Search and Rescue by April Wilson

Chapter 24

Killian Devereaux

Cameron Stewart, another one of the guys on Jake’s team, arrives around four-thirty that afternoon in a rented SUV filled with surveillance equipment. He walks in the door and wipes his boots off on the welcome mat. “Hello, Hannah. I’m glad to hear you’re doing all right.”

“Hi, Cameron,” she replies. “I’m doing well, thanks to this guy.” She points my way. “Thanks for coming out on such short notice.”

“No problem,” he says.

I introduce him to Owen and Maggie, and then he and I head outside to survey the property and make a plan.

“I hear you’re staying a while,” he says to me once we’re outside. “Until this is resolved?”

I nod. “I’m staying indefinitely, if I have my way.”

“Yeah?” He nods toward the cabin. His brows rise. “You and Hannah, huh?”

I nod. “Yep.”

He claps me on the back. “I’m happy for you, man. Congratulations.”

It takes us a whole ten minutes to figure out where we want to place the cameras so that we’ll pick up any movement in the yard, as well as any vehicles coming up the lane. Owen comes outside to join us, and with the three of us working, we have the cameras installed in no time. They’re wireless, and we connect them to Hannah’s wireless router. It’s a pretty easy setup.

Hannah and Maggie come out to sit on the front porch while we wrap up the installation. I download the monitoring app on her phone and show her how it works. If she needs to, she can summon the police from the app. Hopefully, it’ll never come to that.

After all the work is done, we sit outside on the porch and celebrate with cold beers. Scout’s in heaven, having so many people to play with. Owen gets roped into throwing the ball until his arm aches.

Finally, just after dark, Cameron heads back to Denver to catch his return flight. Owen and Maggie say their goodbyes, too, and we’re left alone.

Finally.

“I thought they’d never leave,” I say with an exaggerated sigh.

Hannah’s lying lengthwise on the sofa so she can stretch out her legs and get comfortable. Her cast is propped up on a pillow. She nods toward her cast. “Three days down. Only thirty-nine more to go.”

I sit on the coffee table and face her. “Be patient, love. Your body needs time to heal.” Then I check the dressing on her arm to make sure it’s still healing nicely. “You’ll be good as new in no time.”

We sit for a minute, facing each other, as the tension and anticipation grow thick in the air.

“It’s getting late,” I say. “I should take Scout outside one last time before bed.”

She nods. “Good idea.”

When Scout and I return, I find the sofa empty. It’s after ten now, and I know she’s tired, so I lock up the cabin, check that the cameras are functioning correctly, and turn off the lights.

I see a light underneath the bathroom door. “Everything okay in there?”

“Yes.”

“Need any help?”

She hesitates in answering, but I wait patiently. I have a feeling we’re entering new territory tonight. I don’t want to rush her or pressure her. We’ll take this at her pace. She can have all the time she needs.

Finally, almost apologetically, she says, “Actually, I do need some help.”

Trying not to feel jubilant, I turn the doorknob and find it unlocked. “Can I come in?”

“Yes, please. If you don’t mind.”

I stifle a laugh. Do I mind? Is she kidding? I slowly push open the door and step inside a warm, steamy room. The lights over the bathroom counter are off, but there’s a small lamp on, casting just a little bit of light. Hannah’s sitting in the bathtub, naked as the day she was born, her cast propped up on the side of the tub, resting on a folded towel. At least she’s keeping it dry.

“I got myself into the tub,” she says, “but I’m finding it impossible to get out on my own. If I try to lift myself up, I slip back in.”

I can’t hold back my smile. “I’d be happy to help you.”

She shakes her head. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am,” I say, grinning. “I got kisses today, I copped a feel, and now I’m getting an eyeful. At this rate, who knows what I’ll accomplish before midnight. You’ve practically made all my dreams come true.”

Raising her arms to me, she laughs. “I warn you, you’re gonna get wet.”

“Shouldn’t that be my line?”

I’d swear she’s blushing, but it’s hard to tell because the bathroom is so warm, her cheeks are flushed.

She’s already let the water out of the tub, and now she’s sitting there shivering, her wet skin covered with goose pimples. I grab a dry towel off the rack, cover her with it, and slip one arm behind her back, the other beneath her knees, careful not to jar her ankle. I’m trying hard not to peek at her naked body, but that’s a mighty tall order when I see miles and miles of smooth skin. There’ll be time enough for that later. Right now, she just needs my help, not me gawking at her.

As I carry her out of the bathroom, she tries her best to arrange the towel over her naked body.

My chest rumbles with suppressed amusement. “Don’t worry, love. I’m not looking.”

She laughs. “You’re a guy. Of course you’re looking.”

Busted. I did notice a few curves. “Well, I’m trying not to.”

