“Grace. Oh, Grace, baby.”
I remained silent and completely paralyzed for another three seconds before the spell was broken. As I ran toward him, he threw off a blanket, moving awkwardly toward me. But he caught me when I jumped into his arms, swinging me around and around.
“You’re here. I knew you’d come back. I knew it,” I managed while gasping for air, sobbing uncontrollably.
Viper allowed my body to slide down his slowly until he was able to grip my face. “I had no intention of staying away. Never. Never.”
As soon as he crushed his mouth over mine, I sensed we weren’t alone, but I just didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was home. He was safe.
And he was mine.
CHAPTER 24
Viper
“I love your furry butts, but you need to leave us alone just for a little while.” With Grace in my arms, her legs wrapped around mine, I still managed to climb the stairs, the dogs dutifully following.
Not only were they barking up a storm, but they were also nipping at my heels, determined to get some attention. Once inside the room, we both peered down at the two of them, laughing together.
The sun would soon be peeking over the horizon, the horrors of the night already a distant memory. And by God, as much as I adored the dogs, I needed time with my woman.
Mine.
After the harrowing experience, I felt it was my right to claim her.
Especially after what I’d been told by more than a dozen people the moment I walked onto the University of Montana’s campus. I’d been bombarded with cameras in my face, people rushing around not only me, but all the other smokejumpers who’d walked down that mountain together. We were a team and when something happened to one of us, it happened to all.
I’d been shocked at the reception, the well wishes and cheers something I wouldn’t soon forget. But goddamn it, when I hadn’t seen Grace right there in the front of the line, I’d been devastated.
Until her friend had popped over to me, guiding me through the crowd and pointing me in the right direction. I’d had to fight off reporters, questions coming from every direction. I hadn’t cared. When I’d seen Grace huddled on the bench, I knew I couldn’t hold back my heart any longer. How could any man in their goddamn right mind?
“Shoo, babies. We’ll be out… shortly,” Grace cooed and used her foot to close the door. Her laugh was something I could never get enough of.
We didn’t waste any time removing our clothes, managing to do so at the same time. When I thumped her down on the bed, she immediately wrapped one leg around mine as she rubbed my arms.
“I can’t believe you’re here and in one piece. You saved your teammate. You’ll have to tell me more, maybe tomorrow. Although it is tomorrow, isn’t it? Happy Fourth of July.”
I cupped her face with one hand while placing the index finger of the other across her lips. “Shush.”
“But I have?—”
“I said shush,” I interrupted, grinning as I did. “You definitely talk too much. Maybe I’ll stuff your mouth with something to keep you from talking.” In response, she licked her lips.
The little brat. Did she not feel my thick cock pressing between her legs? Could she not tell by the wild look in my eyes I planned on ravaging her?
“Baby, we have months, maybe years to go over the details of what happened on that mountain. Not now. I have other things in mind. Okay? No, donotanswer.”
Maybe I just needed to explain things a little differently, showing her who was boss.
I captured her mouth to start, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. She rolled her arms over my shoulders, moaning into the kiss. I wasn’t gentle, owning her mouth like I owned everything else on her luscious body.
Thinking of her had kept me under the protective shield even as the fire had roared over us, the sound like a tornado. I’d never experienced anything like it and never wanted to again.
I slid my hand away and onto the bed, pulling some weight off her, but she wanted me close. She rubbed her hands down my back as I explored her mouth as if tasting her for the first time. The passion was explosive, perhaps more so than before.
But there was more of her I needed to taste all over again.
The moment I broke the kiss, I pressed my lips against her heated skin while sliding between her legs. She didn’t stop me, her moans fueling the hunger that I couldn’t seem to satisfy. I kept my eyes on her since I’d feared I’d never seen her againwhile moving lower. As soon as I gathered her legs into my arms, her body stiffened.
