He laid me back, spreading me open with reverence, his mouth hot and hungry against my skin as he kissed his way lower.
“I can’t wait to taste you,” he said hoarsely. “I swear it’s like a drug. I can’t get enough.”
And then he was on me.
His tongue teased and stroked, coaxing me higher, until I was gasping, clenching the sheets in my fists. The need to keep quiet only made the pleasure sharper. I bit down on my lip, muffling what I could, but Kai pressed harder, humming low against me, until a cry ripped out of my throat anyway.
I snatched up a pillow and shoved it over my face, smothering the sound as my climax tore through me. My hips bucked helplessly against his mouth, his hands anchoring me in place as the pulses rolled sharp and relentless, leaving my legs trembling.
When I finally collapsed, limp and quaking, the pillow slipped from my grip. Kai lifted his head, his mouth wet, eyes blazing. “Sweet Jesus,” he rasped. “I could stay here all night. You have no idea what you do to me.”
I was still shuddering when he crawled up over me, his body hot and solid as it pressed me into the mattress. My limbs felt boneless, my mind hazy from the aftershocks. Then his face was above mine, his eyes fierce and tender all at once.
For a heartbeat, I just stared at him, dazed. Then the need surged back, raw and undeniable. I curled my fingers into his shoulders, dragging him down. “Kai,” I whispered, breathless. “I want you so bad.”
A guttural sound tore from his chest as he kissed me, his hips settling between my thighs. He pushed into me slowly, inch by inch, stretching me until I gasped, clutching at him, overwhelmed by the fullness.
“God…” he groaned, his voice breaking. “You feel so damn good.”
Every thrust was slow at first, deliberate, his jaw clenched with control as if he was engraving the feel of me into memory. My body rose to meet him, hips lifting in desperate rhythm, breaths tangling with his until the rhythm frayed. Then his control slipped, movements stronger, deeper, each stroke wringing gasps out of both of us.
“Kai…” My nails dug into his back, pleasure spiraling.
“I’ve got you,” he rasped, kissing me hard, his pace finally breaking loose. “Let go for me.”
And I did. I shattered around him, dragging him with me, his release crashing into mine in a rush of heat and hoarse groans.
We clung to each other, trembling, our hearts thundering as the storm eased. His weight sank into me, heavy but comforting, our breaths slowly syncing. He kissed my temple softly, lingering there, and the tenderness of it made my chest ache.
For a moment I floated in the warmth of him, weightless, dazed. But then the memory of our fight cut through, sharp and raw. The fear of it, the way I’d thought I’d lost him, pressed hard against my ribs.
I clutched his shoulder tighter. My voice came out small. “There was a moment earlier tonight when I wasn’t sure you’d ever want to see me again. Or ever trust me again.”
Kai lifted his head, his gaze fierce and unflinching. His thumb brushed across my lips, grounding me. “Jesus, woman,” he said hoarsely. “I love you so much it hurts. And I would trust you with my life. With my heart. With everything.”
The words washed over me, too big to take in all at once. For a moment I just stared, stunned, my eyes stinging. No one had ever said anything like that to me. No one had ever meant it like that.
My lips trembled as I finally whispered, “I know exactly what you mean. Because I feel the same. I love you, too, Kai Rodman. Like I’ve never loved anyone.”
He gathered me close, holding me tight, our hearts pounding together in the dark.
We’d been through hell. But this—this was heaven.
CHAPTER 34
KAI
The curtains leaked stripes of sunlight across the bed, warming Jasmine’s skin where she sprawled against me. Her palm rested over my chest, light but steady, like she’d planted her flag there.
Mine.
That thought settled in my bones, heavy and sure. For weeks it had felt like it would never end—the smugglers, the threats, the constant coil of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now it was quiet. For the first time, I believed it was really over.
She stirred, eyelashes fluttering before her eyes blinked open. Sleepy, soft, beautiful as hell.
“Hey,” she whispered, her voice scratchy with sleep.
“Hey,” I said softly, brushing my thumb over her cheek.
