Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Zain finally got it.
What Foster and Kash had been trying to tell him.
How finding Mackenzie and Jordan had altered their lives in a way they hadn’t imagined.
Given them a reason to keep fighting. Because standing there with Saylor wrapped around him, her face glowing in the soft light, brought everything into sharp focus, and he knew this one night would change everything.
Not just between them.
The way he viewed the rest of his life playing out.
She titled her head, looking as if she knew exactly how far gone he was. That she affected him on a level that bypassed his training. Struck at the heart of the man underneath.
That she’d brand him in a way he’d never erase.
Saylor braced her elbows on his shoulders, leaned in and claimed his mouth.
Got all that heat from earlier boiling over.
Burning beneath his skin until he wondered if his damn clothes would ignite before he headed for the bedroom.
Picking his way down the hall without bumping into any of the walls — not wanting to set her off like outside Foster’s place.
He kicked his door open, crossed the room, then stopped at the bed, placing her ass on the edge instead of launching them both onto the mattress, that bandage on her shoulder still glaring up at him, even if he couldn’t see it.
Despite her insisting to the contrary, he knew the wound burned, and he didn’t want to aggravate it.
Maybe give her a reason to change her mind.
Tugging at his belt the second he let go, Saylor didn’t seem concerned about her shoulder.
He’d barely had enough time to place his weapons in the side table drawer — flick on a bit of mood lighting — before she had his pants and boxers shucked down to his ankles, her fingers dancing along his skin.
He froze, the brush of her hands across his body nearly dropping him. Making his heart race to the point he wondered if the damn thing would break some ribs with how hard it pounded inside his chest.
She tugged at his hoodie, smiling when he yanked it over his head and tossed it behind him. “God, Zain.” She leaned forward, skimming her fingers across his stomach before dropping a kiss on his hip. “Bet I can bring you to your knees in record time.”
Zain gathered her hair in one hand, all that golden mass spilling out from between his fingers as he stared down at her. “Saylor. Sweetheart, this is about… Christ.”
His voice cut off as she curled her fingers around him and took him deep. Pushing him to the brink from that one pass. She hummed as she retreated, pausing just long enough for him to suck in some air before she repeated it. A bit harder. Faster.
Dead.
That’s what he’d be in about ten more seconds. Just a puddle of lust on the floor. No one had ever gotten him this far gone, this fast. Another stark reminder that this wasn’t a hookup. What had been his go-to method while in the service. No strings. No expectations.
Saylor was nothing but strings, all wrapped around him like a web. And he had a feeling that even if he cut one, another would simply take its place. Anchor him to her.
Unyielding.
Another pass, and he tilted his head back — tried to find something to ground him before he shot down her throat after only a minute.
But it was futile. Every brush of her skin, all that sweet pressure, pulled him under.
Had him moving with her before he’d even realized it.
Hips thrusting as she angled him to go just a bit deeper.
He fisted his hand, reminding himself not to pull her hair, until she moaned around him. That did him in. Broke through the last of his barriers.
“Saylor.”
She paused, looking up at him for several seconds before finally easing him free. “Zain.”
God, the way she said his name. Somehow drew out that one syllable until it took on a life of its own. Had him hoping she’d say it again, exactly the same way. But not just for tonight. For the next fifty years .
He clenched his jaw, all his nerves still jumping.
He opened his mouth to tell her he needed more.
That tonight was all about her, but the words wouldn’t form on his tongue.
Whether it was the way she looked at him, all ruby red lips and flushed cheeks, or the hint of doubt shadowing her eyes, he wasn’t sure.
But it stole his breath — had him hanging his head in defeat.
She took that as her cue to continue her seduction, each caress making his muscles jump, before she tightened her hold — took him back to the brink with a simple pass of her mouth.
Zain grunted, focusing on everything but the warm glide of her mouth. The tiny vibrations when she hummed around him. She shifted her hand — moved it lower.
He cracked, all that control going up in flames. Burning into ash with the brush of her fingers, the sinful tug of her mouth. He wasn’t sure when he started moving, again — small stabbing thrusts guaranteed to shred the last of his sanity.
