Chapter 40
Her body trembled against him. Hell, Kane was trembling himself. He’d never experienced such intense pleasure.
And he’d never expected to be with her again like this. He’d needed to come to New York to see her, but he hadn’t been at all sure she would ever forgive him. That’s why he hadn’t called. He’d been afraid she would tell him to fuck off. Which was no more than he deserved. He’d let her down. Again.
He’d fully expected this to be the end. He was coming to spend his last days with Kaitlin.
He was sure she wouldn’t run to Australia, so he’d been certain it was over.
He didn’t want to live without her. He’d already lived far longer than most people.
And for the majority of that time, he’d been alone. He didn’t want to be alone anymore.
So this was it.
He wanted to make the most of the time he had left.
Then Ethan had called and told him about the asteroid and hope had awoken inside him. They knew what it was and would have a location. And if anyone could stop the cataclysm, it was Kaitlin. He’d talked with his mother about her. With Kaitlin’s newfound power, she was a force of nature.
She really was unstoppable.
But they would worry about saving the world tomorrow—there would be preparations to make. Options to discuss. For tonight, he wanted to make love to Kaitlin. And maybe sleep with her wrapped around him.
“Bed,” he murmured. He tried to move, but his jeans were around his ankles, and he almost tripped and fell. “Fuck.”
Kaitlin giggled. Hell, he loved that sound.
He kicked off his jeans and grabbed her hand, hustling her across the room and into the bedroom.
A massive bed stood in the center of the room, and he headed straight for it, picking her up and tossing her on the mattress.
The next time would be slow. He was betting slow would be just as good as fast had been. Maybe even better.
He came down beside her and pulled her against him, her leg sliding over his thighs, so she half sprawled across his body. He bunched the pillows behind his head, so he could see her face.
She released a soft sigh.
“Are you all right?” he asked, wishing he could get into her mind. But he knew it was sensible to wear the reflector devices. If there were any of the Tel Group around, it was better that they couldn’t pick up their presence. That way, they might at least have some element of surprise.
“I am now. I missed you. I mean, I actually only had you for a short time, but it was nice not to be alone.”
“You’re not alone. You have friends, family.”
“I know. But it’s not the same. You’re mine.”
“I am.”
“Why did you come?” She came up on her elbow so she could look him in the face. “Or maybe I should be asking…why did you stay away for so long?”
“I only stayed away because I thought I didn’t deserve you.”
She smirked. “What? You don’t think you’ve done anything bad enough?”
“You’re perfect.”
“Hell, no I’m not. So, what changed your mind?”
How could he explain it? He’d stayed in Uganda—alone, once Christa and Jake had left.
He’d needed the space and the time to think.
Mostly bad things about himself. He’d failed Leila and his role as head Guardian.
His vow to Jonas, who had been a father to him was broken.
The mission was in ruins. And he’d failed Kaitlin and the rest of the Kindred.
Then he’d spent the night by the pool where he’d made love to Kaitlin, and he’d dreamed of her. Of a future where they were together. And the world was a better place.
It had felt so real. For a moment, he’d thought that maybe he was developing Sadie’s prescience, seeing a possible future for himself and Kaitlin.
But he’d known, deep down, that it had only been a dream.
They had no future, except for the next few days.
And he could stay and die alone, or he could go and spend that time with the woman he loved.
The mission was over. But more than that, he’d finally accepted that it had never really existed as he had believed it to exist. It had never been some sacred pre-destined duty that would save mankind.
No, it had just been a paid job that had gone wrong so long ago that the truth had been forgotten, and its purpose twisted and reshaped.
He might not have been wholly right—and his motives may have been slanted by his love of Kaitlin. But Leila had been wrong—wrong to blindly follow a course of action just because that was the way things had always been.
If he could have another chance to do things over, he still wouldn’t have sided with Leila. Not just because he wanted a life with the woman he loved, but because the mission was nothing but a fucked-up mess.
No doubt this was how someone brought up with religion felt when they finally discovered that God wasn’t real. It was a lot to wrap your head around.
So, he’d fucked up and let Kaitlin down.
But he was here now.
“Kane?”
“I accepted that Leila was wrong. But she would never have admitted that and so she died. Died for a faith I no longer believed in.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. But neither she nor Brandon would have ever given in.”
“But you did.”
“I had a completely different life. They’d never left the valley. They hadn’t seen the world. The mission was everything to them.”
“But not to you.”
He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “No. I realized you mean everything to me. We have to put our faith in the people we love. People are what matter. Anyway, I realized I didn’t want to die alone.”
She punched his shoulder. “We’re not going to die.”
“I believe you. But when I left Uganda, I didn’t know about the asteroid. We had nothing. And I was certain you weren’t going to give up trying. Death seemed a likely outcome.”
“I’ll save you.”
“I know. If anyone can save the world, it’s you.”
“I’m not convinced of that, but together, we can try. I’m glad you came. Really glad.”
She trailed a hand over the skin of his thigh and his dick jerked under her touch. That drew her attention, and she wriggled down the bed so she could take a better look.
“That is really impressive,” she murmured.
“I’m glad you like it.” He threaded his hands through her silky hair as she moved closer and blew gently on his shaft.
Sensation shivered through him, all his muscles tensed up and he went still.
His eyes closed as his dick went rigid. Then he felt the gentle stroke of her warm, wet tongue gliding over him.
Stroking him from base to tip and then swirling around the head, sending pleasure shooting down his cock, filling his balls.
He lay back and just let her do what she wanted. He was hers.
She cupped his balls as her hot, wet mouth engulfed him, and his hips jerked.
She was so gentle—he’d never considered her gentle before.
She slid her mouth up and down his cock and his breathing sped up.
He wanted to relax, to let this go on forever, but at the same time, he wanted to be inside her.
“I want you,” he murmured.
She glanced up the length of his body, her gaze meeting his. Her eyes were filled with heat and desire. She slid her mouth over him again, then kissed the tip and he almost begged her to go back.
Instead, she sat up and straddled his hips. He placed his hands on her waist and moved her, so he was poised at the entrance to her body. And she sank slowly onto him, her hands on his shoulders, her gaze fixed on his.
This time, it was slow and intense, and the pleasure spiraled up from the point where their bodies joined, filling every cell.
He pressed her down onto him and she rocked her hips, moaning low in her throat.
Then she rose up, only to sink onto him once more.
He could sense the tension building inside her.
But he held her steady, kept the pace slow, rotated her hips and saw the moment she fell apart, her head going back, a cry escaping her throat.
He came a second later, and he took her lips in a deep, drugging kiss as their bodies shuddered and climaxed together.
She raised her head and stared into his eyes. “I love you.”