Zeke tucked her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her neck. “No, angel. He was telling me who you had to be. He wasn’t telling me who you are. When we’re in life and death situations, we can’t be rational. It’s instinct.”
“Have you been in those situations?”
Zeke nodded. “Mont and I saw some bad shit. Did some bad shit. I know we had to, to protect our country and to save lives, but it wasn’t easy. What we do now isn’t always easy either. Weare protecting people from others who want them dead. Our hands are not clean.”
“You’re helping people. You’re heroes.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
“You are,” Nina insisted. “You have no idea how good of a man you are. How happy it makes me to know you haven’t changed. That you’re still someone who will protect others the way you always did for me when we were younger.”
“I’ll always protect you, Nina. If you ever need me, I will always come for you.”
“I need you now, Zeke. I want you to love me. I want to feel you inside me and erase all the others. To take back what they stole from me.”
He inhaled deeply, holding his breath as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Are you sure you’re ready for that, angel?”
“With you? Yes, Zeke. Please.”
“You know I can’t say no to you.”
“Then don’t. Love me, Zeke. Make love to me. Show me how good it can be.”
He nodded and stood, reaching for her hand.
She let him help her up and laughed when he tugged her into his arms.
He hugged her tight, his hands wrapping around her and covering her back. He buried his nose in her hair and held her for a long moment.
When he pulled back, he didn’t hurry to drag her upstairs. He took his time, walking around the house and making sure everything was locked, lights and TV were off, and the cats were good for the night. He met her at the bottom of the stairs and kissed her again, his warm lips soft against hers instead of demanding.
Tears welled up in her eyes. This was what her first time should have been like. A man who cared. A man who cherished her.
Zeke took her hand and turned her to go up the stairs first, staying close enough to keep her hand in his. When they made it to his room, he turned the light on inside the room, then turned the stairwell light off. He closed the bedroom door and walked to the bathroom to turn that light on, always making sure they weren’t in the darkness.
He pulled the bathroom door mostly closed, then turned off the bedroom light. Nina stood next to the bed and watched him. She wanted to get her hands on him, to feel his warmth and strength. She was nervous, more nervous than she thought she’d be. She wanted him, but it was different from all her other experiences.
Would he enjoy himself? Would he still want her afterward?
He stopped in front of her, tilting her chin slowly until she met his gaze. “You say stop or no or anything, and I stop. You understand me?”
“Yes. I will do the same.”
He chuckled. “Oh, angel, I’m never going to say no to you. And I’ll never want you to stop.”
The truth of his words scraped over all her vulnerable parts, healing pieces of her she never wanted to admit were so raw. She swallowed roughly, something he noticed with his hand on her jaw.
“What is it?”
She tried to smile. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You never could.” He moved closer to her. “Can I kiss you, Nina?”
She nodded, and he leaned down, giving her more than enough time to stop him.
His lips landed on hers in a gentle touch, feather-light, like he wasn’t sure she was really on board. His erection nestled against her stomach, and her breath faltered with her inhale.
His kisses were soft and sweet, barely more than the kiss she would give her brother but so much more intimate. So much more everything because it was Zeke.
