Page 17 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

The sound of footsteps on the hardwood floors behind her broke the silence.

Gregorio’s presence filled the room like a gathering storm—dark, electric, inevitable. His scent, that of untamed power and sandalwood, wrapped around her, making her pulse quicken. The air hung supercharged, crackling with tension, thick with everything they’d done the night before.

Trying to tame her racing heart, she turned to him.

He was leaning against the doorway, his hair tousled, his intense, dark eyes fixed on her.

He wore black cargo pants and a fitted black T-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders. The diamond in his ear caught the morning light. Even like this, relaxed, unguarded, he was commanding, and her knees weakened.

Gregorio moved next to her to grab a mug.

As he reached past her for the coffee pot, his arm brushed against hers, sending a shiver through her body that had nothing to do with the morning chill. “Sleep okay?” His voice was scratchy from sleep, so sexy she couldn’t stand it.

When she didn’t answer right away, he looked at her more closely.

He seemed to see straight through her, making it hard to breathe.

To break the spell, she glanced down into the depths of her coffee.

Last night, as she’d arrived at the Den, she’d been a bundle of nerves, wondering if he was watching. Then later, the feel of his hands on her shoulders as she’d watched the couple through the window in the door.

She’d gone from being turned inside out to telling him about her ransacked office, the missing files, and the constant feeling of being followed.

Because she knew him so well, she’d known he would volunteer to help her out. But that he’d insist she stay…? In her wildest dreams, she hadn’t expected that.

And then…

Her knees weakened as she recalled everything they’d done once he had her alone.

He was her hero, and her sister’s former husband. Because of their family dynamics alone, being with him in that way should never have happened.

Yet she wasn’t sure she could resist him if he lifted her up onto the kitchen counter right this moment and slipped his amazing cock deep inside her.

The way she reacted to him, calling him Sir, turning herself over to him completely, terrified her.

She prided herself on being in control, but with Gregorio, she abandoned everything and wanted more.

Realizing he was still waiting, she gave herself a mental shake. “I slept better than I expected.” How could she not when she’d been snuggled against his hard body, protected by his arms? “I think I was more exhausted than I realized.”

“No doubt.”

Meeting his gaze, she said, “Thank you.”

“For?” He raised an eyebrow.

“For letting me stay.”

His eyes darkened, becoming endless pools of midnight that threatened to draw her in. The muscle in his jaw tightened, and when he spoke, his voice was rough with emotion. “I don’t think you understand, Little Petal. There’s no way I would have allowed you to walk away.”

In a vain attempt to steady herself, she took another sip of coffee.

Then she turned back to the window, watching as the first rays of sunlight painted the trees in shades of gold and amber.

“I was thinking about going for a run,” she said after a moment, her voice careful.

She’d wanted to do that all morning, and she’d regretted not taking Gregorio up on last night’s offer to program her fingerprint into his security system. “Clear my head.”

“We can do that.”

She tensed, her shoulders stiffening as she turned to face him. “I meant alone.”

“Not happening.”

“Gregorio…” She exhaled. “I can take care of myself. As you know, I’ve been doing it for years.”

“And yet you’re here,” he said, his tone calm but unyielding. “You came to me because you knew you weren’t safe. Nothing’s changed since last night, Sasha. You’re not going anywhere alone.”

Frustration bubbled to the surface. She hated feeling trapped, hated that he was right. “Fine,” she said, setting her mug down with more force than necessary. Unable to help herself, she tossed him a challenge. “Try to keep up.”

“Oh, Sasha. You’re going to regret those words.” He shot her a grin that made her tummy turn over. “You’re on.”

The run was both relief and torture.

She set a steady pace through the wooded trails behind the Den, their breaths forming small clouds in the crisp morning air. Sasha was acutely aware of Gregorio’s presence near her, his footfalls matching hers, close enough to protect her, but far enough away to give her the illusion of freedom.

Every so often, when she glanced back, she caught him scanning their surroundings, his protective instincts never wavering. The physical exertion was welcome, but it didn’t banish her memories of last night or the need clawing at her again this morning.

Despite his response to her challenge, he didn’t close the gap between them, helping her relax.

A few minutes later, she rounded a tree, ready to head back.

