Page 101 of Only the Hunter

“Yeah.” She closes the laptop lid. “I’ll review again tomorrow on the flight.”

My hands work deeper into the knots along her shoulder blades. She’s been hunched over that screen for hours, tension coiled tight in every muscle.

“You’re wound up,” I say quietly.

“I know.” Her voice is softer now. Tired. “I can’t stop thinking about what happens when we land.”

“Then don’t think about it.” I lean down, lips close to her ear. “Not tonight.”

She turns slightly, incredulous eyes finding mine. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Let me help.”

Her breath hitches. Just slightly. But I hear it.

And with that slight reaction, I’m confident I can distract her.

I slide my hands down her arms, pulling her up from the chair. She rises slowly, turning to face me.

“Gabe—”

“You’ve been at it all day,” I say, voice low. “Take a break. Let go.”

The corner of her lips turn up as her palm flattens on my chest. “Any recommendations for how to spend my break?” Her lips twist into a flirtatious smile on the word break.

“One or two.” I pull her close, so close that she tilts her head back to hold my gaze. “Tonight, there are definitely things we can do.”

My thumb brushes her lip, and I caress her jaw. Those deep brown eyes of hers flicker, and I swear I find myself memorizing the caramel hue, the golden flecks of color.

She pulls her lower lip between her teeth, and when she releases it, I lower, wanting my turn to nibble.

“And tomorrow?”

Her words slow me, and I pull back, cupping her face, thumb brushing her cheekbone.

“Tomorrow, we fight.” I brush my lips softly over hers. “But tonight? You’re mine.”

I sound possessive because I am.

She doesn’t pull away.

“Say yes,” I urge.

If she says no, that there’s more she needs to do, I’ll back away. I’ve observed Evie and Scott enough over the years to know that she resents commands. She’s a woman who values her own voice, as she should.

“Yes.”

That’s what I wanted to hear.

I kiss her then. Not soft. Not tentative.

Hard. Claiming.

She gasps against my mouth, and I take the opening, deepening the kiss, tasting her. My hands slide to her waist, pulling her flush against me so she can feel exactly what she does to me.

“Gabe—,” she says on a breath when I break away.

“Bedroom,” I say. “Now.”