He squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s not that simple. And you wouldn’t be so forgiving if you knew . . . everything.”
The hairs all over her body stood on end. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek into his back, steeling herself for whatever else that needed to be said. “To move forward, we’ve got to be honest. That means being completely honest. Tell me.”
Everything was quiet except for the musical sounds from the jungle and the small waves washing ashore. Nicole waited.
“I came into your life, and so many tragic things have happened.”
Nicole kissed the center of his back. “So many good ones too.”
“You were almost killed in a plane crash.”
She responded. “As were you, but it was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“The Liberation of Shebet almost killed you . . . twice . . . because of me.”
Nicole had no idea where he was going with his confession but relaxed a little at his words. “There you go again, trying to take ownership of something that wasn’t your fault.” She attempted a little humor. “If we want to be accurate, they were trying to kill you, not me. I was collateral damage.”
“It doesn’t matter. You still ended up in the hospital, and . . .” His voice trailed off. “It was you that they targeted. You that they pushed down the escalator.” Davis stilled, waiting for the realization of his words to hit her.
Nicole relaxed her hold on his waist and dropped her arms to her side. Then she stepped back. “That was just an accident. That was nobody’s fault.”
Davis shook his head no. “When Harlan interrogated Roman, he admitted that the original plan was to send me a message through you. But, after he met you, he changed his mind and convinced the leaders of that organization that you could be more useful alive than dead. I was the target. That is why all of this is my fault. In order to make sure you and the kids stay safe, we can’t be together.”
Nicole stared at him for long moments without saying a word.
Davis hadn’t moved—hadn’t even breathed—waiting for her reaction anticipating her anger and hatred.
Finally, her words came. “I’m supposed to let you walk away from the kids and me over that?”
He didn’t get the reaction he thought. It surprised him. “It’s not safe to be around me.”
“Pieces of me would die a little every day without you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I mean every single word. I know that just from being away from you these past three months.” She stepped up close and placed her hands flat on his chest while staring deeply into his emerald green eyes. “I meant it when I said I won’t let you run away from me, or yourself. I love you, Davis Chatham, and I plan to live a long and happy life with you—forever.”
He searched her eyes for the truth behind her words. Once he found it, he pulled her into his body and kissed her long and hard.
Nicole tore her lips away from his. Her voice was husky. “I’ve been dying to be with you.” She snaked her hands down into his shorts and held him in a firm grip then stroked his cock back and forth. Somehow, his shorts slid down to his feet. Davis was already crazy with desire; her touch was almost too much. Bits of pre-cum oozed out onto her fingers, and Nicole couldn’t wait to taste it. She dropped to her knees and darted her tongue out for a sample, but that wasn’t enough, so she licked the milky substance clean off before pulling him into her mouth.
Davis’s moans were getting louder as he wrapped her hair around his fist and pulled. It was taking a superhuman effort not to thrust forward into the back of her throat and make love to her mouth.
When Nicole gazed up into his face, the look of pure pleasure was worth everything. She opened her mouth wider and slowly pulled him inch by agonizing inch into her wet mouth. Her head began to move back and forth as she sucked the bulbous part of him. She swirled her tongue around the head and sucked at the opening. His legs started to shake, and he couldn’t stop himself from thrusting forward. Surprisingly, Nicole took all of him. To steady herself, she placed her hands on the sides of his hips as he rotated them.
Davis’s body had a mind of its own, and it took over. She felt so good that he pushed faster and faster. His intensity picked up hitting the back of her throat. He was going to erupt. His voice was strained. “I’m going to cum. I need to pull out.”
Nicole tightened her grip and
