Page 53 of Lex

“Glad everyone’s okay,” Jayson said, and they murmured their agreement.

“Thank you.” Lex turned to Xander and clapped a hand against his back.

“Back on that beach with Essie, you helped save the day,” Xander said. “Figured I owed you one.” He turned his attention to Scott. “You must be the ex.”

“That would be me—the useless ex,” he added wryly, looking at everyone.

“I think you just proved your worth,” Summer said gratefully.

“That…means a lot. Coming from you.” He sent her a wobbly smile. Then he looked over at Lex and the others. “Thanks to all of you. If you guys hadn’t come to the rescue…” He shuddered. “Anyway, all’s well that ends well. Am I right? And let me tell you,” he continued, not waiting for an answer, “I’ve learned my lesson. No more getting involved in shady affairs. I’m going to stick to more legit ventures. I have a friend who sells slot machines. Seems like a perfect Vegas venture, right? Set some up in gas stations? Maybe a few restaurants?”

“You do realize it’s not a vending machine,” Lex stated dryly.

“And you need a gaming license,” Xander added.

Scott waved a dismissive hand. “Yeah, yeah, sure. Just details.”

Summer snorted out a laugh. Scott was Scott. He would never learn. “Good luck, Scott. Just don’t call me about it.” Then she turned around to face Lex, pushed up onto her toes and kissed the hell out of her hero.

Once Brand called Mitch to report back what had gone down at Mack’s Body Shop, they hightailed it out of there. Mitch was sending a crew in to clean up and secure the container, which was still hidden somewhere in the junkyard. It was just as well. Lex was emotionally exhausted after nearly losing Summer, and she’d been through so much. He just wanted to get her home.

Back at the SUV, Wes carefully treated and wrapped Summer’s hands, while Lex watched and kept a reassuring hold on her. She kept claiming they weren’t too bad, and he’d had to silence her with his mouth. She’d been burned, nearly fucking vaporized right before his eyes, and there’d be no downplaying it. He also made sure Wes gave her a painkiller. Lex was grateful to have a former SEAL team medic on their crew who always carried his med bag. Just in case.

Lex and Summer returned to the Avernus, packed their bags and checked out. It was time to head back to Montana, and they were more than ready. They’d had their fill of Las Vegas. Everyone boarded his Spitfire—the jet Mitch sent the team on had left already to pick up the clean-up crew—and they flew back to Cielo Springs without incident. Summer couldn’t wait to see Flossie, and once they picked her up from Brand and Julia’s place, Lex drove them back to Summer’s house in Silver Creek.

He couldn’t wait to be alone with her.

Lex waited somewhat patiently while Summer fussed over Flossie and got her situated, then he pulled Summer into his arms and kissed her like there would be no tomorrow. Deep, possessive, hungry.

“I almost lost you,” he rasped.

“I’m here.” She wound her hands around his neck, and he felt the soft scrape of the wrappings on her palms. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I need to be naked with you—body and soul.” His words came out low and harsh. The need to be inside her, to know she was truly okay, was driving him mad.

They shed their clothes fast and tumbled back onto the bed. He didn’t want to rush her, so he kissed his way down her body, spread her lovely legs and licked and sucked until she was wet and writhing.

He was going to do more than merely worship her. He was going to cherish her, too. Because he now understood the incredible meaning behind that one little word.

To adore.

To value.

To prize above all else. His Summer was beyond precious to him, and he planned to spend the rest of his life showing her how much he loved her.

After bringing her to a body-shaking orgasm, he licked his way back up and caught her mouth in a passionate kiss.

“Now, Lex. Please.” She lifted her hips, urging him to take her.

He locked onto her brown eyes as he slowly sank inside her. Inch by slow inch. Stretching and filling her. “I love you,” he rasped. She was the only woman he’d ever said those words to. She was the first, and she’d be the last. “My forever Summer.”

“I love you, too.”

Her nails dug into his shoulders, and when he began to move, she arched up beneath him to meet his powerful thrusts. Lost in each other, their moves turned desperate and feverish. All-consuming. Desire pumped through him and he reached between their bodies to strum her clit. It didn’t take long for her to fracture again. The moment her eyes rolled back and she screamed his name, Lex let go, allowing the building pressure to blow.

With a groan, he shuddered through his release, climaxing so damn hard his vision blurred. Squeezing his eyes shut, he collapsed on top of her, careful to keep his weight from crushing her, and buried his face in the slender curve of her neck and shoulder. Breathing in her tropical scent, he pressed a kiss to her soft skin as he sent up a silent prayer of thanks.

His Summer was safe.