He dipped forward, took her mouth in a soft kiss. “If that’s any indication of how it’s always going to be between us, you might kill me before this Reaper guy has a chance.”
She laughed, chin quivering as she swallowed. Hard. “That… You… I’ve never…”
He simply smiled, kissed her again. Longer, deeper. “Me, neither, sweetheart.” He thumbed her jaw. “Would you like to have a shower, or are we throwing caution to the wind, saying fuck it, and passing out?”
“Ignoring the fact I’m not sure I can even walk, what are the chances we’ll have time in the morning?”
“With everyone searching for answers? I’d say left of zero.”
That earned him a chuckle before she tilted her head, looked at him as if he’d freed her soul. “You won’t let me fall, right? Because my legs…”
“Never.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Unless you’re falling for me.”
“Already did that.”
He froze for a moment, the honesty in her voice more than humbling before he grinned, nuzzled her neck. “Good, then you’ve almost caught up to me. C’mon.”
It took a moment to roll, actually peel himself off her when all he wanted was more time. Sloane stood on shaky legs, looking as wrecked as he felt as he tossed her a hoodie, tugged on some boxers and a shirt, then took her hand in his. He stayed close, ready to hike her into his arms if she so much as twitched wrong, as they crept out of their room, down a couple doors to a shower room.
The water hissed as he turned on the taps, warming enough they wouldn’t freeze before he ushered her beneath the spray. They didn’t linger, washing the important parts before grabbing towels and drying off. Nick tsked when she leaned against the counter, looking as if she wanted to sleep right there, before gathering her in his arms, heading back to their room.
Sloane sighed. “I could have walked.”
“I know. That’s not why I’m carrying you.”
“Then, why?”
He stopped at their door, kicked it open. “Can I just take care of you for a bit without you thinking I’m questioning your strength?”
Her mouth hinged open before she shook her head. “And just like that, I’ve fallen even more.” She lifted her head, kissed him. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “For shutting up?”
“Absolutely.” She traced her thumb along his jaw. “And for loving me.”
He elbowed the door shut, then crossed to the bed, placed her on the edge. “Couldn’t stop if I tried. Now, scoot. Something tells me we’re not going to get much sleep before someone’s busting down the door with new intel.”
Sloane’s breath caught, the weight of his words filling the room before she shuffled over, curling into his chest as soon as he slipped beneath the covers, her head tucked into his shoulder, one hand resting on his ribs. He gathered her close, drinking in the hint of citrus on her skin from the soap mixed with a sweet scent that was uniquely hers. One he knew he’d recognize anywhere.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead, loving the way her breath feathered across his skin, her gentle weight grounding him. While he’d had a handful of relationships — lovers, really — they’d never felt this right. This was freeing. As if he’d been playing the part before instead of living.
Sloane hummed, drawing abstract patterns on his chest. “When this is over, you owe me a full week in bed. Just us. No assassins. No teammates ready to barge in.”
“I can promise the bed and no teammates, but no assassins… Sweetheart, that’s just another day in the life.”
“The one you were supposed to leave behind.”
“I tried. They followed me.”
“Fair.” She smiled against his skin. “Fine, I’ll settle for the bed and no buddies walking in on us. But there had better be a view.”
“Trust me, it can’t get any better than from where I’m looking, right now.”
Sloane stilled, then levered up, kissed him. He palmed her shoulder, slid one hand up into her hair, held her as he responded in kind, deepening the kiss once they’d grabbed abreath. Heat built beneath his skin, that one small act quickly escalating.
Clothes flew off, landing on the edge of the bed before he levered up, rolled on top, nipping at her neck as she wrapped herself around him. She whispered his name, holding his gaze as he slowly sank inside, freezing once he’d bottomed out.
He stared at her, loving the way her eyes closed as she pressed her head into the pillow. “God, you’re beautiful.” A slow shift out, then in. “I’m gonna need a week just to regain some semblance of control because you… Damn.”
