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My pace frenzied, driving deeper inside of her, needing to become one with her.
Her insides tightened, and I felt her tremble against me.
It was all the encouragement I needed. All fury unleashed as I grunted, clinging tight against her body, drinking in everything about this moment from her sweet sexy scent down to the soft noises she made as we came undone together. I didn’t want to forget any of it, ever.
I shut off the water and carried her to my bed, laying her down, crawling above her, staring down at her.
“You’re all mine, Freckles.” I wanted to claim her and mark her as mine forever. While I knew she was alive and well and safe in my arms, I had to keep telling myself that she was here with me and this was real.
Her thumb stroked my jaw, and I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers, crushing her with a bruising kiss. I’d never felt quite so helpless until today, hearing about the hostage situation and that she was inside because I’d sent her there.
Guilt weighed heavily over me.
I pulled back, my elbows propped up so I could stare down at her as I settled my hips over hers, pressing her down into the mattress, covering her with my body, shielding her from the outside world, protecting her.
Her bottom lip curled between her teeth. “What’s wrong?” I whispered, refusing to glance away. She had my undivided attention. I slid my thumb over her lip, her jaw relaxed as she released her hold over the sensitive skin. Had she even realized what she’d been doing?
“You’re my boss,” she stared up at me, unmoving. With one hand, she caressed the stubble on my jaw, and the other rested on my lower back. “Just a few days ago, you were pretty clear sex was off-limits, that we couldn’t do this and work together.”
I rolled off her body and laid on my back, staring up at the ceiling with a huff. “I can’t work with you and pretend you mean nothing to me.”
Ariella rolled onto her side, tugged the covers up around her waist. She chewed her bottom lip again.
I leaned in, needing another taste, wanting to know she didn’t regret what we’d just done. I couldn’t go back to pretending that we were nothing more than friends. Having her at the office had been driving me crazy. I’d wanted to bend her over my desk.
This kiss was softer, fueled with longing and want, not solely need and pent-up desires.
“What does that mean?” Ariella asked. “I’d rather give up my job than give up you.”
My hold on her tightened. The guys would inevitably kill me, but I wouldn’t let her leave the business or leave me, and being professional had been too damned hard. “You’re not leaving the team. You’re one of us now.” She’d proven herself, especially today protecting Hazel, keeping her out of the hands of the men who wanted her dead.
“What are you suggesting?” she asked, staring down at me. Her fingers tapped against my chest.
I pulled the covers up around us, burying her between me and the warmth of the blankets. I kissed her cheek, nose, and eyelids, teasing her. I didn’t have a great suggestion. While I wanted to shout out to the world that she was mine, I had a feeling that was too much for her. I didn’t want to push her away.
“We go slow, keep what’s happening between us,” I said. It wasn’t anyone else’s business.
“Do you really think you’re capable of keeping this a secret?”
I’d kept a lot of secrets. It was part of the job. I knew Ariella could handle it because she’d been required to do the same with the C.I.A. “Yes. Why? Are you having doubts?”
Her eyes shined with mirth, and she giggled as she maneuvered her hips over mine. Her hand slipped down between the sheets, waking me up inside, making me feel alive all over again. “Oh, I can handle it, but I’m not sure grumpy bosshole will be able to pull it off,” Ariella said.
I snorted. “Is that a challenge, Freckles?” She made me feel like a teenager all over again, my body instantly responding to her touch. I was under her control and at her mercy.
* * *
After staying up nearly all night satisfying each other, dawn broke. Ariella had just fallen to sleep, and I had to get up for work. I didn’t have the heart to wake her. I kissed her but also thought better of leaving a note. The last time everything had gone terribly wrong for us, and while I didn’t think my house was about to burn down, I didn’t need to chance some great catastrophe either.
I kissed her softly on her cheek.
She stirred, eyes still closed and reached out with her arm against the mattress searching for me. I stood dressed and ready to go. “Sleep in. I’ll swing by with lunch and bring you into the office around noon. Just this once you can come in late, bosses orders.”
Her eyes lazily opened. “Are you sure? I don’t want special treatment.”
“Really?” I stared down at her with a grin and leaned in, kissing her again. “That’s not what you were moaning last night.”
Her eyes lazily shut, but the smile never left her lips. She moaned softly. “Yeah, you’re right. Just don’t tell the guys, remember?”
