Page 77 of Justified Fear

She nodded.“I’m sorry about what happened last night.About flying off the handle.”

It took a moment for his brain to catch up to the change in topic.“No.Don’t be.You have every right to fly off the handle.”

“I amnota drama queen.”

“You’re seriously worried I would think that about you?”

She nodded.“I try not to live up to the whole idea of the temperamental chef.I dealt with enough of them at the CIA and when I worked in New York.It was just…I would hate that you would think that.”

He cupped her face again.She had the softest skin, like silk.“The fact that you aren’t screaming every minute means you are doing better than most people in the same situation.And while I’m sorry I threatened you, I wanted to make sure you understood that I will do anything to keep you safe.”

“Because it’s your job.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what it is about you, Keely.I’m not the kind of man who falls fast, but…” he sighed.Ryan usually didn’t lay it all on the line.He liked to play his cards close to his chest, but this was different.She was different.“I don’t think I would have gone to extremes to get a victim to move like I did with you.I’m usually better at handling the situation than I did yesterday.”

“What makes me so different?”

He wanted to be cool like Rami and give her a clever line.He had seen his teammate do it over and over again, but that wasn’t Ryan.He had never been that suave with women, and, for some reason, he knew he needed to tell her the absolute truth.

“You matter.”

Her breath caught, then she sighed.A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

“You matter to me, too, Ryan.I know it doesn’t make any sense.We only met, but you definitely matter to me.”

He leaned forward.“Really?”

She nodded.

“Good to know.”

Then he pressed his mouth against hers.He wanted to be gentle to show her he could take care of her.But soon, the kiss turned out of control.He swept his tongue inside.He could taste the mint of her toothpaste.He wanted her then, against the wall, in bed, anywhere.Ryan had a feeling that he would always want her like this.The insanity of his need seemed to be getting worse with each day.He didn’t care.All he cared about was losing himself in her.

With effort, he tore his mouth away.

“What?Why?”

“We need to lock the door.”

He took care of that, glanced at Maya, who was curled up in the corner.Then he strode back to her.“Are you sure?”

“You keep asking me that.You did that the first night, too, Ryan, and I will say the same thing.Always.I am always sure about you.”She cupped his face.“Never in my life have I ever been so sure about a man.”

Then, she let her hands trail down his body.

“You know, when I fell on you, the first thing I felt was relief.I could tell you guys weren’t there to kill me.”

“Never.”

“But…even that night, I knew there was something special about you.On the surface, you look like some kind of surfer dude, but as my mama says, still waters run deep.”She slipped her hands beneath his shirt.“You’re kind…you’re sweet…you’re hot.”

He snorted, then he shuddered when her fingers teased his nipples.His dick was already shoving against his pants.When she leaned forward so she could run her tongue over his neck, he lost it.

“You’re playing with fire,” he said, before picking her up and tossing her up on the bed.