And it was his intention to be at her side to help her every time she needed to go outside for as long as she would let him.
He knocked on her hotel room door, hoping she was awake, but he also wanted her to be sleeping. She deserved it.
Still, the sound of her footsteps after his light knock set butterflies loose in his chest.
Jenna answered the door in nothing but an oversized Linear Tactical T-shirt, and everything he’d wanted to say went out the window. He wasn’t sure who moved first—whether he pushed through the door or Jenna tugged him inside. But it didn’t matter. He tossed the crutches aside and pulled her to him. Their mouths met, hot and hungry, as the door clicked shut.
He was breathless when he finally lifted his mouth from hers. “Believe it or not, I’d actually planned on just talking.”
“I’m happy to talk,” she said, more than a little breathless herself. “As long as you don’t stop touching me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, little librarian.”
He left the crutches where they were and limped toward the bed, dragging her with him. They tumbled onto it together, and he brushed her hair away from her face. It was still damp from her shower, and in the dim light of the room, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t think there would be a time when he got tired of looking at her.
“I love you,” he said softly. “I wanted to say it the second we got out of that lab today, but I didn’t want to have an audience for it. I love you, and I’m so grateful we’re alive so I can tell you that.”
“I love you too.” Her eyes were glassy, and she ducked her head, tucking it beneath his chin as he gathered her closer. “I was really scared.”
“You were amazing on every possible level. Tricking Joaquin and altering the subjectification compound? Getting word out to Zodiac so they could find us? Absolutely incredible.”
She smiled.
“But most especially, turning yourself loose and kicking Joaquin’s ass. That is going to be a source of wet dreams like I’m some damned teenager.”
She laughed, and he pulled back far enough to kiss her, taking advantage of her hot, open mouth. They didn’t stop, falling into each other for a while.
When they broke apart, his heart was pounding and his head was buzzing. Damned if Mark wouldn’t rather kiss this woman than breathe.
He lay back on the bed, pulling her close to his side. Neither of them was in any shape to make love tonight, but just having her close was enough for him. “Did you get to talk to Craig?”
“Yeah. He was upset that things had gotten so out of control. I think he honestly thought all my assistance would be from behind a computer. Of course, I thought that too, so I can’t blame him. He’s going to come to Oak Creek next week so the two of us can really talk.”
“Good. That’ll be good for both of you. We’ve been cleared to leave tomorrow to go home.”
“I’m so ready.”
“And what about me?” He had to ask. “Do you want me to come back to Oak Creek full time?”
She leaned up on one elbow so they could see each other’s faces. “There are…things I’m worried about.”
“Like what?”
Her whole body went stiff, and he ran his hands down her spine, immediately trying to soothe her.
“Like I love you. And I know we haven’t talked about this at all and I may be completely jumping the gun, but I don’t think I can ever get married and have kids. What will I tell them when they’re in T-ball games and Mom can’t go watch them because it’s outside?”
This woman. Her giant brain got her out of so much trouble, but it also trapped her sometimes. Kept her prisoner because it was considering so many scenarios to the nth degree.
He kissed her on the nose. “Let’s not worry about kids yet. And for the record, I’m perfectly happy without them, or happy figuring out how to manage everything if we do have kids. Let’s not skip to the end just yet.”
She bit her lip in a way that was entirely adorable. “Okay.”
“Good.”
She glared at him, though he could tell it wasn’t serious. “But you’re not moving in with me right away, Outlaw. Just because I love you doesn’t mean I don’t want to be romanced.”
“Don’t worry.” Mark shifted them so she was underneath his body. “I plan on romancing the fuck out of you.”