That’s all I need to know.

Dimitri

“She’s okay,” I say, letting Hendrix and Indi in.

Hendrix shifts his eyes to the bed where Jess is sleeping. I can see the concern there, and for the first time I can see how much he really does care about her. She was right all along—to her he’s a hero. He saved her life and he gave her a chance to live again. She’s willing to give everything to him and now I can finally see—she has a right to.

“She been sleeping long?” Hendrix asks.

“About two hours. I gave her painkillers and she passed out.”

“The damage?”

I feel my chest tighten with rage at what that son of a bitch did to her.

“She’s got bruised ribs, a few bits of damage on her face but thankfully, there’s nothing major. She’ll feel better in a few days. She’s a tough girl, and she’s very lucky that things didn’t end far worse for her. I was worried she had a concussion but she seems to be fine.”

“Should we take her to a doctor?” Indi asks.

I shake my head. “Unless we see something change dramatically, then no.”

She nods, gripping Hendrix’s hand so tight her fingers are white.

“She’s all right,” I say, and she meets my gaze.

“But what about . . . ? What about her mind.”

It’s Hendrix who answers that for me.

“She’s got a stronger mind than most, she’ll get through it.”

I nod, staring at her. She’s curled on her side and her red hair is fanned out over the pillow. After I managed to get her showered and changed, she just collapsed onto the bed. I tried to get her to eat but she wasn’t interested. I figure right now, more than anything, she needs to just come down from the events she’s lived through.

“We’re in the next room,” Hendrix says. “If you need anything just yell out.”

I nod again.

“Son?” he says and my body stiffens at the word.

I turn slowly to him, feeling my jaw tightening.

“Thank you,” he says, holding my gaze before turning and leaving.

I let the breath out I didn’t realize I was holding. I lock the door once they’re gone and I remove my shirt quickly, before climbing into bed beside Jess. She turns, tucking herself into my body. I wrap my arms around her and breathe her in.

Thankful that I’ve been given such an amazing gift.

I won’t let that gift go.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Jess

Please,” I whisper, sliding my tongue down his abs.

“Fuck, baby,” he groans, arching his hips up. “You need to stop.”

“I don’t want to stop.”

“You’re still sore.”

I nip the flesh just above the hard ridge of his cock. He makes a strangled groaning sound and flexes his hips. I slowly slide down lower, until his cock brushes against my cheek. I turn my face into it, letting the tip run along my lips. God, I so desperately want to taste him. Sore or not. I need him. I need all of him. I part my lips and slip him inside, relishing in the feeling of him filling and stretching my mouth.

“Fuck, oh fuck,” he rasps above me, bringing his hands down to rest on my head.

I slowly snake my tongue out and slide it around his aching shaft. He growls deep and low and his fingers tangle in my hair. I begin to slide my lips up and down, feeling the way his cock swells beneath them. Tingles break out over my skin and my pussy clenches with raw need. I want him inside me, but more, I want to feel him release all around me. I want to watch him come undone.

“Suck me, baby,” he groans. “Suck me so fuckin’ hard.”

I tremble and I suck him hard, as hard as he needs. I pick up the pace, using my hand to stroke the base while I rotate my lips over his head, sucking and nipping, pulling and jerking, until he’s arching his back and bellowing my name.

“Going to come, fuck, pull . . . out . . .”

I don’t.

I suck harder, I suck faster. My free hand finds his balls and I cup them, giving him a little squeeze until he’s shooting his release into the back of my throat. I take all of him, sucking until he begins to grow soft and his cries of pleasure have died down. Then I slip him out of my mouth and I slowly slide up his body, taking in every inch of hard flesh that makes contact with my body as I move. When I get up to his face, he wraps his arms around me and stares at me with lust-filled eyes.

“You suck cock like a pro,” he murmurs, staring at my swollen lips.

I giggle softly. “It’s my specialty.”

He chuckles and his hands come up to cup my naked breasts.

“What about you?”

“What about me?” I grin.

He grins back, big and devilish.

“I can’t leave you hanging, I can’t leave that pretty pussy throbbing.”

I stare at him with a confused expression. “Oh, honey,” I begin in a sultry voice. “You didn’t think you were good enough to get my pussy throbbing, did you?”

His eyes widen and his grin gets bigger. Then he flips me until I’m on my back.

“So you’re saying my cock did nothing for you?”

I shake my head with a wicked grin. “I’m sorry to offend you, it’s just . . . well, you know . . . it wasn’t that good.”

He leans back and takes my knees, spreading them.

“Funny, from this angle you’re glistening.”

I shrug, but my cheeks heat with need. “I’m always glistening, it’s part of the job.”