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Chapter 34
Neither of them said much as Gideon drove back to the compound. But he put his hand on her thigh, and Alex pressed her right hand on top of it. Twined their fingers together. When she glanced at Gideon, studying the road in front of him, she saw his mouth curled up in a tiny smile.
He kept hold of her hand all the way back to the compound, as if afraid she’d disappear if he wasn’t holding onto her.
Gideon had nothing to worry about. She was finished running. There was nowhere she’d rather be than beside Gideon.
Once he’d parked the SUV in the garage, he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to the apartment building. They didn’t see anyone on the short walk, and Alex was glad. She didn’t want to rehash what had happened yesterday with Spence or Nico or Brynn. Didn’t want to discuss what had happened at the safe house. All she wanted was some time alone with Gideon.
After they stepped into Gideon’s apartment, he engaged the lock and flipped the privacy lock above it. Then he turned and wrapped his arms around her. Held her tightly against his chest. “How’re you doing?” he murmured as he pressed a kiss to her neck.
“Glad to finally be alone,” she sighed into his shoulder. “I know we had to talk to Mel and Dev. The sheriff. But all I wanted was to be alone. With you. To be able to take a deep breath and relax.”
“You’ve got it,” he said, brushing a kiss over her hair. “Want to take a nap?”
Easing away from him, she studied him for a long moment. “Are you kidding? You think I want to sleep?”
He nodded at her cast. “You have a newly broken arm that was used as a weapon to stop Kramer. And that’s on top of confronting Sergei and Yuri to save your ex. I’d think you’d want to sleep for at least a week.”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah. I’m tired. But there’s only one thing I want to do in bed right now, and it’s not sleeping.”
He stared down at her, his eyes darkening as his pupils dilated. “You have to know I want that, too,” he said, his voice a brush of velvet against her skin. “But we should probably wait until you’ve had some sleep.”
“Do I get a vote in this decision?” she asked.
“You always get a vote, Alex.” He dragged his knuckles over her cheek. Cupped her ear and smoothed his fingertip over her earlobe. “But I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“God, I hope so,” she said. “But I plan on napping with you, not by myself. After I’ve checked out today’s underwear.”
His mouth twitched. “Maybe I’m wearing tightie-whities.”
“Maybe you are. But I’m betting you chose something a lot more interesting than that.”
She took his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom, and he went willingly. Once in the room, she gestured at his jeans. “Off.”
As he unbuttoned and unzipped, he kept his gaze on her. “Bossy, aren’t you?” he said, smiling.
“You complaining?”
“God, no.”
He shoved the jeans to his knees, revealing black boxer briefs covered with a pattern of flames. She laughed. “So appropriate,” she said. “Since you’re so hot.”
To her surprise, his cheeks reddened. “I’m glad you think so.” He leaned toward her and brushed a kiss over her mouth. “Because you’re the hottest woman I’ve ever met.”
Kicking his jeans aside, he dragged her into his arms. “And I intend to show you how much I want you.”
Glancing at his flame-covered boxer briefs, she licked her lips. “You already are. And I’m enjoying the visuals.”
Laughing, he kissed her and slid her sling off her shoulder. Tossed it on the floor, then eased her cast through the sleeve of her loose shirt. Tossed the shirt on the floor with her sling.
He stared at her lilac bra for a long moment. “How did you manage to get this on without my help?”
She grinned as she unhooked the front clasp and let it fall away from her breasts. “I was very motivated. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You succeeded.” He slid his hands down her chest and fumbled with the snap of her jeans. Tugged them down her hips, until she stood in front of him in a matching pair of lilac underwear. “I’m finding I’m very partial to purple,” he said, his voice hoarse. “But then I’m partial to whatever you’re wearing.”
“Help me get these jeans off?” she asked.
