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“He can’t touch me.”
“The family can. Maybe not with guns or fists, but…have you had your taxes audited in the last three years?”
He grunted. “Twice.”
“Of course you have. Because of me. That’s Winston, wanting you to know he can screw with you if you don’t keep your distance from me. I’m sorry.”
“I survived. I keep meticulous records. It was just a nuisance.”
“They’ll find something far worse to do to you if they figure out you’re helping the ‘enemy.’”
“Don’t worry about me.”
She laughed bitterly. “I’ve done that every day since I realized how dangerous the Pershings are. So many times I wanted to reach out to you… But I realized they would only hurt you more. So I kept to myself.”
“I thought about reaching out to you, too.”
Madison’s breath caught. He’d actually thought of her? “It’s better that you didn’t. I’m sorry I put you on the spot. Propositioning you earlier was impulsive and wrong. I have no right to lean on you.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s fine.”
“Then would you stay close until I fall asleep?” She felt guilty, but she needed him so badly. “I won’t ask you for anything else, ever.”
Matt froze. He hesitated for a long moment before he finally stood, cradling her against his chest, then set her on her feet and unwound the blanket, exposing her naked body. In the dark, his eyes flared. His stare raked her. “Get in bed.”
She shuddered. The need for his touch nearly crippled her, but she’d already begged. She refused to lean on him any further. “All right.”
Slowly, she slipped under the covers and settled them across her chest, watching him through the dark, breath held.
He stood over her, peering down, unblinking. Despite the shadows, she felt not just naked, but stripped to her soul. Next, he set down the USB drive, removed the holster she hadn’t realized he was wearing, and laid his gun on the nightstand. Then he shucked his shirt, revealing a torso that seemed somehow harder, leaner, and more powerful than ever. Her eyes widened. Her breath caught. One glance and every part of her caught on fire for him.
“Scoot over.”
Automatically, she did, backing to the far edge of the bed so he wouldn’t have to touch her. She wished he would. She craved it. But his nearness would have to be enough.
“What do you need?” he asked.
Madison’s first instinct was to tell him that she needed safety. But she realized now that he couldn’t promise her what no longer existed in this world. And she couldn’t ask him for sex again, even if feeling him deep inside her would make her feel loved and complete. She’d already put him on the spot. “Comfort.”
“Comfort?” He drew the covers back, slid in beside her stiffly. “Come here.”
He was going to touch her?
Her heartbeat surged as she slid into his embrace and laid her head on his chest. She was so grateful for the human contact, she nearly started sobbing. Her emotional leakage had to stop.
Since shortly after she’d accepted that marrying Todd had been the biggest mistake of her life, she’d dried her tears and refused to shed more. She would not be weak because of her husband. She’d drawn lines between them and erected barriers. He hadn’t noticed or cared, which suited her. But Matt…one touch, and she was already falling apart.
A shuddering cry slipped out before she could stop it. She bit her lip to hold in another, but it was too late. The dam had broken. Everything poured out in hot, anguished sobs. “I-I’m sorry. I’ll—”
“Shh.” Against her, his rigid embrace softened as he stroked her naked back up and down with warm, soothing palms. “Get it out.”
His tenderness hurt, especially since pity wasn’t what she wanted from him.
“No.” She swallowed the tears that tightened her throat and pushed away from him. “We don’t have time for my weakness. You’re right; I need sleep. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“You can lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me. I know your body. It’s fucking July in a hot-as-hell swamp, and you’re trembling. Your nipples are hard as bullets. I smell your pussy. You’re wound too tight. You need to bleed off this adrenaline that’s making you a shaking goddamn wreck. In my line of work, everyone knows the fastest way to do that is orgasm. When was the last time you had one you didn’t give yourself?”
Madison gaped in horror. How had he seen right through her? “Matt…”
