He shook his head. “It wasn’t. Then one of my brothers in arms, Atticus, who also made it out, decided to move here to be close to me. He got me to go to meetings. We’re tight. Brought up in the same unit and even when I branched out to photojournalism, I stayed with the team. Mostly because I could fight, but also I was there to share the experience, and the guys wanted people to know what was happening. What they were fighting for. And I was determined to shed light on it. On their sacrifice.”
“Until the sacrifice took too much of you,” I whispered and stared at his profile.
He closed his eyes and dropped his chin toward his chest. “Until it took too much. Exactly.” His sharp gaze cut to mine. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” I whispered.
“Reach inside and find my truth? Understand what’s so hard to put into words?”
“Pain knows pain. I have an amazing life, but it wasn’t always that way.” I looked around his fancy loft that I knew was worth millions. “You have all this but at what cost?”
Lightning fast, his flour-covered hand cupped the back of my head and his lips crashed down over mine. He took me by such surprise I opened my mouth on instinct and he took the opening with his warm tongue. I melted against him, my dirty hands wrapping around his broad shoulders. I tipped my head to the side and gave back what I was getting in droves.
He was forceful in his kiss. Holding me to his mouth lest I try to get away. I did the same. Holding on with all my might. Our tongues tangled, our heads turned from side to side, each of us trying to take control but neither of us having it. The kiss was wild, out of control, and the absolute best of my life.
His hold loosened but he didn’t stop kissing me. It naturally shifted from hot and hungry to soft and teasing, almost gentle. He nibbled on my bottom lip as I sucked on his top one. His beard soft enough to lightly graze my mouth but in no way hurting me. When he started to pull back, I pushed forward, dipping my tongue into the fray and swallowing his return groan as he wrapped his arms around me more completely and backed me against the opposite counter. His hands came down to my ass and he squeezed, plunging his tongue inside in luxurious, soul-melting maneuvers. I sighed and mewled into his kiss, allowing it to go on and on as his hands went up and down my back, down to my ass for a squeeze, and then back up. The hard ridge of his erection pressed deeper against me and I wanted nothing more than to pull his shirt off and let him take me right on his kitchen floor.
My heart beat hard, my sex throbbed, and my mind was in a lust haze so strong I was up for anything he wanted to do. I tugged on his T-shirt from behind, starting to pull it up his back when he yanked his mouth away on a gasp of air, reached behind him to grab my wrists, and brought them between us where he held them against his chest. His forehead pressed to mine and we both panted as though we’d just run five miles without stopping.
“Addy, I made a promise, and I don’t go back on those.”
“Promise,” I breathed, allowing the flat of my palms and fingers to feel all the packed muscle of his pecs.
“To your sister, to you. I’m not gonna take advantage.”
I stopped for a moment and moved my head back frowning. “Huh?”
He chuckled, pressed a soft, quick kiss to my forehead, and then stepped back. He rubbed his bulge with the base of his hand and groaned. “Fuck me.” He sighed and braced his hands to the counter.
I came up behind him, pressing my body to the back of his very fine one. I wrapped my arms around his waist and before I could move them lower, which was one hundred percent my intent with how hot and bothered I was, he grabbed them and held them around him in a backward type of hug.
“You know I want you.” He grumbled low and raspy, answering a question I didn’t ask.
“Mmm hmm.” I nodded against his back. “And I want you. We’re both consenting