“What happened to him? Riley’s father?”
“Died. Car accident.”
Drew goes solid, and I lift off his chest to look up at his face. But, as normal, there is nothing to be read on his features.
“What is it?”
“When did this happen?”
I ignore his question. “What was that reaction about?”
He looks down, and I gasp when I see the heat in his eyes. Anger.
“When did he die?”
“The night he killed her. He was on the way to a small airport outside of the city. I only know that his plane never left, and his car was burned to bits. There was nothing left but a few teeth to identify him with.”
“There’s a lot of skeletons in my closet, Liv,” he oddly says, his voice deeper with his anger very present.
“Okay,” I hedge, not understanding where he’s coming from.
“You just gave me all of your sister, but I can’t give you all of those skeletons. I’m not sure I can ever give them all to you. There’s going to come a day that you might find out something about me that will make you wish you didn’t let me in.”
I feel my brow furrow and look at him, studying the intensity in his face.
“But I can promise you that there will never be a moment to fear me for as long as I’m in your life. Men like Ray, they’re the reason that I gave my life up for this career. As long as I’m here, you two won’t ever have to worry.”
“I don’t fear you.” I didn’t expect him to react so strongly, but it’s true. I don’t fear him.
He grunts. “Maybe you should, but I swear I won’t hurt you or Riley.”
“I know that.”
He goes silent and I rest my head against his chest, content despite the heaviness of what I just shared.
“Drew?”
“Hmm?”
“You don’t need to tell me about those skeletons, not unless you want to or you need to. I do need to know what’s going on that’s making you stick close to us, though. If you want a sample from my snack menu, you’re going to have to let me in on that before I let you in on me.”
“Fuck,” he hisses, one thickly muscled arm coming down to adjust the bulge in his pants, which just makes me lick my lips.
“I know you feel whatever this is between us. I feel it. I’m not asking for your secrets, but I am asking to be clued in if those secrets involve me or Riley.”
“Yeah, Liv. I feel it. First time in two fucking decades I’ve been alive again. Trust me, babe. I feel it.”
“I know the feeling. I didn’t realize I wasn’t content with what I had until you came along and started grunting your way into my life.”
His chest moves, but he doesn’t let the laugh out.
“Then tell me what’s going on, Drew. Tell me what’s going on and let’s just take this a day at a time and feel alive while we do it.”
“It’s not easy for me to let people in, Liv. It’s not easy for me to share this part of me with anyone outside of my team. To tell you what started me sticking close, I have to let you in.”
“If you’re worried I’m going to judge you—”
He cuts me off with a finger over my lips.
“I know you aren’t that person.”
I keep silent and let him work out his thoughts. I can tell he’s doing just that because the silence is full of his energy. I’m not sure what I thought he would say, but it wasn’t what I got.
“I work for the government, though you’ll never find any record of my employment. I’m essentially their ghost. The guys and I. We do what they can’t in the eyes of the law. That said, a man I’m hunting will be making contact close to you. I couldn’t take a chance that something could happen to you or Riley, so I decided to keep watch on you and the threat.”
“What? You didn’t even know us, Drew. Someone is going to contact me? What does that even mean?”
“Didn’t have to know you to know I wanted to know you. That’s all I can tell you right now. Please trust me enough to let me keep you two safe, and when the job is over, I’ll tell you more. I’m not keeping it from you to be a dick. I’m keeping it from you to keep you safe.”
“That doesn’t make me feel safe.”
“I know. Doesn’t feel right to keep keeping it from you. Just not sure how to explain it without making you scared.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
“Been working on this case for a while, Liv. I can’t risk you having knowledge of it and it messing anything up.” He holds up his hands. “I don’t mean that in a slight, but I need you acting like life is normal.”
She’s quiet, holding my gaze and mulling over what I’ve told her.
“It’s scary to trust blindly. Thank you for sharing that with me. So what happens now? I just pretend someone isn’t out there looking for me and wait until you tell me more?”
“Yeah, babe. Trust isn’t the easiest thing to earn, I know that. Thanks for sharing with me, too. Now we continue as normal, and you let me get to know you in the process. How does that sound?”
“Scary. Riley’s already attached to Drew. Don’t say stuff like that unless you plan to be around for a while. I’ll admit, I would like that, but we can still dance in the fire that burns whenever we’re near without involving her. Not to mention the big unknown ‘someone.’”
“Too late for that, Olivia. Way too late for that.”
I shift, moving so that I’m looking into his brilliant eyes. “Yeah, I think you might be right. Guess she isn’t the only one hooked on a giant.”
His smile comes out of nowhere. It shocks me to the point that I gasp loudly, only making him smile even bigger. My God, I knew he was handsome, but I wasn’t expecting this. He looks so much younger than when he’s so serious. Almost boyish, in that all American way. I bet if he shaved his beard, he would look the part. Perfectly straight, bright white teeth, and those lines that I just knew proved a past of much laughter are all on display.
“Okay, Drew. I’m going to trust you. Please don’t make me regret this.”
His smile grows, and I feel lightheaded by the sight.
“I think I’d like to show you my snack menu now,” I mumble, still looking at his mouth, transfixed by his handsomeness.
Right before I lose sight of his smile, he growls deep in his throat and crushes his mouth to mine.
Holy shit.
Alive, indeed.
Time to trust and let life happen.
“Bad Intentions” by Niykee Heaton
I shift our bodies, taking me to my back with her on top of me. Just like earlier, I can feel her heat against my cock, burning me through our clothing. Her breasts heavy against my chest. She shifts when we roll, spreading her legs wider, dipping her arms so that her weight is resting on her forearms with her elbows digging into the couch … her hands going into my hair. Something I’ve noticed about her, she definitely likes my hair. I never imagined it would feel this good having her fingers tangled in those annoyingly long strands. I don’t give a fuck if I’ve hated this hair for years, and it no longer matters that it was only grown to help disguise me. I’m thankful as fuck for it now.