Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Tierney woke to the sound of the lighter snapping closed, the scent of tobacco and smoke wafting through the air. Hinges creaked beyond the door, hollow footsteps sounding on the floorboards above her head. The mattress scratched her skin, the damp air settling like death in her bones.
Pike stepped out of the shadows, mouth twisted into a grin, that lighter clicking open, the flame illuminating half his face. “What’s wrong, pet? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“No!”
She bolted upright, thrashing against the covers, fighting the arms holding her tight. Pain throbbed through her leg, the chill from the staples tugging against her skin.
“Whoa, easy, Tier, it’s just me.”
She lashed out, tried to jump off the bed before Buck got in front of her, forced her to look at him. “Tierney. It was a nightmare. You’re here. In the loft. With me.”
Her chest squeezed tight, every breath filled with a hint of lighter fluid and cheap cologne. She stared up at him, breath wheezing out, her heart beating so fast, she thought it would just pound through her chest.
Buck gentled his touch, dipping down when she tried to break eye contact. “It’s okay. I have them, too. But you’re safe. Not gonna let anyone take you. Just breathe…”
The door bounced open, Dalton sweeping in a moment later, his Sig leading the way. Tierney jumped, reached for her weapon before everything caught up to her, and she collapsed against the headboard, Buck shouldered up beside her.
Dalton checked the shadows, lowering his weapon without holstering it. “I heard you scream.”
Her chin quivered, and she knew if she opened her mouth, she’d scream, again.
Buck sighed. “Nightmare. Sorry, we disturbed you.”
Dalton glanced at her, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one who’d seen a ghost. “You didn’t.
I just didn’t want to assume…” He backed out of the room.
“It’s still early, and no one’s expecting us until noon.
I’ll be up for another hour before I grab a couple.
The system’s armed, and it’s been quiet all night.
” He took a step back and grinned. “Well, mostly quiet.”
Buck flipped him off as he shut the door, then vanished. No footsteps, no creaks, just the door shutting and him disappearing.
Tierney hugged her knees to her chest, hands shaking, skin crawling. She leaned against Buck when he lifted her arm, wrapped it around his back. “You’d think after all this time, I’d know the difference when I wake up.”
He snorted. “If you ever learn how to do that, let me know, because it takes me a good two minutes to figure out I’m not still in Afghanistan.
” He squeezed her. “Why do you think Dalton rarely sleeps? He can’t go more than a few hours without dreaming he’s back in that compound.
And when he’s in a full-fledged episode, you don’t want to get too close.
I’m not ashamed to admit, he’s downright scary.
” He planted a kiss on her head. “So, stop worrying you’re the only one, that we’re judging, because we’re right there with you, Tier. ”
She swatted him in the chest. “You don’t always have to be so damn awesome. I mean, at some point, I might want to try some makeup sex.”
Buck chuckled. “I’m sure I’ll piss you off sooner or later. I’m just excited that you haven’t broken ranks, yet.”
She twisted until she was facing him. “You’re the reason I’m even slightly sane.
You believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.
When I was too scared, too wired, to consider good people still existed.
” She reached up and touched his jaw. “You just risked your life for me. Again. I’m crazy about you, Buck. Surely, you know that.”
He stilled, mouth slightly open, eyes wide. He looked as if he wanted to say something, before he shook his head, sighing. “Just when I think I’ve got you figured out, you surprise me. And I’m more than crazy about you. But I’m afraid, if I say the word, it’ll jinx this.”
She closed the distance, rose until her head was level with his. “Then, tell me when it feels right. Assuming, I don’t tell you, first.”
She kissed him. Soft. Coaxing. Not trying to initiate anything, just enjoying being with him. The feel of his skin beneath her hands. The strength in his muscles bunching as he shifted her onto his lap, taking the kiss farther.
He palmed her back, smoothing his hands along her spine, teasing her ribs with the soft brush of his thumb, every swirl edging her higher. By the time she realized they were beyond stopping, he had his boxers shoved over his hips, her thighs splayed around his.
A lift and a thrust, and they were joined, the sheer pressure of him stealing her breath. She arched back, trusting him to keep her from falling, as she levered up, slamming back down a moment later, pushing him even deeper.
Buck mouthed her neck, licking and sucking, claiming her mouth until his lungs burned. He kept her close, hands moving beneath her tee, taking her to the edge, but not over.
