Page 31 of Too Far

Hopping off the barstool, I hustle in the direction of his wing of the house, intent on intercepting him between here and the weight room.

We need privacy for this, and with the plethora of cameras that have been installed, my options are limited.

He’s looking down at his phone, panting, but as I round the corner, he tenses. It isn’t until he lifts his head and spots me that he blows out a breath and lets his shoulders sag.

“Siren—” he starts, his brows jumping to his hairline like he’s surprised to see me.

I don’t stop walking. As I pass him, I catch his elbow, altering his path and forcing him to follow me into the pantry.

As soon as we’re safely inside, I kick the door closed and melt into his frame. I lace my fingers behind his neck and press my front into his broad, hard chest.

His hands find my hips and hold me steady for one breath, and on the next inhale, they pull me closer.

I’m hyperaware of every place our bodies connect, me leaning into him, him gently cocooning me in his arms.

He’s just finished his nightly workout, so heat radiates off his skin, and his breathing is still heavy.

Maybe he wouldn’t have to end each night sprinting on the treadmill and lifting to exhaustion if he’d stop cockblocking himself and allow things to naturally progress between us.

I bite back a smirk at the thought.

As much as I like pushing and testing him, there are universal truths I’ve accepted when it comes to Decker Crusade.

He believes his plans are for the best. They’re not always, but because he means well, because his true intention is always to protect me, I’m okay letting him think that sometimes.

A semblance of control brings him peace, and if anyone is in need of a little extra peace, it’s this man. Plus, I’ve learned from experience that he’s much more willing to compromise when he understands that I won’t fight him for control. Not when there are bigger issues at hand.

And what I need from him right now is bigger than my libido. By just a smidge.

“Hi.” I lean into him and rest my cheek on his drenched tech shirt.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He tips my chin up, searching my face with a frown, looking for some sort of problem to address.

He’s always on high alert.

He has to be.

I don’t want him to feel that sense of alarm with me.

Nodding, I close my eyes and breathe him in. Warm amber and sea salt caress my senses. His usual scent is amplified by the saltiness of fresh sweat dripping down his body.

“Josephine,” he scolds, grasping my arms like he’s going to peel my body off his so he can assess me more thoroughly.

“I’m fine,” I insist, gripping him tighter around the waist and tipping my head back so he can see for himself. I rest my chin on his sternum and raise both brows. “I just wanted a minute alone with you.”

Understanding registers in the inky black pools of his irises, and the harsh lines of his face soften. Though he doesn’t stop studying me like he’s looking for a buried truth.

“Hi,” I repeat. With a smile, I press up to tiptoes and kiss him on the lips.

He doesn’t kiss me back, but he does run his hands along my back until his palms rest against my low back and he’s pulling me closer. “You didn’t have to sign,” he whispers against my lips.

My response is a swift punch to his side.

He lets out a satisfyingumph,although I know he barely felt my hit.

“That’s not what this is about, Cap. Can you just let us have a moment here? Just one minute?”

He sighs again, clearly exasperated. “I just want to make sure you understand that I didn’t know they were going to pull that bullshit. If I had, I wouldn’t have even—”