Page 83

She laughs. One of those low, dangerous sounds that warns of an eruption of epic proportions.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It is our business if you’re harboring a person of interest.”
“Oh, you mean a human being I might be sleeping with?” she snaps. “You don’t get to ask who I let into my apartment. You don’t get to knock like you live here and interrogate me like I owe you my body, my time, or my fucking allegiance.”
I’m smiling now. Slow. Sharp. God, she’s something.
“Ma’am, we’re just trying to?—”
“Don’t call me ma’am. And don’t show up here again unless you’ve got a warrant and an army. Now go away.”
She slams the door in their faces. The chain rattles, and I hear her breathing hard for a beat. Then she flips the lock shut and leans against the door, exhaling all the venom she didn’t get to use.
I don’t wait. I cross the room and pull her away from the wood, cupping her jaw and pressing my forehead to hers. Her eyes are wild, pulse racing under my thumb.
“Jesus,” I whisper. “You wanna kill me?”
“Why? Because I didn’t let them in?”
“Because you answering the door like that—” I glance down at the robe, the thin satin clinging to the outline of her hips, her nipples pebbling against the fabric. “—isn’t fucking fair.”
Her mouth curves. “I didn’t want you going out there instead.”
“I should’ve.”
“Then it’s good you didn’t,” she whispers, brushing her mouth against mine. “Because this isn’t about you, Saxon. This is my life. My decision. And I won’t be strongarmed into anything—not by them. Or anyone else.”
God, I could devour her for that. But we don’t have time.
“They’ll be watching,” I say instead, brushing my knuckles along her cheek. “They’re not stupid. Just persistent. If I walk out of here right after you, we both know what happens next.”
“So I go first.”
I nod. “You leave like normal. Backpack, phone, coffee, uni girl act. And I wait. I’ll follow ten minutes behind. I’ll double back three times. We won’t meet again until I know you’re clear.”
She swallows. “You really think they’ll come back again?”
I don’t say it. I just pull her closer. Kiss her forehead. Her cheek. Her lips. Then I press her into the wall, hand sliding up her thigh beneath the robe.
“Saxon—”
“Shh,” I whisper, dragging my mouth down her throat. “I just need a second. Just a taste.”
My hand finds her heat, slick and ready.
“You’re insatiable,” she breathes, hips arching into my touch.
I bite her shoulder gently, sliding a finger inside her, slow and deep. “Let me feel your heat, Maxine.”
She moans softly, forehead pressed to mine, hands gripping my shoulders.
I don’t fuck her. I just make her come standing against the wall, with my mouth on her neck and my fingers inside her, slow and filthy, until she’s gasping my name and clinging to me like she’s the one about to break. And when she’s done? I kiss her. Deep. Possessive. Final.
I watch as she gets dressed, then grabs her bag. She straightens the collar of her coat, then opens the door and looks back at me hesitantly.
“Go,” I whisper. “I’ve got you.”