Page 89 of Rogue's Path

Stubborn woman. “Fine.” The club will just give it back to us. “What’s the last term?”

“You can’t kiss me until after the stalker is gone.”

“No.” There is no way I’m going a day without kissing her, let alone possible weeks.

“Yes. I won’t budge on this one. If you don’t accept, I’ll get in a cab and leave.”

Peaches didn’t say we can’t kiss, just that I can’t kiss her. How long will she make it without kissing me? We can’t be together for more than five minutes without doing it. “Peaches, I would never kiss you without your permission.”

She shakes her head.

Is she trying to separate me from the stalker, or does she not believe me? Has someone sexually assaulted her in the past? If they touched her—That doesn’t make sense. Back at the park, she was fine with me manhandling her a little bit. The dreamy look she had on her face before I walked away spoke of a woman more than fine with what just happened.

It must have been whatever made her run.

“I need you to promise me. I need you to say the words.”

“Peaches, I promise you that I will not kiss you until your stalker is dead.” I shouldn’t have said that. She didn’t need to know that I planned on killing him. Is she going to freak out and run?

All the tremors disappear.

Now to see if I can get her to do something for her own safety. “I have one to add to our deal.”

Peaches’ head snaps back. “What?”

“You stay with me until we find this guy. No going off. No playing hero. You let me take care of him.”

The barest hint of a smile tips up the corner of her lips. “Those are two terms, but I have no desire to get myself kidnapped playing hero. Though, couldn’t I just stay here until you find him? The security around here seems pretty tight.”

More than you could even imagine. “You stay with me.”

“Deal.” She nods.

“Deal. And Peaches, my word is my bond. I will find this guy. From here on out, you’re safe. Nothing will happen to you. Now tell me everything.”

“It all started…”

***

Control. You are in control. Follow the steps and make your woman safe. “Okay, we need to get those clothes off of you.”

“WHAT?”

I could have phrased that better. “We need to check everything you brought with you for trackers.”

“Oh. I thought of that. There’s nothing.”

“Some of the off-market bugs are incredibly small and flexible. They’re easy to hide in the lining of a jacket—” I glance down at her wrist. “—inside a watch, the lining of your shoes, even a makeup tube. We need to check everything.”

“Okay.” She takes all her jewelry off and shoves it into her purse before setting it on the table in front of her.

I step over to her, grab her purse, and hold out a hand to her. If I can’t kiss her, at least I can touch her.

She shrinks back from my hand and stands up. “Let’s do this.”

I’m going to make this slime pay for every time she pulls away or cringes at my touch.

She follows me as we walk out of the room.