She upped the pace, rising and falling, knowing she could spend the rest of her life in his arms and never get tired of the way he touched her. How he made her feel complete when she’d been broken for so long, she’d lost half the pieces.
Pressure built low in her groin, billowing out in ever-increasing waves. She kept moving, muscles screaming, need riding her hard. Either Buck sensed she’d reached her limit, or he’d reached his because he grabbed her thighs, holding her still as he thrust into her from beneath.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, skin brushing skin, wanting to see the moment he gave himself over to the rush. He lasted another few minutes, her release hanging by a thread, needing one more push to tip her over the side, when he growled, eyes rolling back as he started emptying inside her.
That sent her over. Had her pulsing around him, everything burning into black as she finally closed her eyes, falling against him. She drifted, her head on his chest, her arms still locked around his neck.
Buck held her close, his knees pressing against her back, his chest squeezing her from the front.
But instead of all the voices screaming at her that she was trapped, that she needed to run, they faded, blending into the steady beat of his heart, the soft touch of his hand as he drew patterns along her skin.
It took a few minutes to regain any form of consciousness, finally lift her head and stare into his gorgeous blue eyes.
He smiled back, looking as wrecked as she felt. “God, sweetheart, what you do to me. One touch, and I’m lost.”
“Then, it’s a good thing I’m a tracker.”
“Amen.” He relaxed against the headboard. “I vote for going back to sleep, cleaning up later.”
“I can get on board with that as long as you promise to hold me.”
“That’s a sword I can fall on.”
They untangled themselves, did a minimal wipe down, then snuggled beneath the covers, Buck’s chest to her back.
He laid one heavy arm across her waist, one massive thigh over hers.
She burrowed into him, that ever-present chill finally lifting as he drifted off, his breath evening out a minute later.
She stared out the window, noting the hint of lighter gray brightening the horizon.
Not quite sunrise, but enough it lessened some of the shadows.
She placed her hand over his, everything settling around her.
And for the first time since she’d dragged her ass out of that river, the phantom smell of tobacco vanished.
And it took the echoed snick-clink of the lighter with it.
She didn’t know where this would go, but for now, she was safe.
The morning dawned late, the heavy clouds blocking any sunshine until nearly nine. Buck woke with a sense of lightness he hadn’t experienced in years, Tierney’s small form tucked against him. She hadn’t moved since they’d drifted off a few hours earlier, her heart slow and steady against his palm.
He closed his eyes, drifting in and out until he woke ninety minutes later, the scent of coffee and bacon drifting in from the kitchen. His stomach growled, and he slipped from the bed, careful not to wake her as he pulled on some sweats and headed for the kitchen.
Dalton looked up from the stove, hair damp from a shower, dressed in jeans and a hoodie. He nodded toward the coffee pot as he flipped the bacon. “It just finished brewing. Creamer’s in the fridge. Sugar on the table. I assume you’re hungry?”
Buck chuckled. “You don’t have to be so smug about it.”
“Just making an observation, brother. Though, I’ll admit, you two have more stamina than is probably wise.”
“Says the man who never sleeps.” Buck poured them each some coffee, studying Dalton for a while before clearing his throat. “Speaking of which, should I be worried?”
Dalton took a swig, handing Buck a plate of bacon and eggs. “About what?”
“Your sleeping habits. Or lack thereof.”
“I sleep.”
“Barely.” He chewed on a piece of bacon, planning his words carefully. “With everything that’s happened over the past several months, we’ve spent a lot of time together, and it’s impossible to miss how little you actually sleep.”
He held up his hand to stop Dalton from interrupting.
“I’m not judging. God knows, I’m not in any position to.
But I thought it might get better. That you’d start making peace with some of those demons…
” He took a sip, giving his words room to breathe.
“Can’t help but notice that hasn’t been the case. ”
Dalton stared at him, mug in hand, eyes narrowed before he shrugged. “I lost five years of my life. I can afford to go a couple with less sleep.”
“Pretty sure that’s not how it works. Again, not judging. Just making sure you’re not in a bad place, brother, because I’ve lost enough buddies over the years. Don’t want to miss the signs.”
Dalton tapped his fingers on the table, mouth pinched tight. He didn’t speak for a minute, staring everywhere but at Buck. “I’m good.”
“Eric…”