––––––––

NEAR DAWN, I WAKE UP in a cold sweat. The sheets are soaked, tangled up around my waist and legs. I’m trapped and the more I tug, the less free I become.

My body shakes, trembles, and I fucking hate how weak I am in this moment.

Campbell lays her hand against my forehead, like she’s a mom checking for fever, surprising me.

With the way I talked to and treated her earlier, I’m surprised she’s in here at all.

“What are you doing?” I ask, unable to help myself.

She wipes my face with a cool cloth. “Taking care of you.”

I don’t deserve it. “Why?”

“Because that’s what I do for my husband when he has a nightmare.”

“We’re not married.” And I was a complete and utter jerk.

“I know, but I’ve been thinking and talking about you in those terms for so long that it feels like we are.” She smiles softly at me. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No...” I run my tongue over my lips. They’re dry. “Yes.”

She holds the cup to my lips, but instead of coaxing me to drink, she slips a straw inside. “Drink as much or as little as you want.”

Not quite humiliated, I do as she says, drinking until nothing’s left.

“Better?” she asks.

“Yeah.” I roll over, not wanting her to see me like this, but she curls up behind me. “I’m sorry for earlier, for after dinner. I was a jerk.”

“Do you have these a lot?” she asks, the tips of her fingers on my neck, pushing in and massaging.

It doesn’t escape my notice that she ignored my apology. “I still owe you a back rub.”

“Yes, you do, but you didn’t answer my question.”

I cave. “I have them more than I want to.”

She kisses my bare shoulder, and I shudder. “What can I do to make it easier on you?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something harsh, but the rational, kind side of me wins out. “Everything you did tonight was good. Just don’t, uh, try to wake me up in the middle of it. I might hurt you by accident.”

“Got it.”

I look at her over my shoulder. “Just like that?”

She nods, her chocolate-colored eyes soft and serious. “Just like that.”

“One day, I won’t have them anymore,” I tell her, but we both know that’s wishful thinking.

“I know, but until then, I’ll be at your side, Knight.” She kisses my shoulder again.

In that moment, my perception of everything changes, shifts, and I realize I love Campbell. I love her enough to fight for her, and I love her more than I love to save her or any other woman I’ll ever meet.

“Wake me up when you need me to go back to my own bed,” she says on a yawn.

Not a chance in hell will that happen. Tonight, at least, I’m keeping her at my side.  “Will do.”

***

LATER THAT MORNING, Campbell and I get ready for Laird’s memorial service. I settle on a dark shirt, dress pants, and tie while she wears a navy-blue dress that hugs her curves. Her blond curls are pulled away from her face to cascade down her slender back.

She looks innocent and lovely. Sweet.

And if I only had last night to judge her by, then I’d have to conclude she’s just as innocent, lovely, and sweet on the inside.

Giving and selfless, too.

“Quinn texted to say she’d bring Hazel to the service, so we didn’t have to go get her,” she says as she emerges from the room she shares with Hazel to join me in the living room. I was more than a little disappointed to learn that she slept in there instead of in the master bedroom. My sheets didn’t smell like anything but freshly washed linens.

“We should have gotten a sitter for her.”

Campbell smiles faintly, stopping just short of me and reaching up to smooth the collar of my shirt down. Her touch rocks me, and I have to take a step back.

Rejection and hurt flares in her eyes, but I gently grab her hand and cradle it in mine, then lift it to my lips. “You make me think of things I have no business entertaining right now, especially after how I talked to you last night.”

“Maybe that’s exactly why you should think them.” She moves closer to me. “There’s nothing wrong with celebrating life, Knight. You’ve seen so much death that I think you’ve forgotten how.”

“The memorial service won’t help,” I say flatly.

“We’re going to celebrate Laird’s life, not mourn his death.”

“Same damn thing, sweetheart.” My jaw ticks, old hurts flowing through me, and what does the sweet woman standing in front of me do? She wraps her arms around me, holds me as close as I’ll allow.

All the hollowness inside of me, especially the one that’s shaped like my brother, fills up with rage, sadness, and... hope.

Hands trembling, I cup her shoulders, intending to push her away, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t push away the woman who’s comforting me.

I need this.

I need her.

For the second time in twenty-four hours, I’m the one who needs saving.

“Thank you,” I kiss the top of her head “Thank you for putting up with me.”

“I forgive you, Knight. You don’t have to keep apologizing.”

“Maybe not, but I want you to know how I feel.”

She looks up, her pink lips a temptation I won’t deny myself. I dip my head, capturing her mouth in a hot kiss full of need and want.

She responds in kind, holding nothing back and giving me everything. My grip tightens on her shoulders, but she doesn’t shrug them away. Instead, she presses closer, sweeps her tongue in my mouth, and sets my world on fire.

I let my hand coast down her arm, curve around her hip, and grab the material of her dress. Inch by inch, I drag it up, until my palm connects with her thigh. Her skin is soft and warm.

Alive.

I push inward, searching for the crease between her pelvis and thigh. She jolts when I find it. When I slip my fingers beneath the elastic of her panties, she whimpers in my mouth.

She’s wet.

Hot.

Needy.

And I need her just as much.

I push her against the closest wall, teasing and stroking her clit.

Soft. So soft.

My fingers are hard, calloused by my job, but they must be exactly what she needs because she juts her hips out, moaning.

“More,” she gasps.

Close. She’s so close.

I push two fingers inside of her. Blood pounds in my ears, and my cock is straining against my zipper.

I want to be inside of her. I want to feel her come on my dick, feel each ripple as her orgasm takes over and milks me until I have no choice but to follow.

She lifts her leg, hooking it on my hip and giving me better access. Her kisses are frantic now, biting nips at my jaw and neck.

Then her fingers are working at the button of my pants, her hands shoving them down and taking my boxer-briefs with them.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

She nods, pushing her underwear down. “Now... I want you. Now.”

I enter her in two thrusts. She’s so small and tight that my eyes water and my head feels like it’s going to blow off at any minute.

I have to slow down.

I have to take my time and make it good... and holy shit; I’m not wearing a condom.

Gritting my teeth, I pull out of her tight heat. “We can’t.”

“Do you have—”

“Maybe?” I kiss her hard and drag her to the master bathroom with me, afraid she’ll change her mind if I let her go. I search the cabinets and find a box in the back. “Thanks fuck,” I mutter.

Within second, I’m sheathed, but instead of entering Campbell right away, I set her on the counter and go to my knees. I push her dress to her waist and find her clit with my tongue.

She clutches my head, pulling me in so deep I can barely breathe. Except every bit of air I’m breathing is her.

I lick and suck, bite and nibble at her, until she cries my name and beats at my shoulders. But not until she urges me to get up do I stop.

I grip my cock, squeezing it. “Do you want me?”

She nods. “Yes.”

Gripping her plump ass, I thrust hard. She cries out my name, her head falling back. The smooth column of her throat works, and I lick it.

My fingers dig into her skin as I work her like a crazed maniac. I can’t get enough. Can’t get deep enough. Can’t slow down.

Can’t think.

I can only feel her, smell her... she’s the center of my universe.

Her brown gaze meets mine, love shining so plainly that I’ve been a fool to even consider she’d leave once everyone knew the truth.

With a growl, I pour myself inside of her, holding nothing back as she tightens around me and moans my name.

“You belong to me,” I vow.

“Always.”