I grasped hold of his still-hard cock, bending my knees to straddling him, and took him, watching his teeth sink into his bottom lip and his now-brown eyes get lazy, then hearing the snarl roll up his throat when my pussy convulsed around his cock.

“Now, come here, pussycat,” he muttered when he was seated deep.

I dropped over him, chest to chest, cheek to his shoulder.

He yanked the covers over us.

Once he had them settled and we were in our warm cocoon—connected, replete, his arms wrapped around me—he asked, “You’ll sleep for me tonight?”

I took in a deep breath.

Yes, fuck yes, he was good at this.

“Yeah, baby.”

“Right, give me a kiss before you do that for me.”

I lifted my head and looked down at him through the moonlight coming from the windows. I looked down and I hoped with everything I had that he’d remember this. He’d remember falling asleep inside me. He’d remember me falling asleep on him, holding him inside. He’d remember how he was so good at taking care of me when I lost my friend. He’d remember it and know how important it was. He’d remember it for always and it would give him some peace.

Then I kissed him. I gave it to him soft and wet and long and I hoped he’d remembered that too.

When I was done, I whispered, “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“My job, pussycat. One I like.”

I sighed at Abel giving me more.

Then I settled in, pressing close, squeezing him inside, and whispered, “Sleep good, honey.”

He tightened his arms around me. “Impossible not to, bao bei.”

I smiled, giving myself that moment.

Another moment of feeling myself falling in love.

Chapter Thirteen

Just Breathe

Delilah

The next evening, just prior to sunset, I walked down the steps behind the compound, steps that led to the bay, and I did it hand in hand with Abel on one side, my father on the other.

Behind us walked Moose and Poncho.

Behind them walked Jian-Li with Xun, Chen moving slowly with Wei two steps behind.

And behind them came Lucien and Leah, Sonia and Callum, Gregor and Yuri, Callum’s cousin, Ryon, and Callum’s brothers I’d met earlier that day, Calder and Caleb, as well as the woman I’d met the evening before, Stephanie.

Callum, Ryon, Calder, and Caleb were all carrying bows, each with one arrow.

I nearly lost it when we rounded the rock and I saw it, the flat boat with its rising bow and stern, the wood of the bow a carved bust of the torso and head of a proud, wild-haired lady. It had been dragged up so most of the hull was on the beach.