Drew’s hands slid up my thighs, his eyes finding mine above him while his palms rested under my ass cheeks and he tugged me closer. “That you love me and you’re officially as fucked up as I am?” He raised a brow and tried to hold back that arrogant smirk of his. He failed.
“I don’t think you’re as fucked up as you think you are. I think you’re human. You want to protect the people you love.The only difference is, you’re willing to do anything to make that happen, and in this world of ours, that’s not the wrong answer.”
“Know what I think?”
The hand on his thigh moved up just an inch, and I smiled, watching the color of his eyes shift subtly.
He pushed his chin forward, bringing his lips impossibly closer to mine so I could feel the twitch of a smile beneath the stubble that teased me. “I think I’m a lucky son of a bitch to have someone like you who makes the things I hate most about myself seem like things that are easy to love.”
I closed that small gap between us, my mouth pressing against his with enthusiasm. My teeth sank into the flesh of his bottom lip for only a moment before he gave me what I wanted and growled, allowing me to take from him more deeply. Drew was intoxicating to me. Even in the most inappropriate moments, I would often find myself daydreaming about times like these, when we were utterly alone and free to exercise any desires we had. I had a lot when it came to this man. He was my only escape now.
“I love everything there is to love about you,” I told him quietly.
“Yeah, you do.”
“Even your cockiness,” I huffed, pressing both of my lips to his bottom one.
“And especially my cock.”
“That’s a given.”
He brought his hands up to my back, trailing them up each side until he had his arms hooked under me, palms resting on my shoulders. He pressed his forehead to mine, taking another one of those moments he seemed to savor somuch these days as his eyes searched mine. “Shit’s about to get really real, darlin’. I know you’re ready for it. I know you can handle yourself. I know how strong you can be, but I need you to promise me one thing.”
“I’ll promise you anything, except staying behind. I can’t do that.”
“You know, sometimes you really need to stop trying to guess what it is I’m about to say. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you behind again. I meant what I said. Try again,” he said softly.
“I had to cover all bases,” I said in the same quiet tone he’d used. “I’ll do anything for you. Tell me what you need.”
He shook his head. “Anything covers it. You’ve made your promise now. I’ll hold you to it.”
“Then I’ll also promise you everything as well as anything.”
Drew’s sigh released a low moan of approval in the back of his throat. “Works for me.”
I smiled against his lips, my body pressing against his needing to be closer to him.
“Can we just stay here?” I asked. “Even if it’s just for tonight. Just you, me, and the stars.” I paused and lifted my hand to the bark by Drew’s head. “And Pete, of course.”
He blinked up at me. “Just for tonight.”
“It’s a good start, don’t you think?”
“Sounds like a good way to start tomorrow.” He smiled.
I pressed my lips against his again, not so desperate this time, just hungrily, my hands cupping his jaw as I slowed and rested my lips against his, my eyes still closed as I let the world carry on around us.
“I love you.”
“I love you,” he mouthed silently against me. The rest of the world ceased to exist. All the bad thoughts, the talk of revenge, the people who had betrayed us, the people who would pay—they weren’t there then. It was just Drew, me, and the stars. But as with all glorious things, it didn’t last, and Drew’s phone was soon vibrating in the pocket that rested between us, pulling his attention away as he huffed and reached inside his cut for it.
“Rubin?” he answered in a way only Drew could get away with answering, his eyes focused on mine.
“Drew?”
“That’s who you called, kid.”
“Shit, wait a second.” I could hear everything Rubin was saying as Drew held the phone between us, never looking away from me. A door seemed to shut wherever Rubin was before he came back to the call, a little breathlessly. “Remember that thing we talked about?”