Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(65)

She could only imagine what Rio had done to his teammate. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She shook her head, feeling the firm imprint of his fingers on her face. It was comforting. There was strength in his touch. And possession. A clear message that he considered her his.

“I think he was scared. And resigned. It was as if he knew the consequences of what he’d done. Knew you’d be furious. I was pretty pissed too. But I also understood why he’d done it. I can only imagine how I’d feel if it were my child and I couldn’t do anything to help her. I’d lie, cheat, steal, threaten or kidnap anyone who could help her, you know?”

“Is that why you did it? Because you understood?”

She leaned her forehead against his lips, liking the warmth of his mouth on her skin. “I did it because once I saw her, I knew she was dying. I knew she wouldn’t last much longer. Death surrounded her and I knew that if I didn’t help her, I wouelp onld be responsible for her death and I couldn’t look Browning and Sumathi in the eye and tell them I wouldn’t help their daughter because I was afraid of dying when I’d finally found a reason to live.”

His hand stilled in her hair. He pulled her back so they were looking eye to eye. “What’s your reason, Grace?”

There was such a multitude of things in such a simple question. There was hope. Curiosity. A little dread. Didn’t he realize? She guessed he didn’t. Things had moved so fast. She hadn’t really been that forthcoming about her feelings. She hadn’t even been sure of what she felt.

Her entire world had been turned upside down. She’d barely existed for the last year, and yet in the midst of it all, her life in ruins, had come this man.

He’d challenged her, bullied her and made her feel more loved than she’d ever felt with another human being. He hadn’t allowed her to quit.

Why? What had he seen in her that very first time to make him so determined to track her down?

She touched his face, stroking over the roughness of his jaw. He hadn’t shaved and the stubble was bristly over her fingers.

He looked like hell.

“How long have I been asleep?” she whispered.

His eyes narrowed at her avoidance of the question. But she just hadn’t quite found the right words yet.

“Three days.”

Her mouth popped open in dismay. “Three days?”

He nodded grimly.

“What about the baby?” she asked hesitantly.

His lips thinned. “I don’t know. I assume she’s fine.”

She wanted to ask about Browning and what had been done with him.

Rio sighed. “What are you thinking?”

She nibbled at her bottom lip. “About Browning. And his family. Did you kill him?”

“And if I did? The bastard deserved it.”

She frowned unhappily. “He was only protecting his daughter.”

“Yeah, by risking what belongs to me and betraying his team.”

“I can see why you’d be angry.”

“Really, Grace? You can see why I’d be angry? I was f**king furious. You don’t get it, do you? He took what was mine. He took what was important to me and he used you. He could have killed you. And you see why I’d be angry.”

“He betrayed you,” she whispered.

Rio rose up on his elbow, his eyes blazing. “It has nothing to do with me, goddamn it! Don’t you get it? I love you and he tried to suck the life right out of you. Yes, he betrayed me, but I wanted to kill him because he nearly took you away from me.”

She swallowed, opened her mouth and then snapped it shut again. He didn’t give her another opportunity. He slid his hand around to her nape and pulled her to meet his kiss.

It was fierce and possessive. She felt branded and marked. He kissed her like he was swallowing her whole, devouring her and pulling her into himself.

He turned her fully onto her back and then he was over her, pushing into her, hot and hard. He slid into her body, locking them together, and then he stared down at her, his eyes burning with emotion.

“Do you get it now, Grace? You’re mine. I’ve never felt this way about a woman, and I don’t like how goddamn crazy it makes me.”

She smiled and arched up with a sigh, taking him farther insim f thisde.

“I’m glad you find this so damn funny,” he growled.

Her smile got bigger. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.

“Would it make it better if I told you that I’m just as crazy over you?” she whispered.

“Maybe.”

“Or that I’m pretty sure I love you just as much?”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” he grumbled.

She stroked his cheek. She wrapped her legs around him, wanting him closer still. Wanting to find that warmth that burned from the inside out.

“Or that my reason for finding the will to live after wanting to die is you?”

His eyes darkened and he went still above her. For the longest time he simply stared down at her as if he was trying to collect himself.

He was still deeply embedded inside her. She was tight around him and he seemed to swell larger even though he hadn’t yet moved.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve never mattered to anyone. Not in this way. No one has depended emotionally on me. I’m depended on for leadership and strength. Discipline and determination. No one has ever needed me for who I am. Just what I am.”