Page 31 of Sworn to Lead

She stood there for a moment longer, smoothing Oscar’s soft fur, mulling over what Joker had said. Her mouth was bone-dry, and she had been fighting to keep her breathing steady since the call they’d received. Neo didn’t need to be worrying about her when his sole focus should be on the upcoming mission and coming home safe. After a few minutes of standing in the kitchen lost in her own thoughts, she went to find Neo and Jacob in the living room. With soft steps, she glided over the wood floors of the apartment and looked in. Neither of them were there, so she went to the room they usually slept in. Jacob was in bed, tucked under the sheets, and Neo was sitting at his side. “When we get called out on a mission, it means we’re trying to stop someone who is trying to hurt someone else. Sometimes we’re gone for a few weeks or even a month or more. Your uncle Branch seems to think this will be a quick mission, and it might be, but I don’t want you to worry. I want you to enjoy school and take care of Brynn. She’s special to both of us.”

Brynn backed out of the room, eyes burning with tears. She wanted them to have this time to talk, and she needed a shower.

She headed down the hall and into Neo’s bedroom. Inside the en suite, she turned on the tap, and water pummeled against tile. Hot water pounded against her as she lathered creamy lavender-scented soap over her skin. Her breasts were sensitive from Neo’s attention. He’d tortured her nipples into tight buds, and she hadn’t thought anything could feel better. She’d been wrong. Liquid heat gathered in her lower belly. She wanted him, but it would have to wait. There was no way she would distract him from getting the sleep he needed before his mission. She washed her hair, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. Her feet sank into the fuzzy mat below her, and she quickly rubbed one of the thick towels over her skin and hair. After knotting the towel against her chest, she turned the doorknob. Steam plumed out of the bathroom on her heels, and she slammed right into a hard, male chest. Instead of taking a step back, she curled her fingers into his shirt. “Sorry,” she murmured even though she was not in the least bit sorry for anything that led to him being pressed against her.

“I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. Just wanted to check on you. Was everything okay with Joker?”

“Yes. He said he was sorry for being wary of me. I’m glad you have good friends. Is Jacob asleep?”

“Yup. Gave him his meds just like you showed me. The paper on the fridge really helps, too.”

“Neo?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Could you, ah…sleep in here tonight?”

He lowered his head and rested his forehead against hers. “Of course. I don’t want you to feel any pressure to do more than sleep, though.”

“Is that what you want to do? Sleep?”

“Brynn.” The way he ground out her name sent a shiver of pleasure sliding over her skin. “I don’t want to rush you. There’s time.”

She stepped closer until she was up against him, and exactly what he wanted was apparent against the material of her towel.

“It’s important that you sleep, but it is a bit earlier than I thought it was. I want you, Neo.”

Chapter Nineteen

Brynn hadn’t even finished saying his name and he was swinging her up into his arms. He crossed the room and deposited her on the bed, climbing up beside her. He lay next to her, running his fingers through her damp hair. The towel had slipped off, and he let out a growl of appreciation at the swell of her coral-tipped breasts, her soft waist, and the flare of her hips. “Once again, I’m the only one here without clothes.” Amusement danced in her eyes. Ones that were beyond blue, bordering violet.

He chuckled at her pout. Loved that she teased him. No one had ever teased him before. “Nothing wrong with that.” He nipped her earlobe, getting caught up in her playful side.

“There’s something very wrong with that.” She smiled against his lips, then went up on her knees and tugged his shirt up. He arched his hips and yanked off his jeans, tossing them to the side.

“Better?” He followed her gaze of appreciation as it drifted down his body.

“Mm-hmm.”

He kissed her once, then twice. “So fucking sweet.” He murmured the words, and when she drew in a quick breath, he licked her bottom lip. She opened immediately, taking everything he offered and giving him back so much more. Her hands roamed his chest and stomach, making him dizzy like a high-altitude climb. Her fingers wrapped around his length, and he hissed out a breath. Between tasting her essence earlier and having her smooth curves up against his body, he was on edge. “If you keep that up, I’m never going to end up inside you.” She shivered against his palms.

“Come here. So damn beautiful. Every inch of you.” He sat up with his back against the headboard, lifted her onto his lap, and helped her wrap her legs around his waist. They dove back into the kiss. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, and he could feel the pound of her heart matching his own. She was tipping her hips, desperately seeking out more friction. Her hands were roaming his back, tugging him closer. Everything about having Brynn in his lap was pure heaven, and he hadn’t even entered her. When he rolled the peaks of her breasts between his thumb and forefinger, she gasped. He continued on, massaging, licking, touching anywhere he could reach while still keeping her centered on his lap. There was something incredibly intimate about being eye to eye, chest to chest with Brynn. Nothing had ever moved him so profoundly, reached deep inside him and made a fundamental shift in his heart like her.

“Neo.” Her tongue swiped against the pulse point in his neck, making him tremble. “Please. I’m ready.” Her breath warmed the spot where she’d just licked. He steadied her with one arm and reached for the nightstand drawer with his other. His fingers closed around a foil wrapper. He tore the package with his teeth and ran the condom down his length. Brynn’s eyes were fixated on him, her breath quickening.

“Any point you need me to stop, or I’m being too rough, you tell me.”

She nodded, pupils wide and dark.

“Promise.”

“Yes.” Her voice was breathless as he notched his cock at her center. He pushed in slowly, inch by inch, giving her time to adjust or tell him if she was uncomfortable. Her core gripped him, and she rocked her hips, taking him deep into her wet heat. Fucking bliss. He’d never get enough. He put his hand between them, stroking her arousal. She was starting to tremble beneath his touch, her breath coming in choppy pants. She tightened around him, shaking, his name a breathless whisper breaking from her throat. Her heat pulsed around him, and all he could do was grip her hips as his own orgasm tore through him. She leaned her cheek against his collarbone. Though they were still connected he made no attempt to move. He ran his fingertips up and down her back, and her arms were tangled around his neck. Her skin glowed with a light sheen of sweat, her cheeks flushed with color. I love you was on the tip of his tongue. He was desperate to tell her, to beg her to never leave, but he held himself back. When they returned from this mission, he’d tell her how he felt. He didn’t want her to think the words were a meaningless result of their lovemaking.

“You fit so perfect against me.” He kissed the top of her head, wrapping her cooling body in his embrace. “Didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“I’ll still be feeling you tomorrow, but not because you hurt me.” She tilted her chin up at him. Those pretty lips were curved into a smile. He lowered his head and met her lips, pouring every word he couldn’t say into the kiss.

“Going to miss you a hell of a lot,” he said when they broke apart.

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