Page 42 of Fracture

Vinnie smoothed the hair back from her face so he could look at her. Her curls were soft and stiff at the same time. Like all of her. A little bit pliable and a little bit resistant. “I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

She breathed a laugh. “I think I was the one pushing.”

Vinnie grinned. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, breathing slow and easy. “I guess kissing you is a strenuous activity.”

Vinnie snorted. “I lost my mind a little there. I have been resisting you for far too long.”

“I thought we didn’t know each other before.”

He shook his head. “That didn’t mean I wasn’t drawn to you. I don’t skip out on orders and go AWOL for just anyone.”

“You’re in a lot of trouble, aren’t you?”

He shook his head, not wanting her to blame herself for his choices. “It’s all okay. My boss knows you’re important. It might have been a different story if I hadn’t found you, but I did.”

“And I’m very grateful for that.”

“Me, too.” Vinnie was quiet for another minute, trying to find the words to ask what he needed to know.

“Just say it,” she said with a long exhale.

“Do you still want to leave?” he asked.

She shook her head slowly. “I never wanted to leave. Did you kiss me to keep me here?”

“No. I am not manipulating you. If you want to leave, I will drive you to Karli’s. But I don’t want you to go for the wrong reasons.”

“What are the right reasons?”

“If you don’t feel safe here. Or comfortable. Or would rather be with someone else, someone you know better.”

“None of that is true. I wanted to leave because I’m putting you out. I’m in your way and messing up your life. It’s not fair of me to ask so much of you.”

“I invited you here because I couldn’t stand the thought of you being somewhere else. I invited you here because I’m selfish and couldn’t imagine walking away from you.”

Lorelei smiled up at him. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I know my memory isn’t right, and I know I can’t really trust myself right now, but I feel safe with you.”

Vinnie sucked in a breath and reached for her. He stepped closer to her so she could lean on him. He kissed the top of her head and held her. “I am going to do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“I know.”

Vinnie drew a deep breath, peace settling inside him. She was safe. And she trusted him. That was all he could ask for at the moment.

Her hands wandered, and his body responded, telling his brain her safety wasn’t the only thing he wanted. He wanted her.

Bad.

“Lorelei,” he groaned.

“Don’t tell me no.” She leaned back and looked up at him.

He couldn’t deny her. He couldn’t deny himself. He leaned down, closing the distance between them again and pressing his lips to hers. He banked his desire, holding back the feral side that wanted to throw her on the bed and ignore the warnings from the doctor. The warnings that would mean she was in pain.

She whimpered and licked his lips, seeking entrance.

He opened for her and thrust his tongue along hers.