Page 190 of Deadfall

I leaned in, took his lower lip between my teeth and gently sucked it into my mouth. Chocolate, and Seven, and pure sin exploded across my tongue. He groaned a quiet exhalation of relief. I let his lip pop free, and my hand moved to the side of his face where I caressed the skin of his jaw and gazed into those eyes that I’d disappeared into whenever I’d felt in danger. I think I’d known for a while that he was my safe place.

I pressed my lips to his and sealed the choice I’d make in this, and every other, timeline. His hands traveled up my back and gathered in my hair as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved, his tongue found mine and raw need erupted in my veins. The stars seemed to fall around us in swirls of deep blue and forest green, as we tangled together, and I lost myself in his passion. He held me like I was something precious, and the ache of how that made me feel was catastrophic to my heart.

We separated enough to gasp in the cool evening air. A brilliant smile overtook his face as his thumb trailed along the skin below my ear, and he laughed softly.

“I wondered if I’d ever be this lucky,” he whispered.

“What are you talking about? You always win.” I smiled back as I played with a strand of his hair at the back of his neck. “At least before I came into the picture.” My smile turned into a smirk.

“Oh yeah? You think you can beat me?”

“Yup. Anytime, anywhere,” I said playfully. “Anything.”

“Anything, huh?” I watched his eyes jump over my shoulder to the pool and realization hit.

“No—Seven—don’t even think about it!” I wrapped my arms firmly around his neck.

“Think about what?” He gave me the most innocent look ever, and I burst out laughing.

“I see that look, you’re about to do something devious,” I said.

He laughed and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. “You think so? Like what?”

“Like throw me in—”

“Like this?”

I shrieked as Seven pitched forward, and I had the brief sensation of falling before I hit the water with Seven. It may have been the end of summer, but the water didn’t get the memo. It was freezing. Seven’s arms disappeared and I popped up for air, sputtering and wiping water from my eyes. The sweatshirt was impossibly heavy as it became waterlogged.

“Seven!”

I wrestled the wet fabric off and threw it at him as he came into view. He laughed with absolute joy, and that mischievous energy I loved about him lit up every part of his face. I felt a hand snake around my waist and I was yanked into him. My legs wrapped around his hips and I couldn’t have wiped the smile from my face.

The briefest thought hit me—I was happy. Fear of it all disappearing made a shiver race down my spine. Seven noticed the shadow in my eyes and walked us to the steps. There was a deep knowing in his gaze. He leaned in and nipped my ear.

“You’re allowed to be happy, baby girl,” he rumbled.

“What if it gets taken away from me?” I whispered, not even wanting to voice it out loud. “Again?”

He ran his thumb over my lower lip and kissed me. Lightly at first. I tasted chlorine and that intoxicating taste of Seven I already had started to crave.

“You’re allowed to have this moment, right here, right now,” he said against my lips. “Let the future be what it needs to be. Don’t give it the power to steal from the present.”

I was afraid. But, I knew he was right.

“Besides,” he said, his cocky attitude back in full force. “I’m lucky, remember? I always win and you’re my prize, so by default I think you’re good.”

I laughed because it was so ridiculous. “Is that how it works?”

He answered with a kiss, and I decided maybe he was right.

91

SEVEN

My ribs ached from the sudden movement, but I decided it was worth it the minute I had her wrapped around me, all limbs and warm skin. Her kiss swept me away and for the first time in a long time, everything felt right. Our kiss was vast and viscerally intimate, but still playful on the edges. Our tongues danced until we were breathless once more. I rested my forehead against hers, and realized this is what I’d wanted all along.

Not the kiss—although that was awesome.