Page 83 of Betrayed

Then Rafe gives me a shit-eating grin like he’s glad it’s me delivering the news and not him.

“Thanks.”

He stays where he stands, but his chuckle follows me up the porch steps.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Lucian

All my thoughts, every ounce of my energy in this moment, go to my babygirl, to Erin, to the sweet, strong, stubborn, stunningly beautiful woman before me.

Erin stands barefoot on the rug with her arms crossed, her hair still damp from the shower, and wearing that flannel of mine. The sight draws a slow, territorial ache through my chest. She looks small in it.

She can already tell by my face that it’s bad news; her chin’s raised as if she’s weighing whether to fight me or kiss me.

Her voice is small, trying to hide her anger. “We can’t leave today, can we?”

I cross the room and stop close enough to warm her. “Rafe and I think it’d be best if we stay a little longer.”

“I trust you.”

“You’re safer here,” I say. “And Gregory is, too.”

She says, “He’s the one you need to keep an eye on. I still can’t believe he wandered out behind the bar like that.”

“See? I have to keep you both from wandering into any more gunfire.”

Right now, Gregory is in the woods at the makeshift gun range, learning to shoot with two of my men. I’ll feel much better about my brother’s safety when he’s trained with weapons, something I never thought I’d permit.

Her blue eyes go worried. “Can you please be the one to tell Cass we’re not coming today?”

“Sure. I’ll protect you from your big sister’s wrath.” I grasp the collar of my flannel shirt around her neck and draw her nearer. “But if I’m doing the talking, then I get to decide how you use that mouth of yours.”

Color warms her cheekbones. She doesn’t look away. “And how’s that?”

“On me.” My voice drops, gravel and heat. “Or counting for me. Even better.”

She bites her lower lip. “Counting what?”

“How many times I spank your sexy ass.”

I should be making calls and looking for Carlos. Investigating what Rafe has just told me. Finding out the truth.

But Erin has a storm inside her that matches the one in me, and if I don’t ground it, I’ll blow the roof off this place with rage and unrestrained desire.

I need her right now. I need to be close to her.

She touches my chest. The oversized shirtsleeves hang over her hands. “I…want that.”

“Say it like you mean it.” I brace her hips, feeling her warmth. “Tell me what you need.”

Her throat works. “I need you to take control,” she breathes out, barely a whisper.

I tilt her chin until her eyes meet mine. “Safe word?”

“We’ve never used one.”

“You’ve never been this naughty.”