his soul and made love to the woman of his heart. His only hope was that she believed him. He had heard the skepticism in her tone, but as he held her and felt her let go, he could have sworn she had given herself entirely to him. But then that’s what he wanted to believe.
“You okay?” he asked, rolling off her, settling on his side and drawing her into his embrace before she could think to move away.
“Yes.” Zoë nuzzled his skin, nipping him, before she buried her face in the curve of his shoulder and neck. Her hand was warm as she smoothed it across his chest, stopping at the remnants of his gunshot wound. An uncomfortable silence followed. “Why’d you leave, Drew?” If he had any doubt that his leaving had wounded her, the sorrow in her voice was all the evidence he needed.
“I was a coward.” Shame and regret washed over him. They had lost so much from his actions. “You wanted forever after and that scared the shit out of me.”
She stiffened in his arms, trying to pull out of his hold. But she wasn’t going anywhere. He needed to make her understand.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just I felt myself becoming lost in you.” She trembled at his words, from anger or distress he didn’t know. “I couldn’t control my thoughts and feelings for you. At the time I thought the distance between us would be healthy—straighten out my head.”
She released a strangled whimper. “Let me go,” she muttered.
“Not this time, Zoë.” His gut twisted with the knowledge that he was causing her so much anguish. But he couldn’t stop now. One after another the words tumbled out of his mouth. “Don’t you see? I was wrong.” He held her tighter—desperately. “I couldn’t sleep—eat. The loneliness was unbearable. I begged you to take me back, but you never responded to my letters. When I finally accepted you didn’t want me in your life I gave up. I took some of the most dangerous assignments, but it never erased the feel of your skin or the taste of your kiss from my memory. The only thing it got me was nearly killed. When I was released from the hospital and returned to the States, Josh’s was my first stop. I came looking for you.”
Warm moisture dampened his chest. She was crying.
“Ahhh…baby, don’t cry.” Her tears were ripping his heart out. The darkness stole his ability to see if they were happy or sad tears. “I just want a chance to make things right. Will you give me that chance?”
Her voice was tight as she choked, “I don’t know if I can.” A knot of emotion formed in his throat. Then she said, “Just hold me for tonight.”
Relief washed over him. She hadn’t given him the answer he wanted, but at least she didn’t kick him out of her bed. He had the rest of the weekend to convince her of his love. He kissed her lips softly and then held her as though he’d never let her go.
Chapter Fourteen
Nice. Oh so nice. Zoë moaned deep and long, stretching to feel the aches and pains of yesterday’s events attempting to steal the delightful tingle shooting up her pussy. Morning light filtered through the trailer’s bedroom window. She squinted, noticing the pillow next to her was bare, but the sheet draped across her body tented at her hips. She couldn’t stop the smile that engulfed her as she stripped away the covering to unveil Drew positioned between her legs.
He looked up through dark, sexy eyelashes and licked his lips. The sensual act sent chills racing up her spine. Her pulse did double time. There was something about this man that made her lose all control. Especially positioned where he was with an expression that promised more of last night’s loving.
“Good morning.” His palms were on her thighs, massaging gently.
She stifled the girlish giggle building inside her. “Good morning.” This was what she had dreamed of so many times, waking beside Drew. Well, not actually beside him. This was even better.
Eyes locked on one another, he dipped his head, licking a path along her folds. She gasped as the cool air met her now-wet flesh. “Mmmm…” he hummed, the vibration setting her blood simmering. “You taste and smell so good.” He took a deep breath, pure ecstasy across his face.
Without a second thought, Zoë reached out and touched his cheek, smoothing her hand across his morning