I’m not letting this feud take another life of someone I love.
I link my fingers with Memphis’s as I follow her up to the tiny apartment that she crashed in without me last night. There’s a whole hell of a lot I would have given to be wrapped around her, but duty called, and I couldn’t leave Holly alone while Creighton was unconscious. Even though he’d cut me out, my loyalty doesn’t end like that. Once a brother, always a brother.
Just like now that this woman is mine, she always will be.No matter what.
As soon as she shuts the door behind us, the off-white walls and tan-and-brown carpet fade away, along with the noises coming from the rest of the building. Everything disappears but Memphis.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here with you last night. And sorry I didn’t reply to your text.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me, feeling her heart beat against my chest.
“It’s okay. I understand. You did what you needed to do. I was fine. Safe.” She’s trembling, and I rub my hands up and down her back until she looks up at me. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing with the police? With Cole?”
I brush a lock of her wig away from her face. “I want to see you. The real you. No more hiding, Memphis. Everyone in this building can know exactly who you are, and not a goddamned thing is going to happen. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I swear it on my life.”
“Only if you promise me that you know what you’re doing and we’re going to ride off into the sunset, holding hands, after this is all over. Swear it to me, Cannon. I didn’t find you and fall in love with you just to lose you now. I won’t. I refuse to let that happen. I don’t care if I have to follow every step you take until this is over. Do you understand me?”
Her eyes turn glassy, and her voice is rough with unshed tears.
“Don’t cry, baby. We didn’t go through all this to only come this far. You and me have a hell of a lot of memories to make, and we’re going to fucking make them.” A single tear escapes and I catch it on my thumb. “No tears. You don’t need them. Got it?”
She nods and I lower my mouth to catch her lips, diving inside with my tongue, desperate to be closer to her. Memphis’s hands come up, and within a few seconds, the wig falls away. She pulls back.
“One second. Let me ditch the contacts. You’re right. I’m done hiding. I want to be with you asme.Only me.”
“Good.”
She disappears into the small bathroom and returns with those aqua-blue eyes shining.
“I love you, Cannon, and I swear to God, if something happens to you, you’d better haunt me for the rest of my life until I can join you on the other side. Don’t promise me heaven, then put me through hell. I want a lifetime with you.”
“You’ll get it. I’ll make it happen.” As soon as I make the vow, I know there’s nothing I won’t do to keep it.
36
Memphis
Our lips collide again. While Cannon is tasting me, skimming down my jaw and sending chill bumps rising, his hands are busy stripping me out of my blouse and bra.
I make quick work of the buttons of Cannon’s shirt and pants, until we both stumble toward the bedroom and land on the full-size bed.
“I need you, baby. Right now.”
His guttural tone makes me even more desperate for him.
“Let me—” I cut off my words and my lips take a path down his chest as my palms sweep over him. Despite the promises he made me, I have to memorize every bit of his body. Every line of taut muscle and every inch of skin. I’m burning the image into my brain because this isn’t just sex.
This islove.
I’ve never felt as beautiful as I do right this moment, with his hands cupping my curves and worshipping me.
When I finally reach his hard cock, I wrap both hands around it and suck the head into my mouth. His groan is the best sound I’ve ever heard. When the salty flavor of his precum hits my tongue, I revel in it. I take him deep, laving every inch of him, not caring that tears spill from my eyes when he hits the back of my throat.
I want him to remember this for the rest of our very, very long lives together. Maybe it’s the primitive part of my brain, but I want him to know exactly what’s at stake, and cement every single reason he has to be careful and stay safe.
There’s literally nothing I wouldn’t do in this moment to ensure this isn’t the last time we’re together.
Suddenly, Cannon pulls out of my mouth and rolls us both over so he’s on top. “I’m not coming in your mouth. I’m coming deep in that sweet, tight pussy that belongs tome.”
His possessive words wrap around me, and I’ve never wanted to belong to someone more.