Page 61 of Burn Protocol

“Tell me what you need,” I rumble, my voice lower than it ever has been.

“I… need… to come for you,” she pants.

Maya presses her hips against the palm of my hand, coating it with her wetness, searching for friction. I grin and oblige by running my thumb over her clit. It is so hard that even the lightest touch makes her shiver and cry for more. I press my fingers deeper, curl them against her sensitive spot, and flick her clit again.

“Then come for me,” I growl while nipping at her throat.

That is all it takes. Another flick as my teeth scrape her skin and I can feel her walls clench tightly around my fingers. Her mouth opens up in a silent gasp, my name falling like a wordless whisper from her lips. Her nails rake down my back and I hiss at the arousing sensation, making me press my fingers even deeper in her. Her whole body shivers now and she comes undone right there under my hands. Bucking, gasping, arching. And I make sure she rides it out until every touch is too much, and she can remember nothing but my name. Because I will remember nothing else but hers.

We move seamlessly through my apartment together. It’s like we never did it differently. She brushes her teeth as I brush my hair, puts on her underwear while I wash my face, makes tea while I make toast. The perfect dance. We don’t even speak much. She just presses her lips against my shoulder in passing. Looks at me through the mirror and winks. Maya is in my space, claiming it and making it hers, without stealing my air. I marvel at it.

When I hold the door open for her and she gently brushes by, I almost want to pull her back into the apartment. To keep her here with me. She must notice because she glances over her shoulder and gives me that smile—her smile. The one that seems to be just for me. I sigh. Get a grip, Gonzales! I smile too.

The drive to the station is different. Maya puts on one of her playlists and bounces in her seat. It should annoy me, but I find it endearing. I chuckle softly and glance at her from the corner of my eye. Her eyes sparkle as she sings along to some high-energy pop song, gesturing dramatically. She is so full of life, so passionate.

“How do you see me?”

The words slip out before I can even register the question nagging at the back of my mind.

“Huh?”

Maya freezes mid-motion and her mouth falls open. Her eyebrows come together in a puzzled look. She is so cute.

“When you look at me, what do you see?” I press.

“I see a beautiful, strong, and powerful woman that isn’t afraid of anyone or anything.” She pauses thoughtfully for a beat. “When I look at you, El, I see somebody that goes above and beyond to keep another person safe, to protect them against harm. Not out of some hero complex,” she places her fingers gently on my forearm and I sigh, “but because you care more deeply than most.”

That last sentence surprises me and I whip my head to the side to look at her. She stares at me. Her lips are slightly parted and her eyes wide. There is something soft in her gaze. Something that makes me feel like she is the first person to ever see me. A car honks and my focus snaps back to the road in front of us. ¡DÍOS, GONZALES!

My cheeks burn, but I ignore it. She is changing me. Turning me from being pragmatic into… I don’t even know what. Fuck. Maybe I should end it. Right here and now. Before things get out of hand and one of us gets hurt. But I really, really don’t want to do that. I want every morning to be like this. To wake up with her in my arms, have breakfast, and enjoy our coffee together.

I frown and purse my lips. We’ll be at the station in only a few minutes. Then I’ll have to be lieutenant again. I can’t get distracted like this.

“Hey, can we go to my place instead, tonight? I really have to work on the interview before Helen kills me.”

Maya says the words so casually that I have to do a double take. Did we agree on spending time tonight? I glance at her, confused.

“Oh…I…” She whispers, reeling back in her seat, “…I thought… you… we…”

I chuckle before I steer the car around the last corner.

“Sounds great, querida.”

She lets out a soft huffed laugh and I can feel how her body relaxes.

“It’s just, you’ve never been there and…”

I park the car and turn to grin at her. I grab her hand in mine and softly run my thumbs over hers.

“I’m looking forward to it. Now… vámonos.”

She blushes at the wink I give her and I can’t stop myself from smiling like a fool as I step out of my truck. The moment I do, I nearly bump into Torres, who stares at me with dark eyes. His gaze drags up and down once, before he glances over at Maya, who appears from behind the truck.

“Did you just ride in together?”

Maya voices a yes at the same moment I say it’s none of his business. Torres grins slyly and lets his gaze glide over Maya’s slender frame. There is something in them that raises my hackles. When his tongue flicks out to lick his lips, my body takes over and I place myself in front of her.

“Back off, now,” I hiss low.