“Come in,” sung Sadie as she began to pack away her gun and supplies.
The door pushed open, and Drew stepped into the room. He looked like a giant in the small space, and as his eyes met mine, the tiny room around us vanished altogether. Burning lust filled that gaze as his eyes traveled down my body, pausing briefly on my breasts as he studied the new ink that led over my shoulder. When he looked back into my eyes, love and tenderness filled those brown depths.
“Damn,” he whispered as he stepped closer, his warm chest pressing against my back. “I’m the luckiest man alive.” Reaching over my shoulder, he used a finger under my chin to turn my head, then he leaned in and kissed me. It started out tender, gentle, small sips from each other. But it quickly turned to something else entirely as Drew’s tongue met mine, and those small sips turned into long, languid drinks.
“Guys, I have health and safety regulations to meet. While I’m all for the nookie, you’re going to have to take it home.”
A small burst of laughter left my lips and Drew swallowed it with one more kiss before moving away to give me some space.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
I nodded and let Sadie add some cream to the new ink before wrapping it up. Drew helped me into my t-shirt, and I turned to give Saide a quick hug.
“You know the drill,” she whispered. “And call me if you need to talk. You know I’m a vampire, up all night.”
“Friday drinks?” I asked Sadie as Drew pulled me towards the door.
“I’ll be there!” Sadie said with a smile.
She’d started joining Friday night drinks with the girls a couple of months ago, and it was as if she’d been there all along. She fit right in with Ella and Rebecca, her sassy attitude complimenting theirs.
“We need to finish packing,” said Drew as he opened the passenger door to his SUV. I climbed in, but before he could shut it, I turned, hanging my legs on either side of his hips and wrapping my arms around his neck. A small smile tugged at one corner of Drew’s mouth, and he wrapped his hands around my back, pulling me further into his body. Tomorrow we flew out to Thailand, so I could finally pay my respects to Norm and Pen-Chan’s family. The immense guilt I felt over their deaths was a battle I fought with often. Intellectually, I knew I wasn’t the one who killed them, yet it was my being there had inevitably gotten them murdered. Visiting their grave sites and family wouldn’t instantly relieve me of that guilt, but I hoped it would start the healing.
“I was thinking . . .”
“It’s a dangerous thing when my mouse starts thinking,” Drew murmured, kissing my jaw.
“We should stop by the swimwear store over by Bouquets and pick out a swimsuit for each other for when we reach Ko Phi Phi.”
Drew pulled back and his brow dipped low in thought. “What kind of swimwear?”
I shrugged. “Whatever you want to see me in, and whatever I want to see you in.”
He gave me a slow, methodical nod. “I don’t do Speedos, Mouse.”
I laughed, the thought of Drew in tight lycra bringing me to hysterics. Speedos hadn’t been on my mind, but perhaps some tight-fitting shorts, and nothing else, all those muscles on display for me and me only.
“I love that,” Drew whispered, kissing me.
When he finally pulled away, I asked, “What?”
“That laugh. I want to swallow your laughter and keep it inside me.”
Sighing, I again thanked my lucky stars for such a gift as Drew King. One callused finger traced the line of my dandelion that peeked out the neckline of my shirt.
“Thought I’d lost you for a moment there, Mouse. That night you fell into my arms bleeding. Don't think I’ll ever get that image out of my head.” I pressed my thumb to his lips, his words hurting my heart. He kissed my thumb and pulled it away. “You’re in here now,” he pressed my hand over his heart. “that way I can’t ever lose you.”
I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. When we broke apart, I smiled.
“Hearts are wild creatures, that’s why our ribs are cages.”
One of Drew’s brows arched. “The calendar?”
“It was Monday’s quote,” I whispered.
“What was today’s?”
Drew loved my quote-a-day calendar, and I was surprised he hadn’t read it when he woke at the butt crack of dawn. “Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you’re probably drunk.”
There was no fighting the smile; instead, Drew’s lips tipped upwards and laughter fell from them free and easy. How much he had changed, from a man who fought a smile and whose conversation skills were limited to monosyllable words to this, this contented, laughing man. It made me wonder what changes he saw in me, so I asked him.
His laughter died down but the smile remained in place. “There’s only one change I see, Mouse. The strength you once hid in here…” He tapped the place above my heart, gently. “Now I see it here.” His calloused fingers traced an invisible line over my cheek. “Someone hurt you, but you didn’t let that experience define you.” His gaze wandered my face, as if searching for something before settling back on my eyes. “Someone tried to break you, the thing is, you can’t be broken, cause you’re fucking titanium.”
Titanium. I liked that. I liked it a lot, and the truly beautiful thing was, I not only believed Drew, I could see it and feel it every time I looked in the mirror. The woman I thought was lost was still there, stronger than ever, titanium.
The End
“Sexual assault is something you experience. It does not define you.”
Acknowledgments,
Thank you to my beautiful, funny, honest, and a little bit crazy editor, Ami (I didn’t whisper that, either. *wink wink*). I can just picture you in my mind gearing up for this edit. You would have pulled on some leathers, a pair of stilettos, and dragged your whip from the closet. You held nothing back. And I love you for it. Thank you for cracking that whip and reminding me not to become a cliché.
A very big thank you to Bob for your expertise on PTSD and OCD. Your insight and experience helped shape Lola into a real, three dimensional being. And Suree, thank you for the photocopying, you’re a bloody legend (told you I’d put you in here).
To my blogger buddies, there are just so many of you now who help promote my work. It's humbling you do that job and ask nothing in return for it. A special shout out to Kellie and the crew at Eye Candy Bookstore who grabbed the reins for this release and helped me promote this little ol’ book.
Fellow author buddies! I adore the lot of you, your friendship and encouragement helps keep me moving forward on the days I just want to scream, cry, and punch something.
Big hugs to my family who continue to support me and no longer bitch about the solitary nature I embrace when I’m ‘in the zone.’
And lastly, a massive, massive thank you to the readers who continue to support me, read my words, and reach out. I have mad love for you all.
Kirsty loves to hear from readers so feel free to reach out to her at [email protected]
Her next signing event is Romancing The Coast. You can click HERE to find out more information on ticketing and attending authors.
What’s Next?
Stupid Love
A Comedy Romance
Cocktails…tick
Wing-woman …tick
Sunny beach and hot cabana boy…tick
One pissed off father who just happens to be the God of Love…ahhh, dang it.
Cameron Cupid is in the business of love…and she hates it. Stuck in a dead end job with no reprieve in sight, she and her trusty BFF, Juella, travel the mortal realm leaving a trail of chaos and lusty humans in their wake. Life’s good, right up until that moment her daddy grounds her ass and shoots her with her own damn arrow. Now she’s nothing but a frisky horn-dog who has it bad for her potential soul mate and to make matters worse, he doesn’t feel the same way.
The best way to learn about love is to f
all into it, head first and screaming.
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST
For more reads by Kirsty Dallas
www.kirstydallasauthor.com
Losing Lola (Mercy's Angels Book 5) Page 26
