Page 189 of Renegade
He wrapped his arms around her, kissed her forehead. “How can you love me? I’m a monster.”
“I don’t have a choice. I can’t stop how I feel, what I think about you—about us.”
He kissed her, then brushed his lips against hers again. “You’re good for me.”
She smiled, kissed him back. “You’re good forme.”
He breathed deep, his chest expanding as his lungs filled. As he exhaled, she hoped he was releasing some of the tension he’d been carrying around.
“What did you do tonight?” he asked.
“I worked, but I’m too frustrated to talk about it.”
“What can I do to take your mind off it?”
He was always putting her first. “Let me do something special for you.”
She grasped his hand, brought him into her bedroom. With a delicate touch, she helped him remove his shirt, pausing to examine his black and blue abs.
That’s gotta hurt.
Once he stood naked before her, she said, “Lay down on the bed. I’m going to massage you.”
“No—”
“Yes, unless you genuinely don’t like massages.”
“I love ‘em.”
“Perfect.”
As he lay face down on her bed, she collected her body lotion, returning to the bedroom to remove her yoga pants. Rather than get naked, she kept her T-shirt and panties on. “If you fall asleep, that’s okay.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“Grey, stop fighting me on this.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled as she straddled his muscular buttocks, moved his long hair out of the way. With lotion slicking her hands, she began rubbing his shoulders. They were granite slabs filled with several tension knots. She took her time, alternating between using her fingers, her thumbs, and her knuckles to massage away the tightness.
“Feel great, babe,” he murmured.
Over the next forty-five minutes, she took care of her man. While this was a gift for him, it was just as much a gift for herself. She got to spoil someone she adored while touching every inch of his strong, strapping body.
She worked her way from his shoulders to his toes, making sure to spend extra time on his back. When finished, she leaned down and kissed his cheek.
“You mean everything to me,” she whispered.
His eyes fluttered open. Gone were the constant tension lines in his face. A relaxed Grey was something she’d never seen before, and she paused to appreciate how different he looked. For the first time since she’d known him, he looked completely at ease. A beautiful sight she committed to memory, hoping this wouldn’t be the last time she’d see him like this.
After she climbed off, he rolled onto his back. “Thank you. That was amazing.”
She lay next to him. He rolled toward her, capturing her in his arms. “I love you, Caroline.”
“I love you too.” After a beat, she said, “I don’t want this to end.”
His smile touched the deepest part of her soul. “We’re never going to end, Bella.”
CAROLINE WOKE FEELING UNSETTLED.It was four in the morning. Grey was snuggled close behind her, his steady breathing a welcome sound in the stillness of the night.
Then, she glanced at the doorway. Though blanketed in darkness, someone loomed in the hall outside her bedroom. She bolted upright, her mind racing, yet everything was happening in slow motion. Blinking hard, she stared at the mirage.
Grey rolled over, leapt out of bed, and chased the intruderout. Caroline grabbed her Glock from the night table drawer and went after them. When she caught up, Grey had the guy pinned to the wall, his forearm across his neck. She pointed her weapon at the perp.
Light on,” she said, before flipping the switch.
“Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t blow your fucking brains out?” Grey growled.
