Page 44 of The Fallen

My preoccupation with his appearance must have amused him because the corner of his mouth turned up.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked, unable to control a smile of my own.

"I was just thinking you're too far away."

My fingers came up to trace his dark eyebrow and the scar above it. "While I'm sitting here on your lap with your arm around me, you mean?"

"Mmm."

He had a way of making me forget all the terrible things that had happened. Later, when night came and there were no more distractions, the worst of it would creep in again. For now, I'd allow myself to get lost in the sweetness of our touches and words. I flattened my palm against his chest and traced the tip of my nose along the length of his, surprised by how fast a simple connection could get my heart beating. "Is that close enough?" I asked, feeling the deepness of the breath that moved through him.

He moved his hand higher, cradling the back of my head. The ghost of a smile hovered at his mouth. "Still too far away."

Before I could draw my next breath, his mouth closed in on mine, and I made a soft sound of surprise in my throat. His lips were warm and firm and… God,everythingI'd needed at just the right time. I hadn't expected to be fighting for my life today, but I'd never pictured it ending like this either. Sparks ignited inside me, and I closed my eyes, giving in to the moment. His mouth cruised over mine with the same kind of calm confidence that he displayed in every area of his life. His lips were sensual, his whiskers brushing against my skin.

His touch had goosebumps rushing over me, and emotion flowed through me as I sank my hand into his hair and kissed him back. I turned my upper body toward him and wound my arms around his neck, trying to get closer still. There was nothing hurried in our kiss, no thrusting tongues or panting breaths, no pressure for more. It was comforting, a relaxed slide into intimacy after so long without anything like this in my life.

He made me feel like I was in safe hands. Hands that had the power to mess with the wiring in my nervous system the second he decided to step up the pace. Sometime soon, I'd press every button to make him lose that impressive control, but for now—in this moment—the pace was nothing but perfect.

Cruz seemed to instinctively understand when to pull back. He kissed me softly then eased away just enough to rest his forehead against mine. As we breathed the same air and the warmth between us lingered, I trailed my fingers down his cheek and indulged in the urge to stroke his dark stubble.

So much had happened to us today, but pushing through tough situations and coming out the other side had given me the confidence I needed to head into new territory tomorrow.

And I wanted to take on all of it—with Cruz.

"When we leave in the morning," I said, "and we go to places neither of us have been before, do you know I’ll do the same for you? Whatever it takes?"

He didn't need time to think it over. "I do, and we'll be ready for whatever comes next. You and me—together."

THE END