Page 9 of When He Defends

“If we weren’t partners and if you just said…yes…”

Her lips parted.

“I’d fuck you until you screamed with pleasure.”

No, he had not just said that. Had he?

“You feel it, don’t you, Emerson?” Gray growled. “The heat? The need? It’s there when we touch. It builds up. Deepens. Burns right beneath the skin.”

Yes, yes it did. And, yes, she felt it. She’d tried to pretend that she did not feel it, but, oh, yes, she did.

“If we weren’t partners, I’d kiss you.” His gaze had locked on her mouth. “I’d kiss you the way I’ve been dying to kiss you since the first moment I saw you—wearing those sexy as hell red heels of yours.”

He remembered the color of theheelsshe’d worn at their first meeting? She had a ton of heels in a very wide variety of colors. She didn’t even know what she’d worn the first time they’d met.

“You have this scent that drives me crazy. Summer nights. Jasmine. It’s light and sweet, and I swear, it’s like fucking innocence.”

She stiffened.

Gray shook his head. “But there is no innocence in my world. Not in yours, either. And I don’t want innocence from you.”

She wet her lips. “What do you want from me?”

“Sin. The best, darkest kind of sin. I want to taste every single inch of you. I want my mouth all over you.”

Her knees were getting weak, and her nipples were tight, hard peaks.

“I want you clawing at my back and coming harder for me than you ever have for anyone else in your life.”

Oh, she could pretty much guarantee that.

“Ifyou weren’t my partner.” His thumb brushed over her lips. The softest of caresses. “There are so many things I would do to you. With you.”

Her lips parted. “You’re making a lot of assumptions.” Oh, no. Had she just—dammit.Oh, yes. Yes.She’d just licked the tip of his thumb. His surging pupils said he’d felt that sensual touch. Sue her. It had been deliberate. No accident. “I haven’t said I want to fuck you.” For the record.

“You also haven’t said that you don’t.”

Because shedidwant to fuck him. Very, very badly.

“I don’t fuck other FBI agents.” Blunt. Hard. His eyes glittered at her.

Good thing I’m not an FBI agent. Not technically.

Gray’s jaw hardened. And he—backed away. “But since wearepartners, none of that will happen.”

What? The man was atease.The worst kind oftease.She was practically salivating and he’d just said—hold up. He’d just said, “Wearepartners.” Big emphasis on thearepart of the sentence. Her breath shuddered out. “You’re not quitting on me any longer? You changed your mind?”

He took another step back. His nostrils flared, as if he was drinking in her scent. “When I give an order, it’s not because I’m an asshole.”

“Pretty sure that’s debatable.” The words just slipped from her. Her eyes widened. Her hand flew up. Covered her mouth.

He stared at her.

She stared at him. Tension thickened. Seconds ticked past.

Her hand slowly lowered.

“Why the hell did you request me as your partner, Emerson? Why me?”