So cocky. Sure, he was a certifiable sex god, but Sierra still had some moves of her own. “How about we do it after you screammine?” She sat back up to skim both of her palms in light circles over his nipples.
First he groaned, a deep and throaty sound that seemed eminently fitting for the middle of the forest. Then Flynn tilted herhips, readjusting so that his penis hit a spot that spiraled her right back toward orgasm. He picked up the pace, to whereshe couldn’t tell where one stroke stopped and the next started. It was just a sensory overload of being filled and explodingat the same time.
“Let’s do it together, Sierra. ’Cause I can’t hold out any—”
Simultaneously, he groaned again, longer and louder, and she let out a high-pitched scream before falling onto his chest.It heaved up and down as Flynn gulped for air.
It took a few minutes before the sounds of birds and rustling ferns could finally be heard over their labored breathing. Thewhole thing had lasted less than five minutes, but Sierra felt as boneless and satisfied as if it had taken an hour. Whateverfireworks display Bandon ended up shooting up off the coast wouldn’t come close to the brightness and heat of what they’djust shared.
Knowing it was the smart thing to do—since getting arrested for public indecency was not on her to-do list for the weekend—Sierrarolled off to tug her shorts back on.
“Is all . . . that . . . going to happen every time we say I love you?”
Flynn laughed. A long, rolling laugh that gave her a glimpse of what he must’ve looked like ten years ago. Completely openand happy and so young and carefree. “God, I hope so.”
“Then we’d better not risk saying it until we get back to the car.”
“There’s no rush. I’ve got snacks to last us through a hike, since we’re here.” Flynn shoved her journal back into his pack.
Sierra carefully looped the ribbon around her fingers before stuffing it into her pocket. Then she grabbed his hand and swungit playfully as they walked down the path, underneath the towering spruces. “You really did plan the perfect day.”
“Don’t say that. Perfection’s dangerous. It implies it can’t ever be topped. Or it’s just looking for trouble from that bitchKarma. You know, Turkish rug makers weave an imperfection into every rug, so as not to offend Allah.”
Fat chance. “I don’t think we have to worry about one hundred percent perfection being achieved. I’ve got an attempted murdererwho may or may not be searching for me for the rest of my life. I’ll never stop worrying.”
Flynn’s steps slowed. “What if . . . that wasn’t the case?”
“I know, I should meditate or something to remind myself that it does no good to worry about what’s outside of my control.But meditation’s boring. I’m not desperate enough to go for it, I guess. Or finding peace in Norah’s special brownies.”
“No.” Flynn tugged her hand to stop them next to a tiny stream. He rolled his lips together, and then took a deep breath.“I mean, what if dealing with Rick was in your control?”
And here she’d thought forest floor sex was the biggest surprise of the day.
Chapter Twenty-one
Flynn had been nervous only a handful of times in his life. At his mom’s funeral, worried that he’d cry and his classmateswould never let him live it down. At the initiation ceremony for McGinty’s crew. Rafe had sworn it wasn’t like a street gang—hewouldn’t be required to shoot anyone. But when Danny McGinty came toward him holding a big-ass dagger with an Irish crosson the hilt, he’d worried.
And, of course, the day he sat in a large conference room with a state-provided lawyer, two FBI agents, three U.S. Marshals,two Secret Service, and a video camera recording his testimony.
Those times had all sucked.
This moment, right now, staring into the confused eyes of the woman he loved? It was a hundred times more nerve-racking.
“Do you trust me, Sierra?” Man, wasn’t that question just a fucking double-edged sword? Because he wanted her to say yes.Needed her to say yes. All the while knowing he was about to shatter that trust like a car window taking a hit from a LouisvilleSlugger.
But it was the only way. He’d thought about it. Had the long-ass talk with Delaney. Talked—well, more in circles than in specifics—tohis brothers and gotten what Flynn took as a thumbs-up. Fixing Sierra’s problem was the only way he saw clear to the future.
Even if her future didn’t have him in it after today.
“Of course I trust you. It’s funny how sure I was that I’d take years to trust anyone again. How I thought Rick had messedme up so badly that I’d be second-guessing every man I got close to, looking for their secret agenda. Not with you, though.”She reached up to stroke his cheek, the softness of her palm making him close his eyes to savor the moment. “You make me feelso safe, Flynn, so, gosh, treasured.”
“I love you, Sierra. There’s nothing I want more than to keep you happy and safe.” He captured her palm and placed a kissin the center of it. “Which is why we’re having this conversation. Because I need you to trust me when I say that I can getyou out of this mess. For good.”
Laughing, she asked, “Is this when you tell me you’ve got an uncle who’s a private investigator? One who’ll track Rick downand put the fear of God into him?”
“No. No uncle. No family at all except for Rafe and Kellan. That’s the God’s honest truth.”
“For goodness sake, Flynn, I was just teasing.” Her brows knitted together in concern. “Why are you so serious all of a sudden?”
“Because I need you to believe me. Believe every word that’s about to come out of my mouth.”
“Always.”
Shit. He could barely take the undiluted love and unqualified trust shining like diamonds in her blue eyes. In case it washis last chance, Flynn kissed her. Hard, at first, with all the intensity of the passion he felt for her coming
