Page 38 of Rescued By the Operative

“Relax.”

I sit up and meet her where she is, covering her mouth with mine. She accepts my kiss as I cage her in with my arms, effectively holding her on my lap.

My hands work quickly to remove her sweater and the top underneath it. Her skin against mine feels unbelievably soft and smooth. Except for the part where she has a bandage on her stomach.

“Whoa. Blondie. I need to check that boo-boo.”

“It’s fine. Just make me feel better, OK?”

“No, babe. You need to fess up. Who did this to you?”

She hesitates. I know she doesn’t want to talk about it, but I need to know. “A prisoner. She escaped. It’s not super deep, and it could have been a lot worse.”

“Hold on,” I say. “A prisoner where you work stabbed you and ran out?”

“The only prisoner. And the bitch of it is, her father was going to ask for her release anyway. Ridiculous. But now, she’s run away from him, too. What’s even more ridiculous, she’s at the fucking house that’s supposed to be my safe house.”

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Her name’s Georgeanne.”

I laugh. I can’t help myself.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry. The prisoner you lost is at the shit hole?”

She frowns.

“No more prisoners then? I guess they won’t be needing you at work for a while.”

“Funny.”

“I’m sorry, Blondie. I’m trying to wrap my head around everything. I know that girl.”

She sits up straight. “How do you know her? She seemed really cozy with one of my housemates.”

“It’s nothing like that,” I assure her.

“I wasn’t being jealous,” she snaps.

“Sure you weren’t.”

“You’re allowed to know people that I know.”

“I know I am,” I say.

She sighs. “I knew I shouldn’t have let things get out of control with you.”

“Shh,” I say, capturing her lips with mine. “Yes, you should have. You absolutely did the right thing by jumping my bones as soon as you met me.”

“Hey,” she says.

“I mean, I’m completely irresistible.”

“Asshole,” she huffs, slapping my hand away as I reach for the bandage again.

“You need to calm down and let me take care of you. I’m just going to have a look under here,” I say, peeling back the bandage.