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T he restrooms were a straight line from our table, and I watched her intently until she reached her destination safely.

Maybe I should walk to the door. Wait for her there.

But my phone buzzed, and I contented myself with simply watching as I lifted it to my ear.

“Hey Boss, I got an update from Stu,” Arnold, one of the Group’s leaders and a second cousin, said.

“Yeah, what is it?” I asked.

“First, uh, I did as you said and permanently reassigned Shane. Second, the new hires have been working on testing the latest firewalls and so far, so good.”

“What about Stuey?” I asked.

“He said to ask you when the feed from SI is coming in?” he asked, using the initials for Sigma International.

“I’m not sure. Anything else?”

“He said to remind you what we stand to lose and that you need to get those to him sooner rather than later ? —”

“Tell Stuey he will know when I fucking tell him.” I ended the call and flicked my gaze up as if some internal sense knew she was already on her way back to me.

Clementine had just opened the door, and those crazy, beautiful emerald eyes of hers captured mine.

Shit.

What was I doing?

I had obligations. People who needed me.

But what about my needs?

Arnold, my prick cousin, was right. I needed to move my ass and get back to figuring out what I could use to bring Sigma down, but one more night wouldn’t hurt.

Would it?

“You ready to go?” I asked, my voice rough with need as she reached where I stood by the table, just waiting for her.

The question slipped out before I could stop it, the tension in my chest too thick to ignore.

I had settled the bill before we even sat down, not wanting anything— anything at all —to distract me from this moment.

My focus was on her.

Oh, yes, she had all my attention.

Everything she did was like magic. From the way she moved like a woman who knew exactly where she was going and what she wanted. To the way her eyes met mine with that same spark of excitement I felt burning in my veins.

Was I really what this perfect gem of a woman really wanted?

Could it be that simple?

I watched her closely for any sign of hesitation, any hint that she wasn’t sure, but instead, Clementine’s smile spread across her face like the sun coming out after a hurricane.

It was warm and bright, lighting up everything in its path. The slight curve of her pouty, plump lips. The naughty glimmer in her eyes.

They all told me exactly what I needed to know. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty.

My little Darlin’ wasn’t reluctant or recalcitrant. Not in the least.

And I didn’t have to coax or persuade her, either.

Her presence. Her readiness. Both were undeniable.

It was like we were drawn to this moment, pulled together by a force we couldn’t resist.

Oh my naughty minx. I can’t wait to have you clawing and whimpering beneath me again.

I licked my lips, eager to have her vanilla orange musk coating them. She wanted this just as much as I did. I knew she did. Desire was written all over her.

Not in words, no, it was more in the way she stood so close, taking that small step forward and leaving no space at all for doubt.

Her lush body felt incredible pressed against me. I wanted more of it. All of it. Needed to see and feel every inch of her ripe softness.

“I’m ready,” she whispered, and I felt her assent all the way to my soul.

The air between us was electric, charged with anticipation.

There was no doubt now, no second thoughts.

We were both on the same page, both eager for what came next, and neither of us was backing away.

We were ready, in every sense.

And I couldn’t fucking wait another second.

“Let’s go.”