Page 33 of When He Defends

“You weren’t getting me to do anything I didn’t want. By kissing you there, in front of everyone, I was making it clear that you were the man I was choosing.” An exhale. “Even if you weren’t choosing me back. You rejecting me right in the middle of the bar was a major possibility. And, FYI, you kinda did reject me. So if any of the team saw us, they probably have no idea if we’re making out or if you’re currently kicking me out of the Bureau. Not like you kissed me with mad passion in the bar.”

It had taken all of his willpower not to literally gobble her up. “You shouldn’t play dangerous games with me.”

“Why not? They’re the only kind of games that you like to play.”

He wanted to kiss her again. No, he wanted to do one hell of a lot more than that. He wanted to completely devour her. He wanted her mouth. He wanted her naked. He wanted his hands on every inch of her body. He wanted his mouth on every inch of her. He wanted to lap her up and have her shudder and buck against him as she came.

“Giving you the green light,” Emerson said. “In case there was any confusion.”

Fuck me.

“I made my choice. Partner or lover? That was the question you posed to me. Well, I choose both. I’ve never been an either-or kind of girl. I take what I want. I want both options with you. And I think we can have them.”

He should unclench his jaw. Move away from her.

“This is the part where you respond,” she prompted. Her voice trembled a little bit. “The part where you have to say or do something.”

Usually, hewasthe chatty one, at least chatty by comparison to his very small group of real friends. His Marine buddies, all lethal bastards who would gladly bleed for each other in a heartbeat. But, right then, with Emerson, he wasn’t sure what to do.

Or what to say.

I want her. I want to take and take.

But…

Could they be both? Hell, no. This was going to explode in his face. He knew it with utter certainty. When the flames came, he’d have no one to blame but himself. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the fire for a time.

“Gray?” Emerson prompted. Her hands had lowered to press to his chest.

In the distance, he heard the rumble of motorcycle engines. Quite a few of them.

“Are you going to say anything or just leave me hanging?” Emerson asked him.

Oh, darling, I would never leave you hanging.“Your timing is interesting.”

“What?”

Gray nodded. “I appreciate you helping me lay the groundwork for our new case.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” A pause. “Are you drunk?” Suspicious.

He laughed. Couldn’t help it. Even as the growl of those engines got louder. Closer. “The scene in the bar—if we were spotted—just plays in our favor.”

“Uh…good?”

“Because we’ll need that for our cover.”

“Cover? What cover? Gray, make sense, would you? Make sense.”

He kissed her. Just put his lips back on hers, plunged his tongue into her mouth, and tasted her.So incredibly sweet.

Time was running out. He had just a few moments to take what he wanted. And he wantedher.

They’d comeout of the bar together. He hadn’t seen the FBI bastard go in the nearby bar, so he hadn’t expected Emerson to come out with the jerk’s arm around her shoulders and seemingly wearing the man’s suit coat.

But he’d been waiting. Watching. Some days, it seemed as if he’d always been watching Emerson. Did she know? Could she feel him?

She should know. Sheshouldfeel him.