He held it over her head, and she closed her eyes. She was afraid, so afraid, to hope he was coming back to her permanently. But that was all she had, hope and Kade there with her, right now. She took the hose and sprayed him down, then dropped it.
He pulled her into him, kissing her with such ferocity that they staggered back until they hit the workshop’s wall. He dug his fingers into her wet hair, then dragged them down her sides. “I need you. The need…it’s like a fire inside me…devouring me,” he said on staggered breaths. She felt the truth of his need in the desperate growl of his voice.
Because I brought you back, reached deep into you. She touched his face. “I need you, too. Because I’m madly, crazy in love with you.” The words slipped out. She was. Oh, she so was.
His mouth crashed into hers. He grabbed her and hoisted her up, bracing her back against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his waist and felt him—all of him. A sound between a gasp and groan came from deep within as she clutched him. She tilted her head back, and he moved his mouth down her throat.
He held her securely, moaning as made love to her. “I’m madly, crazy in love with you, too, Vee.”
Her name. Her.
She lost herself to him, to their lovemaking. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, softly biting her skin. Those nips only ramped up the coil of pressure building and swirling inside her. Her Dragon loved them, urging her to nip back. She dug her nails into his back.
He held on tight, their bodies as one. She watched him come back to himself, catching her breath as his chest rose and fell in sync with his breathing. She waited for his eyes to open, for him to see her. Her and not an enemy or some other woman.
He smiled as he took her in. “I’m taking you to the house and properly loving you on our bed.” He blinked, relief coloring his expression.
A whistle pierced the air, rising high, low, and high again. Are you all right?
She stuck her pinky in her mouth and answered. “My brothers are coming to the house. We’ll have to wait on the chair and the bed.”
“The couch, the kitchen counter…” He set her down, then picked up the hose and gently washed her thighs and then himself. “It’s like I can’t get enough of you, babe.”
Babe. She stifled a sigh.
They turned off the hose, retrieved their clothing, and walked to the house. He laced his fingers with hers, just as she’d ordered him to do earlier. He gave her a devilish smile. “Playing Dominant and Submissive is a huge turn-on.”
She gave him the same kind of smile. “I like ordering you around.”
Once they reached the house, they dried off and got dressed. She heard the three approach. “Wait for me inside, Pet.”
He raised an eyebrow at her command, which was so much better than the robotic way he’d obeyed before. He was in there.
“Say yes, Mistress,” she whispered.
He bowed. “Yes, Mistress.”
Her heart clutched at the sight. She didn’t want to lose him. “I have to talk to my brothers alone for a few minutes.” She kissed him, a quick peck. “Start dinner. There’s some chicken in the fridge, and pans are in the big drawer.”
He went inside, and she met them halfway across the yard. She had to prepare them. Mia looked as though she’d been crying, which made Violet feel vaguely guilty for having incredible sex at the same time.
Jessup said, “Where is he? And why is your hair wet?”
She touched her damp strands. “Long story.” No way was she getting into how she’d reached Kade’s mind. “He’s inside, getting dinner ready.”
“Does that mean?—”
“He’s back. Mostly,” she added, before Mia could get too excited. “I had to put memories in his head that didn’t happen. It was the only way to draw him out of the real memories. I had to make up things as I went. So, he thinks we’re married. He doesn’t seem to remember anything about the bore or being captured. I’m afraid to trigger something, so we must play along with what he thinks is real.”
Mia nodded. “Whatever we have to do. Does he remember me?”
“We’ll soon find out.” She nodded for them to follow.
“Meanwhile, we still have these sons of bitches to deal with,” Jessup said.
“And a Kade who doesn’t know who our enemies are,” Violet added.
They walked inside and to the kitchen, where Kade had every cabinet door open. He turned as they came in and smiled. “Oh, hey, Mia. Did I forget that you were coming for dinner?” His expression shadowed. “I can’t remember much of anything. Like where anything is in our kitchen.” He gave Violet a pained look. “How long have we been married?”
