Chapter Twenty-Three
IN BED A week later, Natalie rolled away from the bright sunlight burning through the cheap plastic blinds in her room. She buried her face against Ford’s bare shoulder and greedily inhaled his scent.
They’d survived and now they were here together, ignoring all the real-world things they probably needed to discuss at some point, just enjoying the time to learn each other in every sense. To celebrate not being murdered by some greedy asshole mother—
“Morning,” Ford murmured against her hair, sliding his warm palm down her back.
Tingles followed in the wake of his hand’s path. “Mmm.” They were supposed to be at Night Heron Used Books for a team meeting at eight-thirty—less than two hours from now—and as much as she wanted to see everyone, she had no desire to leave the bed.
She snuggled fully against him and twisted to look up at his face. God, he was handsome. Somehow, he got better looking the more she got to know him. At this rate, he’d outshine the sun in another month.
She went in for a kiss, but he leaned back.
“Hang on.” He lightly nuzzled her nose. “How’s your lip?”
Honestly, still a bit tender where Wallace had backhanded her when she fought against being tied up like a Christmas ham. “I told you I’m fine. It looks worse than it feels.” She stuck out her slightly bruised lip in a mock pout. “Come on, kiss me.”
They’d done nearly everything else, but Ford had been afraid to hurt her, diligently avoiding hard kisses, her still healing shoulder, and the rope burns and bruises on her neck.
She loved him for it, but God she missed their wild nights—and afternoons, mornings—in Nice and Marseille.
“Happily.” He gently rolled her onto her back and straddled her. His nude form was breathtaking in the golden morning light as he leaned in on one arm, right biceps bulging, and placed a whisper soft kiss above her brow.
He continued at a maddeningly slow pace, working his way down the side of her face, behind her ear, skipping the abrasions at her throat, but softly sucking on her collarbone.
By the time he made it to her breast, she was ready to switch places and ride him like a cowgirl.
Ford had other plans. “Hold the headboard?”
Skin alight, she eagerly complied, awash in sensation, every touch of his lips and tongue driving her higher as he moved further down her body. When he finally began exploring between her thighs, licking, kissing, plunging inside her, she came so fast and hard she couldn’t breathe. “Holy shit.”
He chuckled, a self-satisfied grin on his gorgeous face. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she said, still winded, and only a little sorry that she couldn’t be more articulate.
“Ready?” The silver in his pale blue eyes sparkled, and goddamn she wished they could stay like this forever.
She nodded. “Born.”
Except maybe she wasn’t, because she’d expected him to crawl up the bed and slide home where she wanted him, but he surprised her by lowering his head and rocketing her to the stratosphere—again.
Her limbs buzzed and she floated on a wave of endorphins as he slowly moved into position, and then slid inside her body, revving her up all over again.
Something about the way he gazed down at her, the way it felt to be joined with him so intimately, the way they’d grown together and learned each other over the last month—the fact that they’d been through hell and survived—made her throat tighten and her eyes sting.
Ford stopped moving, his brow pinched. “What’s wrong?”
She laughed and squeezed his rock-hard glute, urging him to keep going. “Nothing. I just love you, and it’s…”
His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t budge, dammit, except to place a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth furthest from her bruise. “It’s what?”
“Overwhelming, to be honest.”
He frowned slightly, his muscles tense.
“Not in a bad way.” Nat bopped him playfully on the chest, then toyed with his nipple until his expression softened. “I just, you know, don’t do this.”
“What? Have sex?”
A tiny laugh huffed out of her. It was like they’d switched roles. Her suddenly serious, and him keeping the mood light. Like he knew she needed that. She fell a little harder. “Honestly, that too.”
That seemed to surprise him, and he straightened his arm, making his triceps and pecs ripple deliciously as he stared down at her with a perplexed expression.
“You thought I was sleeping my way around LA before this?”
“No, but… I mean, you’re a beautiful, interesting woman. I wouldn’t expect you to be…without occasional companionship, at least.”
She laughed, also glowing a little inside at his compliment. “Without occasional companionship? Who talks like that?”
His cheeks turned pink. “Well I’m not exactly in a position to be articulate.” He gave a little hip thrust and delight sparked in her veins.
“Mmm. I like your position just fine.” She gripped his buttocks and urged him deeper. “Can we have this conversation later?” Or never.