I carry her into the bedroom and lay her gently on the bed. I stand watching as she quickly dries herself off, keeping the towel strategically placed over her breasts and pussy. “Well done, Hannah. I hardly got a peek at anything.”

She rolls her eyes at me but quickly redirects her attention when I pull my shirt up and over my head. Her eyes lock onto my bare chest, and I swear I can literally feel the heat of her gaze on my skin.

“I should grab a quick shower,” I tell her as I back out of the room. “You stay put.”

She nods but says nothing for a change. I think she’s getting nervous. I guess that makes two of us. Whatever happens between us tonight, or any night, I want it to be good for her.

I take a quick shower, scrubbing myself briskly from head to toe. I don’t know what tonight will bring—maybe nothing—probably nothing—but I want to be prepared. After helping Cameron mount all those surveillance cameras, I’m a bit sweaty.

After my shower, I dry my body and hair with a towel and finger comb my hair into some degree of order. It’s pretty short, so that’s not too hard. I return to the bedroom wearing nothing but the towel wrapped around my waist because, like an idiot, I forgot to bring clean clothes with me into the bathroom.

I find Hannah sitting up in bed, supported by a pillow propped against the headboard. The sheet is pulled up to cover her breasts, and her arms are crossed over her chest. Her dark brown hair is loose on her shoulders, slightly damp and wavy from her bath.

I lean against the doorjamb. “You look beautiful.”

She smiles. “So do you.”

Pushing away from the door, I nod toward my duffle bag. “I forgot to grab clean clothes.” I locate a pair of boxer-briefs, drop my towel, and pull them on. “Is this okay?”

She nods. “Sure. I sleep in my underwear, too.”

Oh, fuck.

She would have to say that. I’m already hard, and I’m sure she can tell because the fabric of my briefs can only hide so much. “Look, I don’t want to be presumptuous. You tell me what you want and don’t want tonight, okay?”

She tosses the sheet aside, and to my surprise, she’s wearing black bikini underwear and nothing else.

“How did you manage that?”

“I put them on while you were in the shower. I didn’t want to be presumptuous either.”

I flip the light switch off and stalk toward her, skirting around the foot of the bed to what has become my side. She follows me with her gaze as I climb onto the mattress, on my hands and knees, and prowl closer. “We’re not having sex,” I say. “I thought I’d throw that out there for the sake of clarity.”

Honest to god, she looks disappointed. “We’re not?”

I shake my head. “I can’t risk hurting your ankle.”

“What if we’re really careful?”

“Nope. However, never fear, I promise I’ll take care of you in other ways.”

After propping her cast up on a pillow, I lie down next to her and lean over her, my mouth just inches from hers. “I’m going to kiss you.”

She laughs. “I don’t see anyone trying to stop you.”

“Just wanted to be clear. You’ve told me no so many times before, I don’t want us to get our wires crossed.”

She reaches up to thread her fingers through my damp hair, her short nails digging into my scalp and sending sparks of electricity down my spine. My balls tighten as my dick swells.

“I’m telling you yes now,” she says. “Is that clear enough?”

Hell yes, it is. I kiss her forehead, then trail my lips down the bridge of her nose to settle on her soft lips. She sucks in a shaky breath and tightens her grip on my hair. She starts kissing me hungrily, like a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and her hunger only stokes mine.

I slip one hand behind her head and cover a breast with my other hand. Her lush nipple puckers when I brush my thumb over the fabric of her bra. Arching her back, she groans into my mouth.

I keep reminding myself to slow down—to be careful—but my ability to think clearly has gone out the window. This is Hannah, for god’s sake. I’m in bed with Hannah—a place I never thought I’d be.

She takes matters into her own hands when she peels back the cup of her bra, exposing her bare breast and pressing it into my palm. Her nipple is a dusky pink bud, puckered up sweetly. I can’t help drawing it into my mouth and flicking it with my tongue. When I suckle her gently, she tightens her fingers in my hair, pulling hard enough to make me grimace. Her hips start moving and she’s making these incredible sounds that are driving me insane. My cock is aching now, hard as a fucking rock, and I’m desperate to sink inside her.

I release her nipple and take a deep breath. “Slow down, couyon,” I mutter to myself.

Slow down, idiot.

“What?” she murmurs, still distracted.

“Nothing.” And then I kiss her.

She skims a hand down my back, her nails digging into my muscles, and when she reaches my ass and grabs a handful, I know it’s time to up my game before I lose all control of the situation.

As I pull away, our mouths separate, and she makes a plaintive sound.

“I got you, love,” I tell her as I slip down the bed to the spot between her thighs. Her scent fills my nose, making me even harder.

Damn.

