She lifted her gaze to his. “I’m not wholly innocent, you see,” she said. “Had it not been for my sons, I might very well have become the person the world believes me to be, forever ignoring that small voice whispering that it was wrong.”
“It must have been so … lonely,” he said.
Surprise lit her eyes at his understanding. It shamed him. “Then you came along,” she said. “This nearly inept, reckless agent.”
He snickered.
She smiled. “And you saw me. For the first time, you saw me. I could talk to you as I hadn’t spoken to anyone. You reminded me that I was—I am—alive. I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time.”
He scanned her face. Saw past that remarkable beauty and into the burning soul inside.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered.
“Like what?” he murmured.
But she shook her head and got to her feet, walking to the door.
Ruhn caught up to her before she could reach for the knob. “Lidia.”
She paused, but didn’t look at him.
He laid a hand on her cheek. Gently turned her face back to his. Her skin was so soft, so warm. “Lidia,” he said roughly. “Finding out who you are … it fucked with my head. To know you’re the Hind, but also Lidia—also Day. My Day. But now …” He swallowed.
“Now?” Her gaze dipped to his mouth.
His cock tightened at that gaze. He said, voice near guttural, “Now I don’t fucking care who you are, so long as you’re mine.” Her eyes shot to his, again full of surprise. “Because I’m yours, Day. I’m fucking yours.”
Her face crumpled. And he couldn’t stand the sight of her crying, the relief and joy. So he leaned forward, bringing his mouth to hers.
The kiss didn’t start sweetly. It was openmouthed—teeth clacking, tongues clashing. Her hands wrapped around his neck, and he hauled her to him, pulling her flush against his chest.
Yes, yes, yes.
His hand coasted over her ass and he squeezed, drawing a moan from deep in her throat. She pulled her mouth from his, though. “Ruhn.”
He stilled. “What?” If she wanted to stop, he’d stop. Whatever she wanted, he’d give her.
She ran her fingers over his pecs. He shuddered as she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he breathed, nipping at her bottom lip. He guided her toward the bed, then onto it. She traced her finger over where his lip ring had been ripped out. Then his brow ring.
“I couldn’t stand it,” she whispered, putting her mouth to his brow. “I couldn’t …” She began shaking. He tightened his arms around her.
“I’m here,” he said. “We made it.”
She trembled harder, as if all that she had experienced and done were now breaking free in aftershocks.
“I’m here,” he said again, and leaned down to kiss the side of her neck. “I’m here.” He kissed below her ear. Her hands came up, caressing a line down his back. She stopped shaking. “I’m here,” he said, kissing the base of her throat. Tugging down the zipper on the front of her tactical bodysuit.
She wasn’t wearing a bra. Her breasts, lush, high palmfuls tipped in rosy pink, spilled out into his hands. He swore, and couldn’t stop himself from dipping his head to suck one into his mouth.
She inhaled sharply, and the sound was kindling to his cock. He grazed his teeth over her nipple, tugging lightly.
Her hands wandered around his waist, aiming toward his front, and—yeah, not happening. He wanted to explore first. Not removing his mouth from that delicious breast, he grabbed her wrists in one hand and pinned them above her head, settling more firmly between her legs.
She flinched.
It was barely more than a flicker, but he felt it. The slight tightening in her body. He halted, raised his head. Looked down at her. At the hands he’d pinned—
That fucker.
Ruhn let go immediately.
He’d kill him. He’d rip Pollux limb from limb, feather by feather for putting that flinch there, for hurting her—
Her eyes softened. She laid her palms on either side of his face and whispered, “Just an old memory.”
One that shouldn’t be there. One that Pollux had put there.
“Ruhn.”
He took her wrists in his hands and gently pressed a kiss to each one. Then laid them on her chest, hands over her heart, kissing her as he did so.
“Ruhn,” she said again, but he sprawled out beside her. Looped an arm over her middle.