Page 87 of Worth the Risk

THE FIRST RAYS OF SUNLIGHTpeeked through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Bella stirred, her eyes fluttering open. It took a moment for her to place where she was then it all came flooding back.

Nestled in a wooded lot in a prestigious gated community north of San Antonio stood a red brick, meticulously landscaped two-story house—Bella’s home away from home for the foreseeable future. That’s all she could see on their drive in the day before because once the SUV had stopped, Dan whisked her inside.

When he went over the security features with her, which included door and window sensors, motion detectors, security cameras with mobile access and live streaming, floodlights, panic buttons, a panic room, glass-break sensors, and 24/7 monitoring which, as of her arrival, expanded to Rossi surveillance as well, she’d been stunned.

“Why do the general and Joanna need all of this?” Bella had asked.

“He was a two-star general with command of Special Forces detachments, which were highly effective. In short, he made enemies, and, after what the other members of the team have gone through with the cartel and other investigations, I’m sure he wasn’t taking any chances.”

And Dan wasn’t taking any with her. The house was beautiful, but it wasn’t home for either of them. Still, wrapped in Dan’s arms, the warmth of his body against hers, it was the next best thing, considering.

Bella turned toward him, drinking in his handsome face relaxed in sleep, the tension of the last twenty-four hours having melted away. She brushed the dark curls off his forehead and with her fingertips, traced the contours of his scruff-covered jawline. As unruly as ever, more errant curls fell across his brow. She reached up to brush them away, too, her fingers lightly grazing his skin. Suddenly, his eyes opened, their color more blue than steely gray in the warm glow of Joanna’s sunny guest room.

“Morning, beautiful,” he murmured.

“You probably get tired of me waking you.” Her gaze rose to a stubborn curl that had once again dropped onto his brow. She brushed it back again, smiling. “But I couldn’t resist.”

He caught her hand and brought it to his lips.“I don’t mind. Besides, we need to get up. The guys will be here soon.”

“What for? More security planning?”

“No. A strategy meeting. Keeping you safe is our priority but eliminating the threat from Lorenzo permanently so you can live a normal life is equally important.”

“Gotta admit, handsome.Eliminatingscares me.”

“Don’t be scared, baby. We’ve got this.”

“You’ve got enough confidence for both of us, so I’ll try not to be.” Her stomach rumbled noisily. Blushing, she pressed her hand to it. “Excuse me.”

He grinned. “I’m not surprised you’re hungry. You dozed during the ride here and then fell asleep in your supper. I had to carry you up.”

“It was a long, stressful day.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Can you wait until the men get here? They’re bringing food and coffee since Joanna’s cupboards are pretty much bare. They’re gone for a month, and she must have cleared out everything before leaving.”

“I can wait.”

“Good. In the meantime, we can have a pre-breakfast snack.” Dan rolled to his back and pulled her on top of him. He brushed her hair behind her shoulders and then traced the curves of her breasts. Bella’s breath hitched as his thumbs grazed her nipples. “These rosy buds tempt me more than food. Lean down so I can have a taste.”

Straddling his hips, with her hands splayed on his chest, she rocked forward until her breasts dangled above his mouth like ripe peaches. His hands swept up her back, pulling her closer as he licked one taut peak and then sucked it into his mouth.

While he broke his fast on her breasts, she ground her pussy against his impressive morning wood. Her whimpering, needy cries filled the room, and his ravenous groans joined in as their passion ignited.

“Raise up and take me inside you,” he ordered gruffly, to which Bella was more than happy to comply.

But when she sat up then shifted onto one knee to guide him to her entrance, he stayed her hand and barked, “What the fuck, Bella?”

Startled, she froze, staring down at him in confusion, especially seeing the emotions—horror, anger, and pain—playing across his face.

“What’s wrong?”

His eyes had fixed not on her face or her breasts but several inches lower, and he didn’t blink as his hand swept up to touch the scar on her side.

“You were shot,” he whispered as he traced it with his fingertips. “How have I not seen this before?”

Self-conscious, she brushed his hand away and covered the jagged scar, still red over a year later.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

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