Page 173 of What Remains

My pulse jumps in anticipation. I suspect it always will when it comes to this man.

“You’re not walking out of this room without remembering exactly who’s yours.”

Heat coils in my stomach. “What if I can’t even walk after all the naughty things you still have planned to do with me?”

His expression shifts, from hunger to something deeper. Possessive, but in a way that makes me feel safe. Treasured. “I’ll pick you up before you ever have a chance to fall, and you know it.”

“E?” I fist his hair with both hands, a deep breath leaving my chest.

“Yes, my naughty, troublemaking sweetheart?” He catches my laugh with his mouth, turning it into a kiss.

Coming up for air is a challenge when something feels so good. “When we get to the States, I want you to take me to the place that feels the most like home for you, even if that’s not your dad’s place. I want to go wherever you’re⁠—”

“If I’m with you . . . I am home.”

CHAPTER 63

Gwen

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - THREE WEEKS LATER

I look up from my screen to see Easton hovering in the doorway to Dad’s office. Closing my rig, I point to the lid and fake pout. “Still no stickers.”

“I know, I know,” he says with a smile as I stand and circle the desk, walking past a wall of framed commendations and unit patches. “I have them. I’m just waiting for the right time to give them to you.” He lightly bops his finger to the tip of my nose, then kisses my forehead.

After all the chaos and fallout from the Molly situation, we had an incredible few weeks together. He took me flying over his hometown, and we tied up some remaining loose ends with the case two weeks ago. We also got to hang out at his sister’s place in New York for a bit. It was absolute heaven.

“I hate that you have to leave.” I trace the exposed vein in his forearm down to the braided leather bracelets I picked out for him in Singapore. “Sure you don’t need me?”

“I’ll always need you.” His hands go to my waist. “But I wouldn’t want to ruin your girls’ night, and this is an easy in-and-out thing. No worrying. Okay?”

Yeah, well, I’ll always worry. Especially when I don’t know the details. “Ah yes, the dinner that we’ll be having at the White House, because you overprotective men don’t want us out for a night on the town.”

He arches a brow and dips his chin to find my eyes. “Do you blame your dad after the last time?”

I scrunch my nose. “Guess not, but how will I dance on the table there? I can’t get into any trouble⁠—”

“What kind of trouble do you want to get in, miss?” He drops his mouth over mine, catching my bottom lip, holding it captive for a second.

“Only the good kind. You know, with you when you come back to me.” My hands journey up his chest and to the sides of his neck.

“In that case, I better hurry so I can get back.” He draws his hands to my cheeks and claims my mouth like he owns it, and he absolutely does.

“All right, all right,” Dad grumbles from somewhere behind us. “We’ll never leave if you two keep this goodbye up much longer.”

Easton kisses me once more, taking his time anyway despite the audience. His boldness only turns me on.

When he lets me go, I turn around to find both Dad and Carter there waiting. “Just the three of you?” I lock my arms over my chest. “What kind of op is this, anyway?”

“Liam’s joining, too,” Dad adds casually.

“Ah, so you need the best pilot on the planet, two of the best snipers, and . . .” I glance at Carter. “You bringing your full utensil arsenal on this one, big guy?” Okay, so I can’t help myself sometimes. It’s fun to poke bears.

Carter rolls his eyes, which is kind of adorable considering what a grump he is.

“Be safe tonight,” Dad says like an order.

“I’ll be at the White House. No safer place to be other than Air Force One.” My hands drop to my hips. “Which you arranged.”