Then suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and she was yanked to a stop. Breath whooshed from her as she was pulled against a hard, immovable chest.

“I’ll always accept your challenges, Petal.” Gregorio spun her around and pressed her back firmly against a tree.

Had she really thought that Gregorio would let her get away with her comment about keeping up?

Her heart roared as he pinned her wrists above her head. Even though he only used one hand, his grip was firm.

“Are you going to pretend last night didn’t happen?”

That was the only way she could survive him.

He leaned toward her purposefully, his gaze on her, possessive and intense. “Hmm, Petal?”

Instead of waiting for an answer, he brought his mouth down onto hers, kissing her deeply, claiming her, exploring her.

Lost in him, she moaned, instinctively arching toward him. Even if her mind shouted no, her body screamed yes.

He grasped her chin and tilted her head to deepen the kiss. Then he lowered himself against her, trapping her. His arousal was hard and insistent, pushing into her.

Suddenly, he wedged his knee between her legs and forced them apart. Then he broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, nipping and sucking at her sensitive skin.

“Ride my leg, Sasha,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire. “Let me feel you grind yourself against me.”

She hesitated, but he captured her hip and guided her forward.

“Do it.”

“Gregorio…”

“Do it.”

When he used that gruff, commanding voice, she was lost.

Slowly, she began to rock her hips, riding his thigh. The friction rocked waves of excitement through her. Her breath came in ragged little bursts, and she dug her fingers into the bark above her head.

Eyes sparking with passion, he studied her. “That’s right. Such a good girl.” His voice had a note of satisfaction. “You’re mine, Sasha. Mine to protect, mine to pleasure.”

As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t deny the truth in his words, the connection between them.

“Don’t fight me. This. Let yourself go.”

As she rode his leg, her body tightening with each movement, she knew she was in danger of truly falling for him.

The realization stunned her. And with the way he was holding her, demanding her surrender, forcing her to grind against his thigh, she cried out his name. Desperately she grabbed his shoulders as she spiraled over the edge.

Gregorio held her firmly, offering his silent strength and support. His gaze never left hers as she rode out the climax.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” His voice was graveled, and he pressed his forehead against hers. “I can’t get enough of you, Sasha. I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you.”

She looked into his eyes, seeing the raw emotion there. Her heart raced, not just from the physical exertion, but from the emotional intensity. “Gregorio,” she whispered. “This is…”

“Go on.”

“You’re scaring the hell out of me.”

“Am I?” His voice held no apology.

She absolutely had to get some distance between them. “This…” How much I want you, need you. And how impossible it is.

He lived in the shadows and risked danger at every turn.

Even her sister hadn’t really known what he did for a living.

Special assignments was all he’d ever tell her.

Once Sasha had joined Hawkeye, she’d learned he was in a specialty black ops unit that did the dirty work no one else was capable of.

Over the years, the Hawkeye family had mourned the deaths of numerous operators, and there was a plaque at headquarters honoring them. She’d prayed she’d never see his name there.

During the time he’d been her brother-in-law, Gregorio had rarely been home. That was part of the reason the marriage had ended.

Even though he was no longer employed by Hawkeye, he freelanced. His work was maybe even more dangerous now. Only people with nothing to lose took those missions.

Was that what she wanted? To care about a man who risked his life every day, who came and went like the wind? Who tore her emotions to shreds?

After the exchange in the janitor’s closet, she’d been obsessed with thoughts of him. But he’d ghosted her.

Ultimately, that was the reason she’d agreed to help start Pathways. Living and dying based on whether or not she saw Gregorio or fretting about how he’d react to her was too much to bear.

She shook her head to clear it. That kind of uncertainty wasn’t for her.

“Stop thinking.”

His voice brought her back to the present. He was close, so close. He filled her vision and her senses.

Maybe searching him out hadn’t been such a good idea. “I need to get going.” While I still can. “I have a long drive back to Denver.”

When he gave her some space and released her hands, she desperately brought them up between them and placed them on his chest, giving a little push. But of course her efforts were useless. Gregorio wouldn’t budge until he was ready.

She used the rest of the run to try to focus on her case, not her reaction to the man close behind her.