Page 17 of Ravaged Hearts
He nuzzled my neck and pressed a kiss beneath my lobe. “Feels like it was always meant to be you. I know that sounds dumb, but?—”
My chest tightened at Vaughn’s words because I sensed our deep connection, too. “It doesn’t sound dumb.” I glanced over my shoulder to look him in the eyes. “Not at all.”
From the moment we’d met, I’d harbored an inexplicable feeling that Vaughn would play a significant role in my life. Even on that first night, when he’d dropped me off at home and I’d thought I’d never see him again, watching Vaughn’s taillights fade into the distance had caused me an unnatural level of sadness. And no matter how hard we’d tried to push each other away during those early days, we were like two opposing poles of a magnet being drawn back to one another.
Genetics, phobias, cartel wars. Hell, even our own stubbornness.
None of those things could tear us apart.
7
VAUGHN
The next day, we touched down on the small dirt airstrip thirty miles out of Playa de la Palmera. After parking the King Air and paying an attendant to make sure no one touched her, we started the drive home.
With the windows down, a warm breeze blew strands of hair across Hope’s face. Her uptilted lips made me wonder if she was revisiting last night and this morning in her mind.
To say she’d helped me achieve a breakthrough would be an understatement. Having Hope’s hands roam my bare skin without triggering a panic attack or a violent outburst was close to a goddamn miracle.
Did our success have anything to do with being balls-deep inside her tight, wet pussy while she touched me?
Abso-fucking-lutely.
When we’d awoken this morning, I’d wanted to test the theory again, so I had Hope zip-tie me to the headboard once more, then told her to use me however she pleased. I gave her complete control and was but a spectator in the most erotic experience of my goddamn life.
There’d been no overwhelming anxiety. No desperation toescape. Only ecstasy unlike anything I’d experienced before as Hope’s hands and mouth had explored my body.
When I was with her, thoughts of my torture were so far from my mind they didn’t stand a chance of stealing airtime.
Hope was much more than a distraction. As corny as it sounded, she was a bright guiding star amid the darkness I’d been drowning in. She was a balm to my ravaged soul. The salvation I’d long ago given up on finding.
And I must be losing my ever-loving mind, because I couldn’t have a single thought without her in it. Was she comfortable, safe, happy? Those questions had become an obsession. I had to know Hope was taken care of before seeing to my own needs.
Holy shit. I was turning into every one of my Zulu brothers who’d paired up with a hot piece of ass in the last couple of years. I’d laughed and called them all pussy whipped. Now, the idea of joining their club sounded mighty appealing. Sign me the fuck up.
The guys were going to give me hell for this, and I honestly didn’t mind.
“Why are you smiling?” Hope asked.
“Am I?” I glanced her way before returning my eyes to the road. She was so beautiful it made my breath catch in my throat.
“Yeah, you are.” She angled herself to face me. “Care to let me in on the joke?”
“There’s no joke, Gatita.” I reached across and interlocked my fingers with hers. “I’m happy.”
She looked at me with mock confusion. “Do you have any contacts in hell? Someone should check if things have turned icy down there.”
“Make fun of me all you want, but this goofy-ass look on my mug is all because of you.”
“Guess I can’t call you Grim anymore.”
“Guess not.” I tugged her toward me. “Scooch over. You’re too far away.”
Hope unlatched her seat belt and shuffled to the middle before buckling the lap belt. I flung my arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer.
She rested her palm on my thigh and squeezed. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah.” I kissed the top of her head. “You don’t even need to ask.”