Page 52 of Code Name: Atticus

“First, we nail them,” she agreed.

As we headed upstairs, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Morrison had revealed more than he intended tonight. The pressure he was under, the urgency in his recruitment—forces beyond his control were driving his timeline.

Hopefully, we’d find everything we needed next weekend. And then we’d take thesonuvabitchesdown.

BRENNA

The smell of breakfast pulled me from my sleep—bacon sizzling, vegetables being sautéed, bread toasting—and the best part? Being able to imagine Atticus downstairs, preparing it.

The Tuesday-morning sunlight painted patterns across our tangled sheets, and I stretched, feeling pleasantly sore and very well-loved. We’d barely made it up the stairs last night after Emma and Kodiak left before our clothes started coming off, falling on the floor as we raced to bed.

“Morning, counselor,” Atticus said from the doorway, wearing only pajama pants and holding two mugs. “Tea for you, liquid motivation for me.”

“What time is it?” I sat up, taking the cup from his hand and inhaling deeply. A girl could definitely get used to this.

“Zero seven hundred.” His weight made the mattress dip when he settled beside me. “Sleep well?”

“When you finally let me sleep.”

“I don’t recall any complaints at the time. In fact, I distinctly remember begging.”

Heat crept up my neck. “I will not deny it.”

“And did you get everything you asked for?”

“Fishing for compliments, Finch?”

“Always.”

I snuggled into him. “Do I smell bacon?”

“It’s my new cologne. Wanna lick me?”

I shook my head and laughed. “You’re so weird.”

Atticus shifted so I could rest my head on his chest. “All this talk about licking has me hungering for things other than breakfast.”

“I’d hate for the chef to think we don’t appreciate his efforts.” I raised my head and kissed up his neck to his lips.

“Believe me, he doesn’t care. Especially since he’s in bed with a naked woman.”

He repeated one of my favorite moves where, in what seemed like a heartbeat, I was on my back, legs spread, with him settled between them.

I raised my pelvis and pressed against him. “Why are you still wearing pajama bottoms?”

They were off before I finished speaking. “Did you start without me?” he teased, rubbing himself against my wetness.

“It’s my body’s natural response whenever you’re close to me.”

He eased inside me slowly, then thrust until he couldn’t go deeper. “God, I love this. Love you.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist and rested my hand on his heart. “I love you, Mason.”

“Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“Mason.”