Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(42)

This woman had been made for him.

He couldn’t tell her that. Those words were caught, strangled by his past because he couldn’t give her what she deserved. All he could offer her was hard work for years, an entire community that depended on him, responsibility after responsibility.

He could love her, but he didn’t deserve her.

He moved to the rope that held her up. She was too high. He’d wanted her to feel suspended, but in order to join her, he had to lower her down.

God, wasn’t that a metaphor for their relationship? To have her, he had to drag her down. He had to bring her low. She deserved the world and he could only give her a dive bar in flyover country.

But he could give her this now.

He eased the rope down, lowering her to the perfect height. He could see the look on her face, trusting and relaxed, as though she knew he would give her everything she needed. He would give her what she needed tonight. She needed a Dom who was crazy for her. He would show her.

“This body is mine. Its beauty infuses me with light, makes me strong. This gift is more than I deserve, but I will give you, mon ange, a gift of my own.” His hands went to the ties of his leathers, opening them with ease and releasing his cock. He stepped between her legs. He’d tied her thighs apart for just this moment.

His cock strained as desire pounded through his system. Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew they’d drawn a crowd, but he couldn’t care about that. They’d been perfectly silent so he ignored them. He stroked his cock, getting ready to roll the condom on. “Pleasure is my gift, but more I want comfort for you. Physical comfort in the form of my cock, my ropes, the warmth of my hands on your skin. Soul comfort that comes from knowing my whole being is here in this moment with you and I would be nowhere else.” He rubbed his now sheathed cock against the heat of her pussy. She was wet and ready, and he could see how her fingers curled around the rope, seeking balance. “I worry I will come back to this place, this night, this moment when we are together again and again, that I will stay caught here. It’s all I can hope for—to be young and yours forever.”

He stroked inside her, words failing him. All that mattered now was giving her what she needed. He thrust in and pulled back out, going slow at first so he could feel every inch of the slide of his cock against the delicate but strong muscles milking him inside her. He wanted to stay here, right in this moment. The world could end right this moment and he would be perfectly happy.

But the world didn’t work that way. The moment lengthened, time moving forward, and he couldn’t hold out forever. He stroked into her, moving faster and faster, finding the rhythm that sent them both over the edge. He felt the moment she came, her body tensing around his, clamping down hard and causing him to fall with her.

Pleasure hit his brain like a runaway train, making his eyes roll back as his body took over, pulsing out and thrusting in until he’d given up everything he had.

And still he had things to say to her. He put a hand on her belly, keeping them connected. “And still, after the moment is done, I would stay with you because the after with you is as sweet as the during, more meaningful than the before because we are one.”

She looked down, staring at that place where his hand rested possessively on her belly. “Because we are one.”

Tears rolled from her eyes, but it was all about feeling. She felt. He felt, and it was good.

“You can have the puppy,” a low voice said. “You can have all the puppies.”

Kai had his wife out of her suspension and wrapped around his body. He lifted her up and started out of the room, kissing her even as he headed for the privacy rooms. His hands moved over her, holding her close and making obvious his passion for her.

“Hey, what’s up with the poetry stuff? Is that like spoken word Cajun version?” Adam Miles asked.

Big Tag’s hand came out, smacking the back of his head. “Hush, Charlie liked it.”

Charlotte was draped over her husband’s lap, her head in the crook of his neck, and Big Tag was whispering something to her. Something that made her glow and cuddle close. Whatever he said made her kiss his jawline and say something back.

Serena frowned at Adam and shifted closer to Jake. “It was beautiful.”

Adam turned a nice shade of red. “Sorry. I didn’t get all the talky parts.”

Jake grinned and settled their wife firmly on his lap. “I love it when I’m the smart one. Remy, you know every dude in the company is coming to you now to write our Valentine’s cards.”

Damn. It was a good thing he was leaving soon.

“Get your own poet, ladies,” Lisa said. “This one is mine.”

He moved back reluctantly. He was hers. For now. He had to find a way to make that time count.





Chapter Seven


“What can I get for you?” She grinned at Remy as he settled onto the barstool three nights later.

Damn that man was fine. She wondered if she would ever get used to how hot he was. Maybe if they stayed together for many, many years she would, but that wasn’t going to happen. She feared she would go to her grave with him perfect in her brain.

Remy smiled, his lips curling into that half grin that made her a little breathless. “Get me a beer, ma crevette. How’s your evening going? Is Top treating you well?”

“I love it.” The people were all great. Javier Leones was the acting head chef and he ran a tight, but happy ship. She loved the family atmosphere. Every night after service they sat and ate together before cleaning up the place. No one did that in corporate America. No one cared. “I think I’m going to gain ten pounds this week though. Macon has been stress baking and I’m his go-to girl. Have you ever had bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme donuts? Because I did. I’m a little hopped up on sugar, babe.”