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“You mean… I fell for the… wrong man.”
“That’s something you’ll need to tell me later. Maybe five years from now.” He captured my mouth, holding our lips in place as he slid one hand around the back of my neck, squeezing with enough pressure I moaned into the kiss.
Tingles prodded away some of the pain, allowing me to feel alive all over again. In his arms there was so much strength, as if we could shove aside the rest of the world. The taste of him was sweet and tangy, just like the man could be when he wasn’t practicing his asshole mode. There was nothing quite like kissing him, the hunger building to a precipice of need so intense that I was lightheaded for the umpteenth time around him.
There was more of a longing as he dominated my tongue, even more possessiveness in his hold, yet there was also an unexpected gentleness, something that surprised me more than I could express. It was as if he was terrified I’d break into a thousand little pieces.
He obviously didn’t realize I had some pretty terrific resolve. Maybe because I had more reason to hang around than ever before.
And it all had to do with the facthe’dstepped on the wrong plane.
When he broke the kiss, he dragged his tongue around the seam of my mouth, taking a deep breath. Then he broke his hold completely, backing to the door and turning on the light. As a harsh glare filtered into the room, I winced, more from seeing the hardening of his expression as rage took over where the passion had been seconds before.
Kendrick looked away, cursing under his breath. “Goddamn it. You’re going to bruise.” With two long strides, he was close again, yanking a washcloth from the stack, turning on the water with such vigor it splashed all over the counter.
I watched him as he shook his head, easing the terrycloth under the stream. Then he rose to his full height, bringing it to my face. “This might sting.”
When he placed the cloth against my cheek, a hint of the same pain from before washed over me. Yet once again, his actions were tender, which seemed in direct contrast to the man. He blotted my skin and when he pulled his hand away, I noticed there was blood, just like there was on his white shirt. “I need to ask you a question.”
“O-kay.”
“Why did you ask me about knowing the senator?”
“Because her father was attacked years ago, her brother almost killed. I guess the good senator mentioned your father was behind the attack and that rumor had it he hired his son to handle the assassination.”
“Interesting.” He made a face and I sensed what I’d told him was perhaps the most troubling information he’d received up to this point.
“That’s what you always say. Explain.”
He continued dabbing the cuts on my face then sighed. “Not until I check a few things. You’re going to need to trust me. Can you do that?”
“Yes. You killed those two men. They’re dead. Right?”
“They’re dead,” he told me. Then he walked toward the shower, reaching inside the door and turning on the faucet. “I don’t know who they are yet but I’m going to do everything I can to find out who hired them.”
“How? This is getting crazy, as if we were pulled into the middle of a game that’s been going on for years.”
He chuckled. “I have my ways, sunshine. Just like you have yours. And I think that’s exactly what’s going on. We were never intended to be a part of it. But here we are, fucking with things for the people involved.”
“Interesting,” I teased. “What happens after this?”
“You’re going to take a shower and I’m going to try and identify the assailants as well as make a few phone calls. Then we’ll get another room and a good night’s sleep. We won’t be attending the rehearsal dinner.”
“We can’t do that to Ashley.”
He lifted a single eyebrow. “I don’t want you a target any longer. We don’t know for certain who we can trust.”
“We either live our lives or we lie down and allow the evil of mankind to walk all over us.” I laughed after issuing the words. “My, aren’t we both profound tonight.”
Exhaling, Kendrick shook his head and walked closer. “Maybe so, but I refuse to place you in harm’s way. I need to get some answers. We’ll talk about the wedding later. Take a long hot shower. Okay?”
It was his way of telling me that he didn’t want me interfering in his business.
“Okay.”
“I’ll be right outside. No one can get inside from the bathroom window, so you’ll be safe.”
“What if I never feel safe again?”
