Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(42)

But he didn’t seem to mind her obvious inexperience at all. His expression went from surprise to utter satisfaction.

“Thank you,” she said in a grave tone.

He lifted a brow in question.

“For everything.” She swept her arm out toward the falls and the surrounding area. “For this. For understanding. For risking so much to save me. For wanting to help me and not believing the worst or judging me for the things I’ve done. I don’t even know how to express the gratitude I feel, but it’s more than that and I don’t have the words to explain to you what all I feel. I just want—need—you to know that.”

“Do you know what I need you to know?” Rio asked solemnly.

She wrinkled up her browy trill don and cocked her head to the side. “What?”

He touched her nose with the tip of his finger. “I need you to know how special you are, Grace Peterson. I think you haven’t believed that in a long time. Maybe you never believed it. But I see it, and now I want you to see it too.”

It was simply too much. How he could reach inside her and see what it was she needed the most? Someone to believe in her. Someone who wasn’t trying to use her. Someone who thought she was special, not because of her powers, but because…because she was simply Grace Peterson.

“I’m going to kiss you again,” she whispered.

His eyes darkened and he went still. He reached for her hand, twining his fingers with hers. “By all means, I’m at your mercy.”

Tentatively, she leaned into him until her br**sts brushed against his chest as she rose up on tiptoe. But then his hands closed around her waist, slipped down over the curve of her behind, and he leaned down to meet her.

She kissed him once, but was unsatisfied with the brief contact. She wanted more. She wanted to explore this time. Before, he’d done it all and she’d stood there, stunned and overwhelmed by the intensity.

This time she wanted it slow, lingering. She wanted to taste him. Take her time and enjoy the intimacy of being so close, his hands on her body.

She kissed him again, this time leaving her lips pressed to his. Nervously she ran the tip of her tongue over the seam of his mouth. His lips immediately parted, coaxing her inward.

He kept still, seemingly content to allow her to take the lead. He held her steady, his hands still resting possessively on her bottom, but he didn’t move. Not even a muscle as she continued her gentle exploration of his mouth.

Gaining confidence and feeling a little bolder, she reached up, wanting to run her fingers through his hair. It was loose today and not tied back in a ponytail at his nape.

It was long and silky, just brushing the tops of his shoulders. There was a slight wave to it, only enough to make it unruly, but it was far from being actually curly.

She let the strands slide through her fingers and then she finally got the courage to let her hands drop to his chest. The skin rippled beneath her fingers as his muscles flexed and rolled. His broad shoulders seemed to quiver, and his breathing changed from the even calm to a more sporadic, rapid staccato.

Slowly, she pulled away but he didn’t relinquish his hold on her. He kept his hands molded to her behind, and he reclaimed the step she’d taken back.

“I like when you take advantage of me,” he said with a slight grin. “Feel free to do it again anytime you get the urge.”

Her cheeks went instantly hot and she ducked her head.

He chuckled and released his hold, his fingers gliding over her hips before finally dropping to his sides. Then he lifted one hand again, tipping a finger under her chin and gently forcing her head upward again.

“You’re mine,” he repeated again. “We’re going to get there, Grace. Where ‘there’ is, I’m not altogether sure yet, but we’re going to get there together.”

Gathering every ounce of the courage she’d thought was long gone, she slowly nodded, feeling like she’d just taken on the world.

His eyes glowed with a savage light. They gleamed in triumph, and his smile was one of complete satisfaction. It was the look of the victor in a hard-fough

t battle. Only she hadn’t been a difficult conquest.

Whatever this was between them. Whatever the dangers e dor they faced. Whatever happened tomorrow. Today, they were bound by a nearly silent agreement. A bond that perhaps had formed even before they’d met and most assuredly had been cemented when he’d pulled her back from the brink of death.

What mattered was that right now she wasn’t alone. She was no longer running blindly and scared out of her mind. It was time to take a stand, and this man would be there beside her.

How could she lose?

CHAPTER 20

“WHAT do we do, Rio?” Grace asked from her perch on the couch.

She was settled in the corner, sitting cross-legged and surrounded by plump pillows. It was her nest, one she’d burrowed into and had no desire to leave anytime soon.

The others filtered through periodically. Diego had gone for a swim and Grace had gotten quite a view of the man in swim trunks. From the looks of him, he maintained a tight fitness regimen. Not that the other men could ever be considered lacking in the physique department, but Diego was…He was beautiful to look at.

Terrence had ambled through after Diego, wearing a muscle shirt and gym shorts. Her eyes had bugged at the huge tree trunks he had for arms. Hell, his muscles had muscles. He didn’t walk so much as he swaggered and not from innate cockiness. No, the man was simply so big that he just sort of swayed when he moved.