“You would’ve rescued Paul if you’d known he was alive.”
“Of course, I would.” Something loosened in his chest. He would never have given up.
“My protector,” she murmured. “You can’t help but save people. Now, you just do it by giving them jobs.”
She was determined to see the best in him. “Hadley—”
She pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was deep, filled with love and longing. He pulled her closer with a groan.
Inside, he felt the numbness cracking. Emotion—everything he felt for this woman—was warming him up, bringing him back to life.
“I need you,” he murmured against her lips.
“I’m here. Take whatever you need.”
He wanted to hurry. To ravage and take.
Instead, he forced himself to move slowly.
He pushed the straps of her dress off her shoulders. Her slim torso was encased in the vest he’d given her. She looked like a queen in armor.
He unclasped it and slid it off her. Beneath was a tiny, sheer bra and it was gone in seconds.
He pushed the dress down over her hips, and then shoved her panties down her legs. Slender but so strong. So beautiful.
He ran his hands down her sides.His. He’d never, ever get enough of her. He dropped a kiss to her shoulder, then moved his mouth up her neck. She made a husky sound.
Then Bennett nudged her into the shower.
They took their time washing each other. He stroked her soapy skin, touching her everywhere.
She did the same to him, ratcheting his need for her higher and higher.
Bennett was no longer cold or numb.
He was an inferno inside. And Hadley was both the fuel and the flame.
He couldn’t hold back any longer. He turned her, and pressed her palms against the wall. He smoothed a hand over her arse and pressed close. His hard cock brushed between her legs and he groaned. He scraped his teeth along her shoulder.
“I love you, Hadley.”
She gasped. She looked back over her shoulder and met his gaze.
“You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go. And I’m not letting you run. If you do, there’s nowhere you can hide where I won’t find you.” His voice was almost a growl.
She smiled. “Then it’s very lucky I love you too, Mr. Knightley.”
Elation flared inside him.
“I want you,” she said. “I want everything, Bennett.”
“I’ll give you everything. You already have my heart.”
“That’s all I need.”
He pushed inside her, and they both groaned. That tight, slick feel of her sent his senses into overdrive.
He pulled back, then started thrusting.