Page 36 of Her Steadfast Hero

Way to go, Sloane.

Her hand cupped his cheek. “I’m already wet.” She kissed him.

They finished undressing, and she checked his wound.

“You’re right, it’s okay. Don’t scare me like this again.”

“I won’t,” he lied. She looked at him and nodded. Knowing his words were a lie, but appreciating them anyway.

After a decadent shower, where he indulged in the softness of Sarah’s skin, he dragged her to the bed. “God, you’re beautiful.” He didn’t know how many days it had been anymore. Four years, five months and twenty-one days? Hell, he didn’t know today’s date, all that mattered was that he had her underneath him.

He pushed up on her thigh so that it rested over his arm, opening her to him. He looked down, and saw nothing but a pink, wet welcome and shuddered. He snagged the condom he’d brought from the bathroom and sheathed himself.

“Now. I need you now.” Looking up, he saw the same welcome reflected in her stormy gray eyes.

He thrust deep, and she moaned, her smile wide. He knew his was wider. Nothing had ever felt better. He shifted, and her thighs clamped around his hips. They found their rhythm, yearning, reaching.

“Deeper, harder,” she demanded.

Perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect. He gave her everything she asked for and reveled in it. Oh God, he felt everything in his body begin to tighten. No, not without her.

Shudders wracked her body and her nails bit into his ass.

“David,” she wailed.

He was lost. Nothing had ever felt better.

When he opened his eyes and looked into the soft gray eyes, he realized he’d been wrong. He was found.

* * *

“You need to sleep.”

“I can’t, baby.”

He found clean clothes that Carmen had somehow found for him and started to put them on.

“I’m not talking as your lover. I’m talking as your nurse. Yes, you were wonderful in bed. Frankly, I don’t know how you managed it. You need sleep.”

Her words were strong, but there was something in her tone of voice…

“Sarah, what’s going on?”

“Nothing. Nothing’s going on. I told you, you almost died. You need to stay here and sleep.”

There it was. He almost died. Could he be more of an idiot? She stood there, her fists clenched by her sides, standing in her panties and bra. He put out his hand and waited. Finally, she took it. He drew her down on the tousled bed beside him.

“I’m not going to die.”

“You don’t know that. Don’t promise me something you can’t deliver on.” She reached out one trembling hand and traced his bandage. A tear trickled down her cheek.

“My job isn’t combat. My job is boring. I do investigations.” She continued to trace his bandage. He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look up at him. “You understand that don’t you, Sarah? My job is boring.”

“You almost died. I couldn’t cope if you died.” Another tear fell. “Do you have to go?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“But the SEALs are here. You told me they’re staying. There’s Joaquin, can’t he work with them?” He willed her to look him in the eye. She finally did, and his heart almost broke.