Page 51 of Protected from Torment

And it’s everything.

Sparks.

Fire.

A delicious warmth building like a rising sun and spreading through my body.

Tyler’s arms come around me as he kisses me more deeply. He hugs me to him, surrounding me with his strength. But he’s gentle, too, taking care not to hurt me even as our desire builds.

His tongue strokes my lips, teasing them open and dipping inside.

One hand comes to my cheek, the other to the small of my back. I can feel him growing hard against me, his thickening erection nudging between my thighs.

My core squeezes. Aches. It’s desperate for things I never thought I’d want again.

As we keep kissing, we grow bolder, exploring each other. Our hands wander. I touch Tyler’s stomach, feeling the hard lines and planes of the muscles there. His hand comes to my breast, just for a moment, plumping it. His thumb brushes over my sensitized nipple.

I moan softly into his mouth, and he makes a low sound of satisfaction deep in his throat. He surges against me, and my legs fall open slightly, instinctively wanting him inside me. When his hand moves to my other breast, I arch into it, moaning again.

I’m not sure how much time passes, but it’s long enough to get lightheaded from lack of air. When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard. Tyler’s cheeks are a ruddy pink, and his eyes are nearly black with desire.

We just sit there, looking at each other as we gather ourselves. Then Tyler gives this sweet smile that makes my heart melt. “Was that okay, Mel? I didn’t rush you, did I?”

“No, you didn’t,” I reply. “If I didn’t want to keep kissing you, I wouldn’t have.”

“I just want to make sure.” He strokes my cheek. “It’s been a long time. And I don’t want to screw things up with you.”

“You didn’t,” I tell him. “Not at all.”

“Good.” Tyler’s smile turns into a wolfish one. “So, how would you feel if I kissed you again?”

There’s no hesitation. “I’d be happy about it.”

He cups my cheek as he holds my gaze. Amusement glints in his eyes. “Then I guess I’d better kiss you, shouldn’t I?”

I smile back at him, feeling lighter than I have in years. “I guess you should.”

CHAPTER 10

TYLER

Want to meet at the water cooler in five?

As soon as I read Mel’s message, I look up from my phone to find her watching me from across the office, her cheeks sweetly pink and a hesitant smile curving her lips. Once she sees me looking at her, her eyebrows lift in silent question.

She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I would much rather talk to Melissa than sit at this cramped desk, inputting data into spreadsheets and fending off thinly veiled advances from Jordan, the woman in the cubicle next to me. She’s single, for the record, and she likes walks on the beach, roses, baking, and—she mentioned the last part as she stared blatantly at my chest—men who work out as much as she does.

Getting hit on wasn’t something I banked on when I arranged for this temp job so I could come to work with Melissa. My concerns were keeping a close eye on Mel, scoping out her coworkers for suspicious behavior, and making sure I didn’t accidentally blow my cover.

Really, I’d have been much happier if Mel hadn’t come back to work at all. I could have come here as a temp myself—a bit of quick hacking into the employment agency’s records brought me to the top of the list, so I was the first one called when an opening unexpectedly came up.

Well, unexpectedly for Mel’s company, that is. Not for me, since I’m the one who planned the whole thing. All it took was a spoofed number from the local radio station, an all-expenses-paid cruise through the Caribbean for a week, and a call to the most senior employee here, telling her she’d won a free trip, but it had to be claimed immediately.

The employee—Edna, sixty-one, six months from retirement with thirty days of accrued PT—was beyond thrilled to get the news when I called. “They can figure it out,” she replied dismissively when I asked if she’d be able to get off work with such short notice. “I’ve given that place twenty years. They can do without me for a week.”

So, really, it was a win for both of us. Edna gets a paid vacation while I’m at her desk, watching Mel and making sure nothing bad happens to her.

It shouldn’t. I’ve taken plenty of precautions to ensure it won’t. Two nights ago, I came here with Levi—disguised as employees for the security company contracted by the building—and installed additional surveillance cameras in the hallways, elevators, and workspaces. This way, if anyone tries something again, I’ll know. And I’ll have proof of it.