Rising Storm (Westin Force #2) - Julie Trettel Page 0,70

each move that got a positive reaction from him.

Our eyes locked and his hands fisted in my hair. The intensity of the moment felt tangible. I never broke eye contact as I continued to please him. His hands tightened in my hair as he yelled out my name. Emma.

I stayed with him until his body began to relax again. I grinned up at him. “Welcome home.”

“I was ready to swear off deployments forever, but if this is going to be my coming home reception, I’m packing my bags and taking the next flight out of here.”

“Don’t joke about that. I missed you.”

I’d learned a bit about sarcasm and people saying things they don’t actually mean by hanging out with Shelby and her friends. She’d had to explain a few things to me, but I was starting to catch on better.

“I missed you too, sweetheart.”

He pulled me up so he could kiss me, but I pulled back.

“We need to talk.”

His eyes darkened and I truly realized for maybe the first time that I wasn’t the only one with insecurities. Painter always seemed so sure of himself, confident, like he held all the answers, but I could see in his eyes that he was facing his own demons too. We had talked enough, and he’d shared his past with me, so it shouldn’t have come as such a surprise, but seeing him so vulnerable was a revelation to me.

He stayed quiet letting me process things and waiting for me to speak again.

I cleared my throat. “First, you’re okay?”

He nodded. “It was more intel gathering than anything. I was safe the entire time.”

I knew better than to ask when he was leaving again. He didn’t know and wouldn’t until it was time to leave. That was his life. Shelby had explained it all to me in ways he couldn’t. I knew what I was signing up for and I still wanted it all. I wanted him.

“Good.”

“Good.”

“So, I’m gonna need one of those orgasms before breakfast, and this time, would you please just bite me already?”

His jaw dropped open. For a moment he was entirely speechless. Then, his eyes darkened. He got that serious look on his face. I gulped feeling just a little nervous and fearing I was doing it all wrong. Maybe I should have just bit him without talking about it.

“You know what that would mean, right?”

I nodded. “I’m already yours, Painter.”

“You’re not leaving me?”

It had never occurred to me that he would worry about that. Of course, I’d been honest with him in the beginning about wanting to leave to go back and find my band, but he had to know that had changed, right? I was still here. I wasn’t going anywhere.

The look in his eyes told me he didn’t know that. Maybe that was why he hadn’t made a move to seal our bond sooner. That was my fault. I’d let him believe I wasn’t all in.

“I belong here, with you.” I told him. I was suddenly feeling vulnerable too. Stupid human emotions. My gorilla would have acted on instinct, but his uncertainty left me concerned on where we really stood.

“Yes, you do. Forever.”

I nodded.

His lips crushed to mine as he rolled over, pinning me to the bed. “I love you, Emma,” he whispered against my lips.

“I’m already yours, Painter. Claim me already.”

He snorted. “Impatient much?”

I started to respond, but he silenced me with another kiss.

I was already turned on and wanting. His hands wandered lower on my body making me feel hot all over. He trailed light kisses across my cheek and down my neck. I moaned and rubbed up against him.

“No turning back after this,” he said giving me one last out.

“Would you just do it already?”

He chuckled, but instead of biting me, he slammed into me in one thrust. I hadn’t expected it and screamed out in pleasure. “Yes!”

He nibbled at my neck, teasing me as I set a quick pace that immediately had my blood pumping. I didn’t need slow and lazy this morning, I had a week’s worth of pent up frustration to work out, and he seemed perfectly content to let me set the tempo.

Before I knew what I was doing, I started to sing in happiness. I felt him smile against the sensitive skin at the base of my neck as he trailed kisses across my collarbone.

My song came to an abrupt halt when he bit down on my shoulder. I wanted to scream out in pleasure, but he slowed our