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"I'm serious guys. Go. Neither of you are any good to me or anyone else if you haven't slept. "

"If you're sure." I said, not liking the way the words tasted like giving up and relinquishing control.

I laced my fingers through Tierney's, "come on."

"Night Connor."

"Night Larissa." Tierney echoed.

"Sleep well, both of you."

The door snicked shut, Tierney and I slowly climbed the stairs, our inner tacticians hating every step we took, leaving her unguarded. I knew she could shoot, taught her myself, but it was the principle of the thing.

We reached the landing, and she pulled away to head to her room, but I held tight to her hand.

"Spend the night with me." I whispered.

She smiled softly, looking years younger, and nodded, following me to my room.

Chapter 34

TIERNEY

I woke wrapped in Ahren's arms. For the first time in, maybe, ever, I felt safe. With every hitter in the region, maybe the country at this point, actively plotting my death,I felt safe.

Strong arms flexed, pulling me tighter against his hard body. His dick pressing against my stomach felt like a lit match against gasoline soaked timber, and I was already burning.

A deep groan rumbled through his chest, sending a shiver of need through my body—one I tried to ignore.

I pushed gently against his chest, hoping to untangle myself from his embrace and lower the temperature before things got out of hand. Then again, maybe that was what I wanted—to let this fire burn. To finally know what it felt like to allow another person to have complete control over my body—complete surrender.

"Good morning, Kitten." his voice vibrated against me, still thick with sleep.

"Morning," I said, my eyes flicking up to meet his.

My shirt had ridden up during my fitful sleep, and his thumbs ghosted against my bare skin.

"We need to talk." the smile slipped from his face, though his eyes remained soft.

I nodded, catching my bottom lip between my teeth. My hands pressed against him once again, trying to sit up, but his arms only caged me tighter, holding me in place.

"Don't go. We can talk here," he pleaded softly.

The Ahren Rossdale I knew by reputation alone was not the type to plead with anyone. Though I had to admit, the man I was getting to know seemed nothing like the larger-than-life billionaire persona the world knew.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked, pushing myself against his hardness to emphasize my point.

A half smile quirked at the corner of his tempting mouth. "I just don't want you to run off. That's all."

"I won't run from you." I answered, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping he had caught the double meaning.

His lips pressed against mine, nipping at my top lip before releasing it, running his tongue over it to ease the sting.

Reluctantly, he released me, both of us pushing ourselves up until we were sitting.

"How about we do this over coffee?" he asked, scrubbing his hands down his face.

"You got any more of that tea?" I asked, remembering the fruity chai tea.