44. Reath
44
REATH
A s I slid inside Frankie, she sighed with pleasure.
It was a sound I loved.
I moved slowly, watching her eyelids flutter. I hated seeing the bruises on her neck and face, but then she opened her eyes and smiled.
“Faster, Reath. I love the way you fill me.”
I moved faster. She was hot and tight.
She was alive, and she was mine.
She arched. “God, yes, Reath .”
I shifted and pushed her legs up to her chest, going deeper.
“I’m close,” she panted.
“Come for me.”
Her fingers dug into my arms. “ Yes . I love you.”
Those words reverberated through me, and I felt her clench on my cock. I watched her face as she came.
Mine . Mine to protect. Mine to take. Mine to hold onto forever.
Growing up, I’d had nothing that was truly mine.
Now, I wanted this woman, and I was keeping her.
“ Frankie .” My own climax hit, and I groaned.
Finally, I rolled, tucking her beside me. She let out a satisfied sigh.
“That is the best way to wake up in the morning,” she said. “Especially after being held hostage by a crazy killer.”
I stiffened.
“Hey, I’m all right.” She shifted and kissed my jaw.
I pushed her head back. “I love you, Frankie.” It still was a little hard to say the words, but I meant them. “Let’s not joke about being abducted by a killer.”
Her smile was brilliant. “Okay. And it’s lucky you love me, because I love you right back.”
Now, that, I would never get tired of hearing. I pulled her hand to my chest. “I said I didn’t have a heart to give. It’s not true. I was just waiting for you.”
Her face softened.
“My heart’s yours now.”
“ Reath .”
She rolled on top of me, mouth hitting my lips. Her tongue teased mine and she let out a little purr.
I slid a hand into her hair and tugged her mouth free. “I forgot to mention that my brothers and their better halves are coming over for breakfast.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Don’t they need to go to work?”
“It’s more important to them to make sure we’re all right.”
She rolled and leaped off the bed naked. “We have to cook?”
I enjoyed the view and the flush of panic on my usually unflappable woman’s face.
“Oh, my God.” She raced for the bathroom. “What are we going to do?”
“Frankie?” I rose and watched as her gaze wandered down my naked body.
I wanted to laugh. I loved that she made me laugh. Made me feel lighter. This woman was mine. I realized we’d have lots of moments like this. A lifetime’s worth.
“Frankie?”
She blinked and looked up. “Huh?”
“Breakfast. Lola’s bringing food. Macy’s also going to her favorite bakery, so we’ll have enough beignets to feed half the world. It’ll be fine.”
She released a breath. “Okay. I just want them to love me.”
“They already do.”
She tilted her head. “As much as you do?”
I cupped her cheeks. “That would be impossible.” I nibbled her lips with mine. “They wanted you for me long before you and I worked it out.”
She smiled, then she jerked back. “We don’t have much time. I need to shower. What about drinks? We need—”
I swatted her ass. “Stop stressing and get in the shower.”
I got another wide, happy smile. “Okay. After what we’ve been through the last week, I’m not stressing about anything at all.”
Breakfast was noisy chaos.
Everyone was loading their plates, Lola was flitting around the room serving more food.
Daisy had kissed Frankie’s boo-boos, and now was talking a mile a minute. Apparently, she wanted a new pink bike that matched Macy’s.
Colt was scowling. Macy had been knocked off her bike by her stalker, and Colt still hadn’t recovered enough to let her ride very often.
“Oh, my God, these beignets are awesome.” Frankie licked her fingers. She had powdered sugar on her mouth, and I reached over and wiped it off with my finger.
Our gazes met, and then I wasn’t thinking about breakfast anymore.
“Phew, you two are making me hot.” Macy waved a hand, fanning her face.
Frankie blushed. Everyone was smiling at us.
“Frankie is moving in with me,” I announced.
There were claps and cheers.
Frankie straightened. “I am? You haven’t asked me.”
Mila groaned. “Rookie error, Reath.”
I grabbed Frankie’s hand. “Are you falling in love with me?”
Pretty color filled her cheeks. “Yes.”
“Am I falling in love with you?”
There were gasps around the table.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then we’re going to live together.”
She smiled, and I nibbled on her bottom lip.
“I want a kiss too, Uncle Reath,” Daisy cried.
“He got his head out of his ass,” Beauden said.
“That’s money for the swear jar, Uncle Beau,” Daisy said with glee.
“Yeah, yeah.” He fished around in the pocket of his jeans and handed over some coins.
“I’m glad for you,” Dante said from the head of the table.
I tugged Frankie under my arm. “I get it now.”
Dante smiled and nodded.
Frankie’s cellphone started to ring. “Sorry.” She pulled it out. “It’s probably DARPA. They’ve been blowing up my messages.” She pressed the phone to her ear. “Frankie Parker.”
Then her face blanched. I grabbed her hand.
“Okay, yes,” she said shakily. “What hospital?” She swallowed. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Frankie?” I asked.
Blue eyes, huge and worried, met mine. “It’s Jack. He was injured on a mission. At his request, they transferred him to a hospital in New Orleans.”
Oh, hell.