Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,68
along her skin. Need warmed her insides and hardened her nipples. She leaned further into his embrace and ran her hand across the T-shirt he wore. “I tried to keep her in place that night, you know. But I…”
“But what?”
“She wasn’t there, not at the end. You kissed me and…” Addy looked down. He captured her chin and pulled her head up until their gazes locked once again. Determination illuminated within his eyes, on his face. He wouldn’t let her get away without finishing the sentence, and for once, she didn’t want to escape. “You kissed me and I forgot about everything. Peter. Hive. The camp. All that was there was you. And me.”
“Addison,” he whispered.
“When you rejected me, I realized I’d screwed up. I made that moment into something it wasn’t.”
“You don’t shy away from going after what you want,” Kristof said. “There’s nothing hotter than a woman who’s not afraid to take charge.”
Anticipation quickened her pulse. “I won’t ever be that Addy with you. The operative. I don’t know why, but she retreats whenever I think about you.”
“You think about me.” His lips upturned into a grin. “Tell me more.”
“Next time.” She traced along his mouth. “Maybe I’ll even show you.”
“Fuck.” He sighed heavily. “Now I need a cold shower.”
“Don’t turn me on any more than you have. We’re both too tired to go there. And I don’t think either of us is ready. Are we?”
“No,” Kristof admitted. “But I can rest easier knowing you don’t hate me for what you learned.”
“Why would I hate you for that?”
“I should’ve found a way to kill that bastard long ago. To hell with his legacy remaining.”
“What would’ve happened if you’d killed him? Who would’ve taken over?”
“Ivan possibly. I’m not sure. It wouldn’t have been me,” Kristof said. “I would’ve likely been killed. Or worse.”
“Then you made the right choice. You focused on a long-running op that will work.” Addy cupped his face. “Will you stay here with me? Sleep beside me?”
“You’re a temptation I shouldn’t chance, but I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.” Kristof took her hand and guided them toward the bed.
Addy stretched out on the bed. Her pulse quickened when he settled beside her, then drew her against him, her back to his front. “Your injuries.”
“I feel nothing but you right now,” he whispered in her ear. He chuckled. “We didn’t even bother turning the bed down.”
“I’m so damn tired I won’t miss covers.”
“I’ll keep you warm.” He draped an arm around her waist.
“Is this direction okay for you? It won’t hurt your shoulder? Are you sure you shouldn’t be on your back because of the injuries?”
“Calm. There’s nothing wrong with me that sleep won’t heal. Rest and time are what we both need.” He threaded his fingers through her hair. “Care to lay a bet on which of your guys storms in here first when they realize I’m not in my room?”
“I’ll be lucky if they let me keep the coms off if they find out.”
“I’m glad.”
“What?”
“I’m glad you have them. The Arsenal. You deserve this new start.”
“You deserve it too.” She swallowed and grasped his hand. “I’ll want to know more about your network. Your real plans for after your war is over.”
“It’ll wait.” He kissed her neck. “Sleep. I’ll keep the monsters away.”
Her eyes burned as she forced a deep breath.
I’ll keep the monsters away.
How many times had he made that promise at the camp? He always had.
She wasn’t sure what to think about everything she’d learned or the conversation they’d just had. For now, none of it mattered. Everyone was safe. HERA was looking into stuff. Mary and Jesse were strategizing.
Addy closed her eyes and settled into the press of Kristof’s body against hers. How long had it been since she’d slept in a man’s arms? Had she ever?
Sex hadn’t ever been anything more than a checkbox on an assignment or a way to alleviate pent-up stress or a need fulfillment. Fear trickled in. It wouldn’t be like that with Kristof. What if she couldn’t handle whatever the hell this was between them?
What if she couldn’t walk away?
What if he didn’t want her after they had sex?
Addy locked away the questions boomeranging in her brain. They’d wait, just like everything else. She’d tackle one problem at a time like she always did. All she was in this moment was Addy.
Warmth cocooned Addy. She stretched and winced at the soreness crawling through her limbs. Numbness tingled down her right side as she blinked