“Good idea.” He nipped at her ear and pulled back for another thrust, obliterating her senses.
He drove them both higher, everything in her spiraling as he cradled her hip in one large hand and held himself above her with the other.
A fine sheen of sweat broke out across his back and his brow, and his eyes seemed to darken before he pressed his cheek to hers and whispered. “I love you, Natalie.”
His muscles turned rigid beneath her palm, and the sound of him groaning into her ear—the feel of him inside her, surrounding her, holding her securely and reverently as he came—broke the tension and she shattered, crying out.
Neither of them moved for a full minute, both panting. Peace and contentment and joy flooded her veins, and she basked in the afterglow.
When Ford finally lifted his head, he frowned and wiped her cheek with his thumb. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?” Jesus, was she crying again? What was wrong with her? He pulled away, and out, but slid down beside her, his head propped on one hand while he twined his other with hers.
“I’ve never felt better in my life.”
He gave her a dubious look.
“So, you’re just ‘meh’ right now?”
He rolled his eyes so hard she was impressed that he didn’t fall off the bed. Then he spoiled his attempt at barely leashed impatience by smiling. “Obviously better than ‘meh.’”
“Better be.” She carefully raised the arm on her injured side and combed the damp hair off his forehead.
“Any tears I may have shed were purely from joy. We’ve been through a lot the last month and it’s hard to process how much has changed, but it’s all good.
” A shiver ran through her as he pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’m not used to it.”
“I understand.” He stopped her hand and took it in his own. “I wish you hadn’t been hurt, but I’m so fucking glad you called me.”
“Me too.” So fucking glad.
“I don’t need details,” he said, “and I’m not judging, but were you really not, uh…dating before?”
She sighed. “Everyone assumed I was, and I never set them straight because I didn’t want to talk about it.
” But she was willing to share with him.
If things got too emotionally scary, she’d just jump his bones again, problem solved.
Also, she felt safe with him. Safer than she’d ever felt with anyone.
Her stomach twirled with discomfort, but she ignored it. “I haven’t been on a date since my asshole ex posted those pictures.” The half-naked ones that had caught the eye of Tim Marinelli, the stalker who’d ultimately stabbed Ford. Just thinking about it made her queasy.
She and Ford had met in such a messed-up way.
Both then and now. Their path was like a tapestry, woven with threads of good and bad she’d never be able to untangle.
All of it had led them to this moment. She couldn’t change the past—wouldn’t want to now—but she could appreciate the good that had come from it, be grateful that anything good had.
Ford squeezed her hand gently. “I’m sorry so many men have let you down. Including me. If I could, I’d change all of it. Except for this.” He kissed her so gently, careful to avoid the cut on her lower lip, that she had to blink away another round of tears.
Seriously, what the hell? Sitting up, she watched with satisfaction as his gaze trailed down her naked body, his cool eyes sparking with heat. She lifted a brow, taunting. “I’d change one thing.” Miraculously, despite the early hour, she didn’t feel like going back to sleep.
“Oh, yeah?” He didn’t appear too worried. He was learning. “What’s that?”
“In a perfect world, you’d be naked under me right now.”
He grinned. “I think that can be arranged.”
Reese Accardi stood in the break room above Night Herons Used Books in Hermosa Beach and sipped an espresso. The machine here was much nicer than the little drip coffee maker in her apartment.
Her nerves thrummed with more than caffeine. Natalie was on her way over.
Through the open window a minute later, she heard the keypad beep several times and the back door from the alley squeak open. Her heart skipped. That had to be Natalie. Everyone else was already here.
Downing her drink, she bolted down the stairs. “Natalie!”
The woman who’d become like a sister to her looked up and smiled. “Hey, PBC.” Peanut butter cup.
Not very original, but Reese loved it. She pulled Nat into a long, hard hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her throat tightened, but she willed herself not to cry. “When we thought we lost you, it was horrible.”
“Aw. It’s really good to see you.” Nat gave a little extra squeeze and let go. “Thanks for finding my message on the forum.” She took the hand of the tall white man at her side. “Reese, this is Ford Beaumont.”
Wow. He was…very good looking. She nodded, her cheeks heating. “Hi. Reese Accardi. Laura and Gretchen’s daughter.”
He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
His company had provided protection for her family after Parker’s death, but he hadn’t been on their detail.
“Well,” Reese said, “everyone is already in the vault. Ready to go up?”