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Like I explained, she was the easiest way in. Liam and the others weren’t as trusting. Not like Imogene had always been.
I planned to use that trust to my advantage.
I just needed to get my head back in the game. Remember why I was doing this. Why I was here.
“Bear in mind.”
I snapped my head up, meeting Imogene’s eyes again. “What was that?”
She leaned toward me and pointed at the crossword clue I’d absentmindedly underlined. “Ten across. Consider an imaginary animal,” she read out loud. “Bear in mind.”
I counted the boxes. When it fit, an unexpected chuckle escaped my throat. It felt foreign. When was the last time I’d laughed? Probably five years ago.
“Impressive.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised. She always had an uncanny ability to make sense out of the most obscure crossword clues.
“I love crossword puzzles.” A nostalgic gleam filled her eyes. “I used to do them every morning with…” She trailed off, the breeze blowing her hair in front of her face as she stared into the distance for a moment before clearing her throat. “Well, thanks for watching my stuff.”
She spun from me, balancing the tray containing two coffee cups in one hand while she attempted to pick up her board with the other.
“Let me help you with that.” I scrambled to my feet, taking the tray from her so she could wrangle her board.
As she did, her shirt rode up, revealing a sliver of skin by her hipbone. My eyes were glued to a familiar symbol in black ink, the sight of it stealing my breath. It was a design I knew too well, three interconnected loops and a spiral, almost resembling the shape of a butterfly’s wings.
A memory rushed back, barreling into me with the speed of an avalanche, causing my heart to stutter and race in my chest.
“What are you doing?” Imogene murmured, her voice raspy from sleep.
“Touching you,” I crooned, peppering soft kisses along her shoulder blades.
“That’s not what I’m talking about. The pattern you’re tracing… What is it?”
“The symbol of unconditional love.”
She sighed, her body relaxing into mine, as if the reminder of the connection we shared was all she needed.
It was allIneeded.
“Because no matter what happens in the future, no matter where we are, I will always love you.”
“And I’ll always love you.” She grabbed my hand in hers, pulling my arms tighter around her. Then she rolled onto her back, meeting my eyes. “Can I see?”
“What do you mean?”
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned over the side of the bed and grabbed a black marker out of the nightstand drawer.
“I want to see.” She handed it to me.
I arched a brow. “You want me to…mark you?”
She ran her fingers through my disheveled, dark hair. The feel of her nails digging into my scalp caused my erection to harden against her once more. It didn’t matter it had only been mere minutes since I was last buried inside her. It wasn’t enough. I needed her again.
Needed her forever.
“You already have, Samuel.” She covered her heart with her hand, her dark eyes overflowing with devotion. “In here.”
Groaning, I lowered my lips to hers, our tongues briefly tangling. I slowly snaked down her body, leaving hot kisses on every inch of her, finally coming to a stop as I settled between her legs.
