Page 95 of Trusting a Warrior

“If you’d known Cade’s state of mind in that moment, you would have erased it.” She squeezed the back of his neck. “If the guy who wrote it knew, he wouldn’t have written it. But you didn’t know, and the things that were done, the things that were said, were things that’d been done and said dozens of times before. Right?”

Geo stared straight ahead.

“You didn’t do anything differently that night than what you’d always done. Someone thought Cade needed a wake-up call and wrote that on the board. You agreed, and you didn’t erase it.” Lani paused. “That message didn’t kill him. He killed himself.”

A tiny sob broke from Geo’s lips, quickly suppressed.

“You regret that it was the last straw for him—”

The next sob was harsher, deeper, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“—but you didn’t know. You. Didn’t. Know. And it’s not your fault.”

She held on to him while he shuddered against her, although he managed to hold back the tears.

All around, beachgoers went about their daily lives, while the two people huddled in the sand right in front of them were fighting to put theirs back together.

“You’re not alone, Geo,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m here with you.”

And I don’t know how I’m ever going to let you go.

Chapter Twenty

Lani followed him home, the cherry-red of his motorcycle taillight glowing bright in the gathering darkness.

Inside her apartment, she turned into Geo’s arms, her palms sliding up his chest to link around his neck. “Why don’t we get in the shower and have a good cry?”

He smiled, his hands settling on her hips as he started inching her down the hall. “How about we get in the shower and skip the crying part?”

“But that’s the beauty of it.” She stood on tiptoe to brush her mouth against his. “Whether you choose to cry or not, no one will ever know, will they? It’s between you and the shower.”

Geo didn’t answer, just reached behind his neck to unclasp her arms and ease them to her sides. “Turn around,” he said softly. When she did, he gathered her hair in his hand and draped it over her shoulder before leaning down to place an open-mouthed kiss on her exposed nape.

“Mmm,” he breathed. “There’s a distinct possibility that you’re overdressed for this shower. It’s a, er, way more casual event.”

“Ha. Did I misread the invitation?”

“I think you did.” Trailing his tongue along the side of her neck, he murmured, “Luckily, I’m here to help.”

“Yes. Lucky, lucky me.” She’d meant the words to sound teasing, but instead they came out fervent, with an emotional undertone that flushed her entire body hot.

“Baby...” Mouthing her earlobe, Geo eased the zipper of her dress down, inch by inch, until it sagged to the waist. With an expert flick of his fingers, the fastening of her bra popped open, making her gasp.

“Wow. You’re pretty good at this wardrobe director stuff,” she quavered. “I’ll be the best, uh, undressed woman at the party.”

“Everyone will want to know what you’re not wearing,” he agreed modestly. “It’s true.”

Chuckling, he moved around in front of her and tipped her chin up to gaze down into her eyes. “So beautiful,” he whispered before brushing the softest of kisses over her lips. Holding on to her hand, he helped her step out of the dress and bra now pooled around her ankles. Then he knelt in front of her and hooked his fingers in the sides of her delicate lace panties.

As he eased them down her legs, Lani stroked his hair, her hand shaking with so much tenderness she felt choked with it. Geo glanced up at her, then leaned forward to nuzzle the swell of her belly, his arms wrapping around her hips.

“Oh, how I wish...” Lani mouthed the words as he drifted his lips slowly, almost worshipfully, up her body until he was standing again, his breathing slightly ragged.

“Is it time to go to the party?” she croaked. “’Cause I’m ready.”

“Yeah? Me, too.” Geo yanked his T-shirt over his head and shucked his jeans. Her eyes dropped helplessly to his cock, which bobbed in between them, the swollen tip already slick with excitement.

“Oh, my.” She gave him a few strokes, which made him hiss. “Lovin’ this party favor.”