Page 27 of When He Defends

He stiffened. “Emerson.”

Yes, so she’d just made it abundantly clear—at least, Emerson certainly thought she had—that she wanted to be his lover. She held her breath. Waited for his response.

“Not a good idea for partners to sleep together. Emotional involvements can be dangerous.” Rough. Rumbling.

Heat burned her cheeks at the rejection. Her breath expelled. “I don’t think you’re dangerous to me.”Let it go, Emerson. The man just said no. He’s not interested. Gray changed his mind. Whatever. Let. It. Go.

He closed the distance between them. She tensed because, sure, he was probably planning another sneaky attack, and she truly didn’t want to hit that mat again. But he didn’t attack. Just stopped right before her. Towered over her.

Her head tipped back. Sometimes, she forgot just how big he was. Only now, his size was especially evident, particularly since she wasn’t wearing her trademark heels.

“I am more dangerous than you realize.” Deep and dark.

She swallowed. “If you changed your mind about us, that’s fine. I get it. Heat of the moment and all of that.” Under normal circumstances, she never, ever rambled. Silence was her friend. She liked to listen. Observe. Evaluate. This was not a normal circumstance, though, and she was rambling like mad. “You don’t need to give me an explanation. You don’t have to say?—”

“I want to fuck you here and now.”

Oh. Well. Okay.

But he didn’t touch her. Just said those deep and hungry words. Just watched her with his intense, ever-so-dark eyes. Not gold.The darkness has spread.

“This had better not be another distraction technique,” she muttered. “I’d appreciate it if you’d say exactly what you mean to me. No games, for once.”

“I want to fuck you here and now,” he repeated.

There was rough longing in his voice. Savage desire.

She found herself leaning toward him.I want the same thing.Emerson opened her mouth to say those words.

“But that’s not going to happen.” Gray held his position.

“Why not?”

“Because me without control? That’s not something you want to see.”

Uh, yes, yes it was. She was more than eager to see?—

The workout room door flew open.

“Are you two sparring?” Rylan’s voice rang out. “Holy shit—uh, sorry, Agent Stone. I just, uh, didn’t think you ever sparred with anyone these days. Not unless it was your military buddies when they come in for some of those joint task force operations.” He bounded forward.

Emerson forced her gaze toward him. Rylan wore gray sweats. A blue t-shirt with FBI emblazoned across the chest.

“They are former Marines,” Gray said, his voice very careful and very flat. “And they give me a challenge, so I like sparring with them.”

“Is Emerson a challenge, too?” Rylan asked.

She didn’t like the mocking smile that he flashed her way.Careful. I will put you on your ass, Rylan.

“Yes, she is,” Gray responded. No mockery. Truth.

Her stare whipped back toward him.

“A definite challenge.” His gaze scorched her right before Gray turned away. “Get changed, Emerson. We’ve got profiles to work.” He started to pass by Rylan.

“Hey, how about a quick sparring session, Agent Stone?” Rylan wanted to know. “Let’s see if you live up to the hype.” He reached for Gray’s arm.

Two seconds later, Rylan hit the mat with a hard groan.