When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,62
talk to Zeke. I spotted him at the tool bench at the back of the garage.
“Hey, Tough Guy.” I stepped past the Jeep with an open hood and parts on the ground to reach his side.
“Hey, Baby.” He set down whatever part was in his hands and turned to me. “How are you feeling?”
I shrugged. “Embarrassed. I can’t believe I broke down like that.”
He pulled his handkerchief out of his back pocket and began to clean his hands of grease. “You’ve been too stressed lately. I wondered when it would all come out.”
I gave him a small warm smile as I hopped up onto a clear spot on the tool bench. “I just wish it didn’t all end up soaking your guys’ shirts.”
“We don’t mind so much.” He put his handkerchief into his back pocket. “So, I heard you and Hades made up?”
“Yeah, we worked shit out.” I looked down at the car part he was taking apart. “He’s not going to kill anyone without my permission from now on.”
“Well, that’s good at least.”
I looked up at him. “Why are you taking apart the Jeep again?”
He looked down at the part on the table. “I’m thinking.”
I tilted my head to the side. “About?”
“Just got back from my shrink.” He set his hands on the work bench. “I’ve got some homework she wants me to do.”
“Does it involve me?” I asked softly.
His cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
Oh my God, Zeke was blushing. Holy shit. I hurried to keep a blank face. “What is it?"
He shook his head and looked down at the bench in front of him, clearly embarrassed. “Nothing, never mind.”
“Zeke, just tell me.” I reached out and lifted his chin with my fingers. “It’s just me.”
“She suggested …” He sighed and stepped back from the bench. “She told me I should try to be close to you and see how it goes.”
My heart leaped into my throat. Close to me was Zeke’s way of saying being physical with me. “Okay.”
He lifted his head and met my eyes. “What? Just like that? Just because my shrink said so?”
I smiled up at him. “Not because of your shrink, but because I love you. And I want to be close to you.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he took a step back from the bench and growled. “What if I trigger you?”
“What if I trigger you?” I countered. With his history it was always a possibility. He had far more trauma than I ever had. “What if the world ends tomorrow? What if the sky falls? We won’t know until we try.”
The hunger in his eyes was nearly my undoing right then and there. “Baby …”
“If it happens, we’ll work through it. Together,” I said softly.
He exhaled hard, his shoulders sagging a little. “You’re sure you’re okay with this?”
I ran my gaze over him. Let it linger on his shoulders, that huge barrel chest, those long legs. I let my desire fill me as I met his eyes again. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
His face softened as he stepped closer.
My heart pounded in my chest as he moved to stand between my knees, his waist forcing me to shift to accommodate him. His gentle fingers lifted my chin. He bent from his neck and pressed his lips against mine. My hands moved to his hard waist as his hands cradled my face. His lips were so gentle against mine, so soft as he kissed me. His tongue brushed over my lower lip, asking for more. He always asked, no matter how many times he kissed me.
Body thrumming, I opened my lips to him. He kissed me slowly, as if he were savoring every touch, every stroke of my tongue. I leaned closer, tilting my head back even more to give him more access.
He pulled back a little.
I met his ice-blue eyes as I tried to remember how to breathe.
“Are you good?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I breathed.
His mouth took mine again in long, drugging kisses that grew deeper and hungrier with every kiss. Heat filled me slowly, inch by inch, with every stroke of his tongue. His hands dropped from my face to run down my back to my ass. Sparks danced down my spine. Needing to be closer, I wrapped my legs around his waist.
He pulled back a little, taking a deep shaking breath as I pressed against him. “Damn, Baby …”
I looked up at him in surprise as his large hard bulge pressed against my core through my jeans. Holy shit. Need pounded