Page 44 of Rogue Survivor
Light filtersin through a crack in the drapes. Isabel sighs, curled against me with her arms wrapped around a pillow.
It had been so long for both of us, we were far from sated by our first round. After an hour cuddling and sharing bits of our past—how Quinton and I had once been close, how she’d coped the first couple of years alone with a grieving pre-teen, my first assignment with the FBI—I’d been unable to keep my hands off her, and I’m mighty glad I bought a whole box of condoms yesterday.
As soon as I try to ease out of bed, she stirs, stretching in such a way her breasts—covered by her purple tank top—tent the sheet. Fuck. If I don’t put some distance between us, I’m gonna take her again, and I can hear Veronica moving around in the main room. The sound of a crutch clicking with each step is something I’ll never forget. But I pause to brush my lips to Isabel’s cheek. “Morning, darlin’. Stay here and I’ll bring you coffee.”
“You’re my hero,” she murmurs, her voice still thick with sleep—and all the muffled screams I wrung from her body last night. “But I should check on V.”
“She’s up. Probably trying to convince Elmore to teach her all those swear words in ASL. I’ll see if she needs anythin’.”
Isabel frowns as she scoots up to rest her back against the headboard and mutters, “She’s almost an adult. I need to remember that.”
“She’s also your kid. You’re allowed to worry about her no matter how old she is. Hell, I still worry about Quinton every damn day and he’s a grown-ass man with a whole group of mercenaries as his second family. Shit. I need to call him today, too.” After I tug on a t-shirt and my Wranglers, I run a hand through my hair, hoping I don’t look like I ravaged Isabel for hours last night.
With a sigh, Isabel snags her bra from the floor. “She’s my whole world, Connor. Almost everything good in my life is tied to her.”
Leaning over, I cup her cheek and skate my thumb over the fading bruise. “I know. And I’ll do everythin’ I can to keep her safe. Including getting you coffee so you don’t tear Elmore a new one.”
Isabel laughs, and it’s a sound I hope I hear every damn day for the rest of my life. The realization slams into me like a freight train, and I have to get out of this room before I admit I’m falling hard and fast. Or before she takes off her shirt to put on that bra.
Veronica leans against the kitchen counter, shoveling cereal into her mouth at a truly impressive pace. When I grab two coffee mugs from the cabinet, she sets her spoon down and stares at me. “So…you and my mom…”
“Fuck me,” I mutter under my breath as I pour the coffee. It’s a good thing Isabel stayed in the bedroom. Taking a sip gives me an extra few seconds to form a reply that won’t get me murdered by either Veronicaorher mother. “I like her. A lot. And we’re…together. That what you wanted to know?”
“Nope.”
“I reckon I should ask your mom whatshethinks before I shoot my mouth off.” The angry rumble coming from my stomach reminds me that sex—especially the mind-blowing, all-consuming, hot as fuck sex we had last night—is a hell of a workout. Rummaging in the cabinet, I come away with a package of powdered donuts to split with Isabel. Before I take two steps, Veronica stands up a little straighter.
“There are donuts?”
The look on her face? Like it’s Christmas morning and she just found out Santa is real. “Knock yourself out, lil’ bit. We’ve got more.”
She tears the package open with her teeth, and I should have realized it would be hard for her one handed. But before I can apologize, she grins at me, powdered sugar coating her lips. “You’re cool. And you make my mom happy.”
“Is ‘cool’ still good?” I arch a brow at the kid, and she laughs.
“It’s good. Just don’t break her heart, okay?”
With a nod, I gather the two mugs in one hand and tuck the donuts in the crook of my arm. “I’d have to kick my own ass if I did. No one’s gonna hurt either of you if I can help it.”
Isabel
By the time I help my daughter shower and dress, then make myself presentable, it’s almost eleven.
“Mom, can you call the school now?” Veronica asks, her tone way too whiny for a girl who, less than an hour ago, told me she could brush her own hair, then changed her mind after five strokes.
“If you fix your attitude, I can.”
“Sorry.” Staring down at her leg encased in that God-awful brace, she picks at the edge of her cast with her good hand. “I’d really appreciate it if you called the school. And maybe…Mitzi’s mom?”
Every part of me wants to take Veronica in my arms and find a way to make it all better. But I can’t. Not anymore, and definitely not with this. “Mitzi’s mom is having a hard time, baby girl. I don’t think she wants to hear from me right now. But when Connor talks to AJ later on, he’ll ask about her. Let me grab one of the burner phones and I’ll call Mrs. Chandler at the Academy.”
He’s fresh out of the shower when I slip into the bedroom we share and shut the door behind me. Bare-ass naked, he lunges for the towel draped over the headboard, but I get there first.
“Youdoremember I saw all of you last night?” Holding the bath sheet just out of reach, I take a moment to appreciate all six-foot-three inches of toned man in front of me.
His cheeks turn the most interesting shade of red, but in the next moment, a pure, almost primal need darkens his eyes, and he stalks toward me. “Might recall somethin’ of the sort.”
I retreat until my back is against the door and Connor cages me with his arms. Heat rolls off him, and my nipples tighten under my soft red sweater. “I could refresh your memory.” Trailing my hand down his chest, over hisverychiseled eight pack, and down to his cock, I relish the way he groans softly, then slants his mouth over mine.
