Chapter 17 #2
She lifted her gaze to his, sure her mouth was hanging open.
Another sigh as he thumbed the corner of one tag “They found those at the crash site, and my commanding officer had them shipped to Walter Reed. The doctors gave them to me once I’d regained consciousness. I’ve been carrying them around ever since.”
She blinked, did her best not to let the tears pooling in her eyes fall. “But... Once you’d discovered she was a lie, why didn’t you toss them? Use them to put a curse on me, or something?”
“She wasn’t a lie. Not, really. Just another version of you. I see that, now. Besides, how could I get rid of the only tangible proof of that year together? Lie or not, it’s worth remembering, don’t you think?”
God, she loved him. “I think you’re incredible. And that I don’t deserve you.”
He smiled, and all that sexiness glowed. Like a neon sign drawing her in. “No, you deserve someone far better, but I’m not going to argue if you’ll settle for me.” He took the tags—tossed them back on his clothes. “Now, where were we?”
“About to keep the shagging noises to a dull roar.” She shifted back then gasped when he went to climb on top of her, stopping him with a hand on one shoulder. The light illuminating his chest, this time. “Bloody hell. Your ribs.”
Bruised didn’t begin to describe how they looked. Purple and black, with pockets of raw skin. Just staring at the blemishes—the ones that easily covered half his torso—made her stomach sick. Had those tears tracking down her cheeks.
She traced her fingers lightly above the marks, finally gathering the courage to meet his gaze. “Has Brady seen these?”
“Brady’s got real patients.”
“Stubborn, as usual. Though, it doesn’t help that you got half of these protecting me.”
A shrug. As if it was nothing. How someone else would wave off picking up a check. “They’re just bruises.”
“No, they’re not. God, Ethan…”
“Hey...” He cupped her face. Waited until she was staring up at him. “I chose to go first. These injuries aren’t on you.”
“Except this one.” She grazed her fingertips over his right side. The bullet he’d taken for her. “You stepped in front.”
“Damn, straight. And I’d do it, again. A thousand times.” A frown. “I’d die for my team. For you...”
More of those tears fell. Dripping onto the sheets. Ethan’s frown deepened, his fingers brushing along the wet streaks on her face.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. The only thing stopping her from blurting out how much she loved him. That the year they’d spent together wasn’t just worth remembering. It was worth cherishing. A benchmark for the rest of their lives. “Do me a favor?”
“Name it.”
“Live for me. I need you to live.”
His eyes widened, then he was kissing her. Moving over top as they fell back onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, drinking in the deep bronze of his eyes. How he stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. As if she hadn’t screwed everything up.
She closed her eyes when he dipped down, slid his mouth over hers. Nearly had her crying more with how gently he kissed her. The soft glide of his fingers along her skin. Pulling her close until he had his hands anchored around her shoulders. Every damn inch touching.
He didn’t rush, just stayed like that, smiling down at her, moaning when she cinched her legs around his back, locking her heels against his tailbone.
She didn’t try to sink him inside her like last time.
Was content to let him lead. See how long he could make it last because this is where she belonged. Where everything made sense.
Ethan nuzzled her neck, nibbling his way back to her mouth as he slowly thrust forward, filling that empty space inside her until the world disappeared. Everything clicking into place. He let his forehead rest on hers once he’d bottomed out, nothing but their combined breath sounding in the room.
He held still, all that hazel looking down at her.“ Gonna make this last all night, so... Don’t hold back.”
And just like that, she broke. Started pulsing around him, eyes shut. Her fingers digging into his back. Ethan didn’t move, just stared down at her once she’d recovered enough to open her eyes. Smile up at him.
He dropped a kiss on her nose. “God, you’re beautiful. Let’s do that, again.”
He started moving. Not hurried, just an easy back and forth. Not that it affected her any less, with another release building in her core. Ethan seemed fine. In complete control as she tightened her grip on him. Pressed her head into the pillow.
She wasn’t sure how long he kept up that pace—just enough to leave her wanting more. Poised on that edge between anticipation and bliss. It wasn’t until she whispered his name—begged him to claim her—that he showed any sign of being half as close as she was to exploding.
But just when she thought he’d go harder, faster, he paused.
Held her close, then dipped his shoulder, effectively rolling them over.
She gasped as she stopped above him, her hands immediately going to his shoulders.
She tried to avoid any area that was bruised, though, with the extent of his injuries, it wasn’t easy.
“Damn it, Ethan. I’m going to hurt you.”
“Not possible. Can’t feel anything but how damn desperate you make me, so... Ride me. Take us both over.”
She thought about refusing. Making him take her any other way that might not put his ribs at risk, until she saw the raw need reflected in his eyes. That he was just as far gone as she was. Was only a heartbeat or two away from shattering.
Olivia pushed onto her hands, sinking him even deeper.
Waiting until he mouthed her name before repeating the caress.
Watching how his eyes squeezed shut. His fingers clenching and releasing against her skin.
And she knew he’d been staving off his release, before.
Maybe using some Delta Force trick to prolong the coupling.
Either way, he looked absolutely wrecked, now.
Skin taunt across his cheekbones. His nostrils flaring with each pass she made along his shaft. And when she squeezed...
He lost it. Raised his hips, held her arse in place, then started pumping into her. No soft, gentle rhythm, just his hips slamming into her thighs. His body straining beneath her.
She made a point of memorizing this moment. A snapshot of him on the brink of coming before his next thrust tipped her over. Sent her headlong into orgasm.
Was she shouting his name out loud or just in her head? She didn’t know—didn’t care because it was heaven. Feeling him empty inside her, every muscle flexed beneath her until she collapsed on top of him. Hair a disheveled mess across his chest. Her body limp on his.
Ethan didn’t ask her to move. To release any pressure on his torso—the one that was probably on fire from having her lying across his ribs—just gathered her in his arms. A kiss on her head as he hummed against her ear. “Like I said. Beautiful.”
He shushed her when she tried to argue that she needed to move. “Nonsense. Just... Let me hold you. Okay?”
How could she argue with that when it’s all she wanted, too? “I’m not hurting you?”
“Never. Now, rest. Just know this... I’m not losing you, again, so make peace with the fact I’ll be jumping in front of more bullets if needed, or it’s gonna be a long mission.”
“As long as I’m allowed the same privilege.”
“Get a vest that fits, and we’ll talk.”
“Wanker.”
“Not quite the pet name Livy, is, but I’ll take it.”
She laughed, then snuggled in. Burrowing against him. “You won’t leave, this time, right?”
“Not a chance.” Another kiss. “Sleep. I have some big plans before Gibson comes charging in, because we both know he will, the bastard.”
And then, they’d be off. More bullets flying. More chances for Ethan to sacrifice his life for hers. No doubts. No hesitations. She’d just have to make sure he didn’t need to. That she had his back. No leaving him behind, this time. Just them and the threat. And she had every intention of winning.