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Julian’s hand tightened on the edge of the desk when Leah stretched, her blouse tugging tighter against her curves, revealing the outline of her bra. What kind of bra did she wear? Based on her impeccable outfit, it would be something lacy.
“It’s only three weeks,” she said, confirming his suspicions. “Besides, I had something else to do today.”
“A shopping trip, you mean.” He looked pointedly at the designer bags in the corner. “No wonder you keep asking for a raise.”
She frowned at him. He didn’t like how fatigue diminished her fire. “For your information, I volunteered at the New Hope Center this afternoon. That,” she yawned again, waving to the bags, “was after.”
Without another word, Julian pulled her up to her feet. Her lack of struggle told him more about her weariness than anything else.
“What’re you doing?”
“Taking you to bed. You’re in no condition to work.” He slid his arm under her knees and lifted her, cradling her against his chest. When she opened her mouth, he shook his head. “No, don’t argue. I’m your boss, and I’m telling you to go home.”
“You’re taking me home, more like it,” she grumbled but rested her head against him. The ice inside him melted some more.
Don’t get used to it,Julian scolded himself. It was a good thing that the office was empty and no one saw him carrying Leah.
“What were you doing at the New Hope Center?”
She fit too perfectly in his arms. He shouldn’t like this so much.
“Hmm…” She sounded half asleep again. An ache spread through his center. She worked too hard. “Lucy needed help to take the donations.” She snuggled deeper. “It’s generous of you to support the shelters.”
Her thoughts shouldn’t matter. He wasn’t proud of everything he’d done in his immortal life. The shelters were one of the few ways to make up for his past.
“It’s the least we can do, considering our role in it.”
Her gaze lifted and met his. Her seriousness made his heart skip a beat. “No, it’s above and beyond what you need to do. No other governments take care of the vulnerable like that.”
As if realizing what she’d just said, she dipped her head again. Would she feel the same if she knew just how many lives he’d taken, whether as the Ruler of Vegas, or when he’d been a young vampire, drunk on power and blood?
Or even when he was human, when his life had been nothing but battles for territory and dominance for someone else’s glory.
She works for the Organization, a part of him whispered.You know nothing about her past.
That disturbed him more than it should. Was this caring and gentle Leah a facade? Or was this the real her? Were her hands clean of the blood that stained his?
She didn’t have the build or the bearing of a soldier. That didn’t mean she couldn’t kill in other ways.
Like going undercover in Vegas and getting under his skin.
What were her orders regarding him? Julian sighed. What he wouldn’t give to read her mind, but even he couldn’t break past the C2 implant without destroying her psyche.
They arrived at her rooms sooner than he’d have liked. He would’ve preferred to hold her longer, to savor her feminine curves. The door opened to reveal a living room comprised of the standard furnishings for all employees living in the Central Tower.
Here and there, she had added her own touch. A purple glass vase with a bundle of white and yellow roses sat on the kitchen counter. There were purple and orange throw pillows on the couch and a thick white blanket folded on its back.
Here too were shopping bags from various stores. Two from Bergdorf’s and one from Tiffany’s.
“Do you have a problem I should know about?” When Leah looked up, groggy and confused, he tilted his chin toward the shopping bags on the couch. “Have you heard of the concept of saving?”
The fog cleared, and she glared at him as they crossed to her bedroom. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about her in here before. All the sheets and covers had been replaced with purples and yellows. The nightstand held another vase of flowers. A string of lights ran atop the bed’s headboard.
How did she have time to work and decorate her rooms in less than two weeks?
Because she worked herself to exhaustion. The answer was right in front of him.
“What’s the point of saving?” she asked with a sniff as Julian lowered her to bed. “There’s no guarantee I’ll get to spend it.”
