The weight of her confession hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Trace was silent, his expression unreadable. Annika’s heart ached as she waited for his response, fearing that he might pull away, that he might see her differently now that he knew the truth.
But when Trace finally spoke, his voice was steady. “Annika, this doesn’t change how I feel about you. I’m here for you, no matter what. We’ll figure this out together.”
Annika felt a surge of relief at his words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the fear that had been gnawing at her since she had learned the truth. “But what if we’re moving too fast? What if… what if this is too much?”
Trace shook his head, his eyes intense as he stepped closer to her. “Annika, nothing could be further from the truth. I’m not going anywhere. I won’t let you go through this alone.”
Tears spilled over her cheeks as she looked up at him, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. But even as she stood there, wrapped in his comforting presence, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder if they were rushing into something neither of them was ready for.
She shook her head, a sad smile tugging at her lips as she took a step back. “Maybe… maybe we’re moving too fast, Trace. Maybe we need to slow down.”
Trace’s expression shifted to one of hurt and frustration, but he quickly masked it with determination. “Annika, I’m not going to let you get away again.”
She let out a small laugh, the sound tinged with sorrow. “Dramatic exits would be so much more interesting if I could shift and fly off into the night sky.”
Trace blinked in surprise, and then he smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. “Yeah, I guess they would.”
Annika stared at him for a moment longer, her heart warring with her mind. But in the end, she couldn’t resist the pull of the man standing before her. With a soft laugh, she threw herself into his arms, the warmth of his embrace chasing away the doubts that had plagued her.
Trace held her close, his arms strong and steady around her. “You’re not going anywhere, Annika. Not this time.”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and determination. “No, I’m not.”
The corners of his mouth lifted in a half-smile filled with promise before his lips crushed against hers. The kiss was a maelstrom of need and want, of promises future and past, devouring any remnants of restraint or doubt. There was only the two of them, the heat of their bodies and the thundering pulse of desire that demanded fulfillment.
He carried her to the bedroom, stretching them out on the mattress in one smooth move. She would never be sure how he rendered them both naked as quickly and smoothly as he did, but she found she liked the fact that the boy who had always asked, always checked in, had been replaced by the man who knew what they both wanted and ensured they got it.
Trace pressed his length to her entrance. With a gentle but firm push, he entered her, making a soft gasp escape from her throat. The fullness, the intimate connection—it sent ripples of pleasure coursing through her entire body.
“Trace…” The word was a sigh, a prayer, as he settled between her legs and drew them up to wrap around his hips, drawing him deeper. He moved within her, each thrust punctuated by a shared breath, a shared heartbeat. They moved in sync, a dance as old as time yet as fresh as the renewed desire blooming between them.
The world outside his bedroom ceased to exist. Nothing could touch her here, not the shadows of past doubts nor the whispers of former pain. In Trace’s arms, entwined with his soul, Annika felt invincible.
Their rhythm quickened, a crescendo of motion and emotion that spiraled tighter with every thrust. The heat of his body seared against hers, an inferno that promised to consume them both. She clung to Trace, her fingers digging into the cords of muscle along his back, each movement driving her closer to the edge.
“Trace,” she gasped, her voice hitching as the building pleasure coiled within her. With every stroke, he hit a depth that sent stars bursting behind her closed eyelids.
“Come for me, Annika,” he commanded, his breath hot against her ear, his voice a rough whisper that wove through the haze of her senses. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”
And then, as if his words were the key to unlocking her orgasm, the tension snapped. The explosion of bliss was blinding, all-consuming. Annika’s body shook with the force of it, waves of ecstasy rolling through her in a relentless tide. She cried out, a sound that echoed off the walls, raw and full of wonder.
“God, yes…Annika,” Trace groaned, his own release following close on the heels of hers. She felt him shudder, his body tensing above her in powerful spasms, and then he collapsed, his weight a comforting pressure that anchored her to the here and now and seemed to lay a foundation for the future.
Lying beneath him, Annika held him close, feeling the aftershocks tremble through them both. A profound stillness enveloped the room, their mingled breaths the only sound. His heartbeat pounded against her chest, a drumbeat that matched her own.
And in that moment, as they lay together in the quiet of the night, Annika knew that they were stronger than the shadows that had haunted them for so long. They had found their way back to each other, and no matter what the future held, they would face it side by side.
Chapter Eleven
Trace
Trace sat in his office, his thoughts a tumultuous mix of anger, determination, and fear. Annika had barely slept the night before, the weight of her mother’s involvement in Carl Hansen’s illegal activities and the truth about her brother’s death pressing down on her. He’d done his best to comfort her, to reassure her that they would get through this, but he knew that the revelations had shaken her to her core. Now, as he stared at the stack of files on his desk, he felt a burning need to protect her from the darkness that threatened to consume their lives.
A sharp knock at the door broke his reverie, and Annika stepped inside, her face pale. She had changed since last night, the vulnerability in her eyes replaced by a steely determination. Trace could see that she was ready to face whatever came next, even if it meant confronting the demons of her past.
“Trace, I just got a call,” she said, her voice tense. “Someone left a message on my phone, telling me to come to that abandoned beachfront property just outside town. They said it’s connected to the case.”
Trace’s instincts flared with suspicion. “Did they give a name?”