Careful of her cast, I nestle myself between her supple legs, shifting her good leg over to make room for my shoulders. When she realizes where I’m headed, she’s only too happy to help me out. I brush her belly button with my nose, and she lets out a rushed breath. Then I skim down to her bikini line and tease the waistband with one finger.

“God, yes,” she says breathily as she raises her hips off the mattress. “Take them off, Killian.”

I’m starting to think she put them on just so I’d have to take them off. Her fingers are back in my hair, both hands gripping and tugging, full of demand. God, I knew she’d be like this—direct. Not afraid to ask for what she needed from me.

I press my nose against the warm gusset of her underwear, right between her lush lips, and breathe her in. Her scent makes my dick throb and my balls ache. When I lick her through the fabric, then blow hot hair on her, she starts squirming in earnest.

“Lie still,” I warn her. “You’ll hurt your ankle.”

“Forget about my ankle, Killian,” she growls.

Double damn.

I like a girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to demand it.

After pulling the little strip of fabric aside, exposing her plump lips, I swipe a tongue through the silky wetness between them. She’s already so perfectly fucking wet. I want to devour her.

“Take them off,” she gasps as she rocks her hips.

Yes, ma’am. I kneel and work her underwear down her good leg. She bends her knee to make that easier. Then I gently pull them down her other leg and over the cast. When I settle back down, she opens herself to me. She’s as hungry for this as I am. As I lick and tease her, she shows me where she wants my tongue. As I tease her clit, I slip a finger inside her slick opening. She cries out loudly, lifting her hips.

I lightly smack her ass. “I said lie still.”

She lets out a frustrated groan. “For god’s sake, Killian, I’m not going to break.”

She tugs on my hair, urging me to rise up over her. I do as she wants, my thighs cradled between hers. When my erection presses against her opening, we both groan.

She reaches between us and wraps her fingers around my erection. “There are condoms in the top drawer of my nightstand.”

I groan harshly. “Remember, we’re not having sex tonight. It’s too soon. Your ankle—”

She presses her wet heat against my trapped erection, rubbing herself against me. “In the nightstand, top drawer,” she repeats.

“Merde.” Shit. “I only have so much willpower, you know,” I say, laughing. How in the hell am I supposed to do the right thing when she’s offering herself to me?

“I know. That’s why you’re going to get a condom.”

“Fuck.” I reach across her and open the top drawer, fishing around blindly until I find a box. I pull it out and hand it to her.

She promptly removes a packet, tears it open, and says, “Take off your briefs.”

I do as she asks, whipping them off as quickly as I can. She rolls the condom onto my length.

I lean down and kiss her, my lips nudging hers open so I can slide my tongue against hers. She grips my head, panting against my mouth. We’re both breathing hard.

“Inside me, please,” she rasps. “Now.”

Merde. “Yes, ma’am.” I reach down to fist my cock and direct it to her opening.

She raises her hips as I slowly sink into her, working myself deeper and deeper. She’s so soft and wet, her body ready and welcoming. We both groan in pleasure.

I start to move, slowly at first, giving her a chance to get used to my size. I’m a big guy, in all aspects, as she quickly realizes. She gasps when I sink inside her.

I brush her hair back from her forehead. “Okay?”

She nods. “It’s fine,” she breathes. “I’m fine.”

I keep my thrusts slow and measured, gliding carefully inside her as her body adjusts to me.

When her nails scrape down my back to my ass, and she digs in, I take it she’s ready for more. I pick up the pace, carefully at first, but she’s encouraging me to move faster, harder, deeper.

“Killian, god, yes,” she breathes. Her words are followed quickly by a keening whimper. “Harder! Please.”

Damn, that’s all the encouragement I need to let myself go. To let myself feel this incredible pleasure of being surrounded in her tight, wet heat. She’s slick with desire, her hips raising to meet mine, and we’re both straining together.

When she slips her fingers between us and strokes herself, I about lose my damn mind. Watching her tease her clit while I power into her is more than I can take.

“Fuck!” I growl, arching my back, throwing back my head as my orgasm rips through me.

“Killian,” she gasps as her body tightens on me, her sex clamping down on my cock.

I feel the ripples of her climax all along my shaft, and it’s perfect. We’re perfect together. Our bodies are so in tune with each other. Her cries of pleasure are the sweetest sound I can imagine.

When my climax wanes, I slow my thrusts. Her muscles go limp, her arms falling to her sides. After pulling out, I leave the bed to dispose of the condom, wash my hands, and return quickly to rejoin her in bed.

“Come here, love,” I say as I wrap her in my arms.

I pick up the empty condom wrapper, which I find lying discarded in the bed. “I hope there are plenty more where this came from.”

She laughs. “An entire box of them.”