“Fuck. Fuck. Hurry, Harm.” He groaned and licked my neck.
“Got it,” I panted. “Go!”
He drove into me and we both moaned. He had me pressed so hard against the door it was going to leave impressions in my skin, but I didn’t care. I needed it. I needed more.
“Conn,” I begged, rubbing myself up and down, and he didn’t need any further encouragement. He pounded into me, both of us shouting as we climbed together. The orgasm swept through me in the same way the light had burst earlier, but the ecstasy immediately banished all negative memories. I convulsed around Conn inside me and held him tight as he shuddered, whispering my name in my ear.
It didn’t take long for all the events of the day—of the week—to catch up to us, and I knew if we didn’t move, we’d collapse. “Take me to bed,” I murmured, and he did. We spent a long while kissing and stroking and giving and taking, until this time when we came, I was convinced we were never going to be apart. The power it put into Conn’s hands was more terrifying than thinking I was going to die a fiery death.
I sighed, and Conn shifted to lie beside me, propping his head on one hand and playing with my hair with the other. “You’re not going to wait on this conversation, are you?”
“Sounds like you really want me to.”
He shook his head. “No. Better if we don’t.”
“You start.” I sounded resigned already, and he heard it.
“Don’t do that.” He leaned to kiss me, gently, reassuringly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
My eyes shot to his. “Really? Evan was sure I’d have to fight for you to stay.” And I hadn’t wanted to consider that I wasn’t going to be enough to make him want to.
He snorted. “Evan should mind his own business. I know I’ve only been with you a short time, Harmony, but I can’t imagine being without you anymore.”
My breath caught. “No one has ever . . .” I let it fade away. No one else was relevant.
“The question is you. Are you willing to risk a relationship with someone who has a history of cow—”
“No!” I poked him hard in the chest. “We’re leaving history where it belongs. The only risk I’m taking is that you’ll decide I’m not good en—”
“Is this whole conversation going to be us interrupting each other’s stupid sentences?” He laughed, then sighed and looked into my eyes. “Only one thing matters, Harm.”
“I love you,” we said at the same time.
Then we kissed for a lot more.
“What changed?” I asked when we came up for air. “I was sure that Harris’s revelation and accusations would validate everything you’ve been feeling.”
His irises darkened, and I was afraid I’d said the wrong thing. But he didn’t pull away.
“I was heading in that direction. But no one did anything differently today than in those other situations. We had CASE working hard to destroy us. We made sacrifices to save lives. And in the end, we did.”
“No one died this time,” I said quietly.
“No one died this time,” he agreed. “Evan has said to me more than once that what we do is never going to be pure. Worst-case results will happen. That doesn’t mean we have to shoulder all the blame, and it doesn’t mean we should stop trying. I didn’t agree with him.” He smoothed his palm over my shoulder. “I just couldn’t. But watching you lead this mission today gave me a new perspective. And helping save Pilton, well, maybe that was my redemption.”
“You didn’t need to be redeemed,” I insisted. “But if things are better, that’s what matters.”
“Things,” he murmured, leaning down and speaking against my mouth, “are so much more than better.”
“Pilton doesn’t need two superheroes,” he said a long time later. My hair was fully wrapped around his wrist now, and you couldn’t slide a file folder between us. I’d be content with staying this way forever.
“You can’t retire.”
“I know. I’m thinking about putting together a team in Columbus. Evan knows some supers looking for a place to start, or start over, and ever since Ragusa died, they’ve been in need.”
“That sounds perfect.” I rolled on top of him. “Let’s celebrate.”
Also from Soul Mate Publishing
and Natalie J. Damschroder:
THE COLOR OF COURAGE
From high-rise ledges to charming residential neighborhoods in Washington, DC, a team of superheroes saves people and battles villains…while struggling with bill collectors, day jobs, and complicated love lives.
Empath Daley Charm feels like the weakest member of the city’s superhero team—especially when someone targets them for destruction. Her insecurities also complicate her relationship with team leader Adam Tarantino, especially since she can’t “see” emotions that are about her.
When missions start going dramatically wrong, Adam pulls away even more, knowing his feelings would reveal an exploitable weakness that could mean the end of the team. As they struggle to discover who’s sabotaging their missions, Daley must confront her own self-worth and faith in her abilities. Does she step away to protect her friends, or stand with them and risk someone getting hurt . . .or worse?
Available now on Amazon: THE COLOR OF COURAGE
The Light of Redemption Page 32
