The water splashed across them, each thrust rocking that cabin, creaking the floorboards as he chased his release. Time drifted, the water slowly cooling before he stopped, pulled outjust long enough to turn her, lift her into his arms before sinking back inside.
“God, McGuire.”
That’s how he wanted her.
Hungry.
Wrapped in his embrace.
No other option but to feel.
Her gaze locked on his, every inch of skin touching as she swallowed, visibly surrendered.
He started slowly, wanting to see the moment he pushed her over. How the flush laced up her skin, her breath catching on a rough inhale. He picked up the pace, started shimmying her against the wall when she gasped, muscles tensing around him. Her jaw clenched as her eyes rolled, her head tilting back, exposing her neck. A soft lick and a light bite, and she broke, body riding his, fingers scratching at his back as he slid home, his release punching through him.
The spray pelted his skin, sheer stubborn will keeping him upright as he floated on that wave, finally coming back around when the water cooled even more.
He eased free, gave them both a quick rinse, then shut off the taps — grabbed the towels. They weren’t soft and fluffy, but they did the job. Kept them from leaving a watery trail back to bed.
Riven curled against him as they settled under the covers, her head on his chest, her leg draped over his. He smiled as he ran his fingers along her arm, drifting in the relative silence when a thought struck him.
He groaned, nudging her back from the brink. “Riven.”
She blinked, gazed up at him before scrunching up her face as she burrowed against him. “While I love your enthusiasm, maybe a quick nap, first?”
“Oh, sweetheart. Trust me, if I could go again, I would but… It’s not that, I just…”
“Just what?”
He grunted. “I forgot…”
“Forgot…” She inhaled, then laughed. “Oh, right. Are you worried you’ll catch?—”
“God, no. But making a baby…”
“What’s wrong, McGuire? Afraid I’d shoot you in the ass if you got me pregnant?”
He grinned. “It’s crossed my mind.”
“Then, relax. I have an implant. I mean, I guess there’s always an outside chance, but…” She kissed his chest. “We should be fine.”
“And if it’s that outside chance?”
She blew out a feathery breath, looked up at him. “Call me crazy, but I’m not nearly as scared as I should be.” She sighed, arched a brow. “Are you?”
The thought fluttered his stomach, an odd sensation spreading through his chest. What felt dangerously like love with a hint of anticipation. “Even less.” He dropped a kiss on her mouth, tucked her against him. “Sleep. We’ve got one more day before we finish this, and I have big plans for the morning.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Riven woke to the scent of bacon wafting through the air accompanied by what sounded like mugs clanking in the kitchen. Light brightened the bedroom, the patchwork of shadows suggesting she’d slept later than usual. Watercolored pastels filled the sky beyond the window, their muted shades painted across the room. A lone egret called in the distance, the sound finally fading into the ever-present hum of the old diesel generator vibrating beneath the floorboards.
She smoothed her hand over the sheets. Cool. No imprint of where McGuire had spent the night. How he’d still been holding her the few times she’d jerked awake, bad memories chasing the good. He’d roused enough to kiss her head, rub her arm until she’d settled, drifted off, again.
It seemed like forever since she’d woken up feeling remotely rested. Yet, despite the uncertainty still hanging over them like a storm cloud — the burn along her arm and how every bruise seemed to surface at once — she felt light. As if McGuire had lifted a weight she hadn’t realized she’d been shouldering all this time.
Her heart trembled at the thought. How last night had changed everything.
At least, it had for her.
