Page 70 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
Jada let out a jagged laugh. “Who would have guessed that I’d have to work on Gideon Smith’s self-esteem?” She slapped him on his chest. Hard. “I love you. I’m in love with you. You broke my heart, but now I understand that you were just being a man with your fucked up logic.”
He choked out a laugh. “I don’t know whether to be happy or mad at that comment.”
“Happy, definitely happy.”
“Do you know what I said to you on the yacht? What I said when I thought it was almost too late?”
She shook her head, her curls flying everywhere, but she didn’t care.
“I told you that I was too old, too damaged, but that if anyone was strong enough to handle me, it was you. I said that you were right all along and that I needed someone exactly like you in my life.”
She lifted her head so she could peek up at him. “You said that?”
“I did.”
“Did you mean it?”
“I meant it with my whole heart.”
It was like her soul took a breath. Jada sank into Gideon’s arms. He held her close, and her world clicked into place. She soaked in the beauty of the moment.
* * *
He’d been flungout of hell and thrust into heaven. It had happened in Oregon when he’d known Jada was going to live, and it was happening again here in his bedroom. Jada was a vision here in his arms. And she was finally his. Completely.
“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Don’t make me wait.”
He cupped the back of her skull and brought her head up so that he could take her mouth in the type of kiss he’d been hungering for, for months.
His Jada’s taste was sweet, bold, and lush and made him crazy, and then when she opened her lips and he thrust his tongue inside her, he thought his head would explode. Sensation after explosive sensation washed over him as he worked to meld them together. He wanted to take things slow, he really did, but Jada made it impossible. Her nails were scraping at the back of his neck, down the collar of his uniform, until she was scratching his upper back.
“Off,” she moaned.
“What?”
“Take off your shirt, Honey.”
Those were the only words she said before they both went back in for deeper, lusher kisses. Gideon shoved his right hand underneath the back of her thin sweater, luxuriating in the warmth of her soft skin. She squirmed, then broke off their kiss and backed away from him. She swept her sweater off, then went to work on her bra and flung that off the bed.
He looked down and winced when he still saw faint traces of bruising.
“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered.
Her nimble fingers started unbuttoning the front of his uniform and he couldn’t help but laugh. Making love with Jada was joyous. This time he pulled back and stood up. He made quick work unbuttoning his khakis and then pulled his t-shirt over his head.
“Yes,” Jada hissed. She was up on her knees, her fingers splayed against his chest, her short nails scraping over his nipples.
Gideon groaned. He gripped her wrists, then took them in one hand and took her down to the mattress. He had to kiss her, had to feel her breasts against his naked chest. Had to. It was an imperative.
Jada squirmed against him. He knew what she was doing—his woman was a tactile lover. He moved his chest up and down, giving her nipples the stimulation they needed, and she moaned in pleasure. He thrust his thigh between her legs and she bucked up against him, squeezing, trying to get as much pressure as she could. Being with Jada set him on fire.
He backed up again so that he could unbutton and unzip her jeans. He needed to see all of her. This time she winced when he tugged the denim off her hip.
“Fuck, baby, that has to hurt.”
He pulled her jeans and panties off her legs and threw them on the floor, then he traced the bruise on her hip with tender care.
“It doesn’t hurt,” she assured him.
