“Nope.”
He leaned past her and got the box. A moment later, he pressed a soft kiss against her lips. “You’re sure you want this?”
“I need this. I need you, Beau. Please. Love me.”
“Whatever the beautiful lady wants.” He pulled her in for another steamy kiss and pressed her back against the mattress.
A long time later, she woke up in his arms, blinking up at the dimly lit ceiling. Beau Dawson was the stuff of dreams. He’d satisfied her in ways she’d never thought possible, and yet, here she was, burning for him all over again. She drummed her short nails on the mattress. Tried counting sheep. Recited the alphabet both forward and backward in her mind, trying not to feel this way.
It was no use.
“Beau?” she whispered. “Are you awake?” She lightly pressed his shoulder. “Beau? Are you sleeping?”
“Not anymore,” he grumbled.
“It didn’t work.”
He chuckled. “I beg to disagree. It worked quite well. Twice.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
He turned on his side facing her in all his glory. “Still feeling attracted to a washed-up former police chief?”
“Unfortunately.”
“We need some sleep if we’re going to function in the morning.”
“Then, make it quick. Hurry.”
He was laughing as he covered her body with his.
Chapter Sixteen
When Beau woke up the next morning, he immediately realized his world had changed forever. The incredible night he’d spent with the delightfully sassy woman still sleeping beside him had left him sore and tired. But it had also left a mark on his heart, maybe even his soul. He’d fallen for her, hard. And he hadn’t even known it, not until she’d shed those heartbreaking tears and asked him to help her get him out of her system. She was now entrenched in his. And he didn’t even feel guilty about it.
As a lifelong law enforcement officer, he knew the risks, knew the payment that this night would require. He’d never be able to go back into law enforcement again, not after having a relationship with the daughter of an organized crime boss. No reputable agency would want him within a mile of them. It didn’t matter that Sierra was innocent, not caught up in that life of crime. It was guilt by association—her because of her family, Beau because of Sierra.
And he didn’t care.
At least, not now. Not yet. It would come, eventually. The regret about destroying his career. All he’d ever wanted in his professional life was to help others, get criminals off the streets. That deep yearning for that life would come back. It had been ingrained in him too long not to. But he instinctively knew it still wouldn’t matter. Trading Sierra for a career wasn’t an option. Not for him. He would eventually grieve for what he’d lost. But he’d rejoice over what he’d found.
Sierra.
That is, if she wanted him in her life. That was the worry that had him lying there so long, watching her, waiting for her to open her eyes. He needed to know how she felt now that their wild night was over. Would she regret it, in spite of insisting that it was what she’d wanted? Would she be relieved that she had, indeed, gotten over him? Not knowing was killing him. If it was simply a one-night fling for her, he’d have to figure out how to pretend that was okay.
He silently swore. When had he become a dramatic, melancholy love-sick fool? This was ridiculous. He had work to do, a mystery to solve, a woman to protect. He’d never been this sappy in his life, and he damn well wasn’t going to start now.
He flipped back the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He’d made it to the bathroom door, when an irritated voice called out behind him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He looked over his shoulder, his mouth watering at the sight of the disheveled naked beauty sitting up in bed glaring at him.
“I need a shower,” he said, barely able to force the words through his tight throat. Good grief, she was beautiful. Her long dark hair cascaded down her body in glorious disarray, a soft curl teasing him as it dangled over one breast.
“So do I.” She crawled out of bed and padded across the carpet to stop in front of him. “Or do you prefer to shower alone?” She ran her tongue across his chest, then leaned against him, her soft curves crushed against his stomach. “Well?”
He groaned as his body jumped painfully to attention.
