. Then his head lowered again, only this time he didn’t kiss her with light barely there touches. He devoured her with his lips and tongue, sucking her into his mouth, stealing her willpower until she was screaming hisname.
He eased a finger inside of her, stretching her deliciously sore muscles. He licked her again. Her womb contracted and her world exploded, bright lights bursting across her vision. She opened her lips in a silent scream, but no sound came out. She was floating, soaring, gliding through the clouds inecstasy.
And then Diggs was rising over her, easing inside of her, stretching her again. He took her with slow, gentle thrusts that pushed her into another orgasm and left her clinging to him for dear life. Diggs thrust once more, and ground, reaching his own pleasure insideher.
Then with her tucked in his arms rolled to his side, Audra nestled her chin against his shoulder and closed her eyes, the feeling of utter contentment easing her into sleep in Diggs’ arms. Finally, she felt atpeace.