Either he’d pulled on her hair or mumbled her name because she froze, staring up at him through half-lidded eyes. His muscles quivered, any thought of stopping fading into her blue gaze. How she looked as wrecked as he felt.
He let go, surrendering to the rush of heat beneath his skin. The pull deep in his gut as everything coiled low in his groin, the sheer immensity of it dragging him under. Fire laced through his veins, each stroke another hit to his armor until it broke — had him pulsing in her grip .
She moaned, swallowing everything he gave her, as he stood there, that hand still fisted in her hair, his legs locked to the point his thighs cramped. Heat numbed his senses, everything fading into the press of her mouth — the way she kissed his abs once she’d finally eased free.
He attempted to breathe and failed — relying on all those years of training to keep him upright until the dots and streaks passed, his lungs eventually pulling in some air.
Saylor smiled up at him after he managed to pry open his eyelids — meet her gaze. Victorious didn’t begin to describe the gleam in her eyes. How she drew lazy patterns along his flesh with her fingers until he managed to unlock his fist — help her to her feet.
She stepped into his embrace, kissing his chest before easing back and running her fingers along his jaw then behind his head. “For a moment, I thought you were going to ask me to stop.”
He sighed. “I thought so, too.”
“What changed your mind?”
Zain blew out a rough breath, the truth slipping free before he could consider the impact. “It’s hard for me to fully disengage from… everything, I guess. Leave myself exposed. But…” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s you. I couldn’t have stopped if I’d tried. What you do to me…”
Her eyes glassed over, and her chin quivered as she tiptoed up. “You know I’ll always have your back, right? That I’d never leave you vulnerable?”
He clenched his jaw in the hopes of keeping his emotions in check. Prevent his heart from uttering those three little words bouncing around in his head.
Acknowledging that she’d been his weakness since the day they’d met.
Either she sensed the heaviness in the air, or she needed to lighten the mood, too, because she nipped at his bottom lip as she drew her finger along his chest. “Now that I’ve taken the edge off, how long do we need to wait before you’re ready for phase two?”
He laughed. “Are you seriously questioning my ability to recover? That hurts.” He sobered, trying to rebuild some of his walls but failing. “And a challenge like that can’t go unanswered.”
He reached down and eased her onto her feet — started chucking clothes a second later. Hoodie. Sweats. Socks. Less than ten seconds, and she was naked. Nothing but smooth creamy skin and that fucking bandage.
“Zain. I’m fine.”
He frowned, drawing his gaze up from the pristine white across her shoulder. A stark contrast to the warm tone of her skin. How her blond hair added a golden hue wherever it touched her shoulders. “You were shot.”
She sighed, brushing her fingers along his jaw.
“You’re right. It’s a bullet wound. No talking around it.
But I’d be dead if you hadn’t been there tonight, because we both know I would have still gone inside.
Would have assumed I could handle whatever or whoever was waiting.
That those ghosts in my head, all the reasons I left the Coast Guard, would have eaten at my rationale until I forged blindly ahead.
So, how about we focus on the win and leave all the what-ifs for after you make me scream. ”
She didn’t wait for an answer, simply tiptoed up — claimed his mouth.
One brush of her lips, and he was all-in.
Tugged her into his arms before taking them back onto the bed.
She tensed as he followed her down, his body already pinning her to the mattress.
Not as much as when he’d turned her against the wall, but he noticed.
Zain eased back, giving her a bit of space as he kissed his way down her neck — skirting that damn bandage.
Her fingers landed in his hair as he moved lower, licking every inch of skin, judging her reaction by the way her nails scratched at his scalp.
How her breathing kicked up, her heart rate nearly matching his.
By the time he settled between her thighs, he’d mapped out every sensitive spot from the curve of her neck to the patch of skin below her hip. How every swirl of his hands had her head pressing into the mattress, her fingers tightening around his hair.
He really needed to grow it longer. Not Foster’s length, but enough she could anchor herself — hold him where she wanted him most. Not that he needed any direction.
One swipe of his tongue, and she arched halfway off the bed, his name cutting through the heavy breathing like a damn benediction.
He smiled against her skin, made another pass, teasing her with a hint of penetration.