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She stilled. Then sniffled. “I know you’re right. And I love Andrew so much for it. I suppose the fact that someone broke into my place and smashed all my stuff should make me more upset but… I feel like… I’ve failed at life.”
Long fingers threaded into her hair as Clay drew her head against his chest. “You’re just starting out in life.”
“Unlike you.” She added a teasing note to her voice.
“Jesus,” he muttered.
“I don’t mind the age gap between us. It’s hot having a man who knows how to give us both what we need.”
“Hell.”
She felt the rumble beneath her ear more than heard it. “Who do you think this guy is? Why is he delivering bombs to people?”
“I have no idea, but he definitely came looking for you at your apartment—then searched for the bomb or some info he could use to find you. That means you can’t go back there until it’s safe.”
She ran her hand down his chest. “He already had some readings about location from the phone on that bomb too. Thank god we got rid of it. I feel safe right here with you.”
His throat clicked on a swallow. She tipped her head up to look at him. As their eyes locked, that sizzle of attraction turned into a zap.
“No, Lark. We need to dial this down. Go get in the shower and I’ll have pancakes ready for you when you’re finished.”
Dial it down? How could she possibly do that when she felt like he’d awakened something in her? Now she only wanted more—in several ways and at all hours of the day. But he was right. They had pressing things that needed addressing.
That her brother intervened on her behalf with the apartment still cut. She thought she got it all on her own, but in hindsight it seemed like too much good luck when she had no credit and a low-paying job.
After another crappy review or two on Quick Bunny, she wouldn’t evenhavea job. The app would kick her out. And then what? East Canon didn’t have many options for work. Most jobs she was overqualified for, and bagging groceries with a college degree wounded her pride.
That was if she could evenreturnhome. Running around with a bomb that nobody seemed to be giving much importance to was the most screwed-up thing she’d experienced in a long time, and she had a history of being screwed.
Now she didn’t even know how to act around Clay. How could she flip a switch as if every one of those impressive inches hadn’t been inside her last night?
He didn’t seem all that happy about it either.
He released her and gained his feet. With a tilt of his head toward the bathroom to indicate what her next move should be, he walked out of the bedroom.
Lark composed herself and selected some clothing from the dresser. At least it seemed better stocked than the pantry.
By the time she stood beneath the spray of hot, healing water, she smelled the mouth-watering scent of her sinfully hot, older lover fixing her post-sex pancakes.
ChapterEight
Clay watched the final bite of pancakes disappear between Lark’s lips. Seeing her swipe that drop of syrup off her bottom lip left him aching to pick her up and settle her on his lap. Something about her being so damn cute made him want to hold her in his arms, his lap—a lot. And that wasn’t his norm at all.
Larkwasn’t his norm.
She took a sip of water to wash down her food. When she lowered the glass, water dampened her lips, giving her pout even more allure.
What happened to his work ethics? He seemed to have left them all behind when he left WEST Protection.
He had to focus—on keeping her safe while getting rid of the fucking bomb that nobody seemed to be taking any interest in and then finding solid recruits to join Sentry.
The Abel brothers were en route. He knew little about Julius and Jennings other than what their other brothers occasionally shared. They were both hellions of the South, making their momma alternately cry and beam with pride.
But the WEST team had tried to bring them aboard several times. That meant they had skills—and Clay needed skilled teammates.
He still couldn’t figure out why the hell he was the one building Sentry from the ground up. Clay was far from lazy, but it seemed to him that when the FBI formed this task force that they should have actually hired some people to work it, not leave it entirely up to him.
Hand-selecting them was ideal—if he had more time. However, he didn’t.
