Page 50 of Burn the World Down

“Can you be gentle, Nash?” she whispered.

My gut tightened. “I never have been before. But for you, I’ll do anything.”

“Then please kiss me.”

I lowered my head and touched my mouth on hers.

I had to fight my instincts, my flaring desire. I gently kissed her, being careful with her lip. If she knew what I really wanted to do to her, she might not be so eager.

She moaned and opened her mouth. I explored. God, she tasted like sunshine.

So much poured through me. Memories of this girl had gotten me through some dark places.

It had always been her.

Her tongue stroked mine and I groaned.

We had to stop. Before I hurt her. That, I wouldn’t allow.

I lifted my head. She blinked, her face dazed and flushed.

I wanted to spend a lot of time putting that look on her face. “Still the prettiest girl in Elk Falls.”

She smiled. “I’m not a girl anymore.”

No, she wasn’t.

I tucked a strand of her starlight hair behind her ear. “Come on. Lunch time.”

CHAPTER 18

GEORGIE

“Here you go.”

I took the candy bar that Nash shoved at me. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Eat it. You need the energy.”

Wrinkling my nose, I unwrapped the Snickers bar and took a bite. We’d just finished our second session at the shooting range. He’d woken me this morning with a huge breakfast again, then told me we were heading to the range.

He was all in with taking care of me. I felt flutters in my belly. He was feeding me constantly, checking if I needed pain meds, always gauging if I was tired. Last night, as promised, he’d let me select the movie. We’d watched the latest Mission Impossible adventure while we snuggled on his big, leather couch, my feet in his lap.

When I’d fallen asleep, he’d carried me to the bedroom, and given me a sweet, gentle goodnight kiss.

Yes, my tough, muscled former assassin could be very gentle.

He was sleeping in the guest room, but every fiber of my being wanted him in the same bed as me.

Guilt trickled in. Viv was dead and here I was thinking about sleeping with Nash.

I swallowed, my throat dry. Besides, I couldn’t let myself get too attached. He’d walked away from me once before. I knew how much it hurt to lose those you loved.

Love was too much of a risk.

The elevator doors opened and Nash pressed a hand to my lower back. When we stepped outside, he didn’t take the path toward his villa.

“I thought I’d show you a little of the casino grounds,” he said.