Page 113 of Tactically Acquired

“You know I can’t do that. I haven’t even told the studio yet.”

“All the more reason to let him in.”

I barked out a laugh at the ridiculous suggestion. “So he can tell the studio?”

“Why are you so certain he would say anything?”

“Because it seems like something he would be honor-bound to do.”

“Do you really believe that?”

I didn’t know. I turned away from him, gnawing on my lip as I thought it over. Truthfully, I didn’t know if he would tell the studio or not, but it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

“It doesn’t matter if I trust him or not. This involves both of us. I can’t take the chance that this gets out before we discuss all our options with the lawyers. We need to be prepared for whatever happens, and I won’t risk your career by bringing someone else into this.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I said without a moment’s hesitation. “Spencer, there is no way I would repay all the kindness you’ve shown me bydestroying your career. Besides, I have no idea what this thing is with Baldy.”

His lips quirked up. “Back to Baldy?”

“Slider,” I rolled my eyes. “Either nickname is weird, okay?”

“He wouldn’t say anything. I have a good feeling.”

“Good feelings can still screw you over,” I pointed out. “We deal with this together. We talk to the lawyer first. Only then will we even think of letting anyone else know.”

“My mother knows,” he argued.

“Your mother is the kindest person on the face of the earth, and more of a parent to me than my own mother.”

Pain sliced through my chest at the admission. It never really hurt to say that, but then again, I just found out Ginger was dead. That made things a little clearer in my mind.

“If you’re sure.”

I ignored the concerned look on his face. I knew what he was thinking—about how by not telling Slider, he would see it as pushing him away. I was well aware of what could happen when Slider found out, but that wasn’t something I could help. The fact was, I’d been dealing with this for a long time, and I wasn’t about to spill my personal life to a man I’d met just a week ago. If it was just me, I could make that decision for myself. But I had Spencer to think about, and no matter what he said, there was no way I’d risk his career after all he’d sacrificed for me.

“I’m positive. This is the way it needs to be.”

30

SLIDER

I brushed the hair away from her face as she slept peacefully in my arms. I wanted one more day with her. One more fucking day where we could stay in this cocoon and I could pretend that no one was trying to take her from me. But that wasn’t going to happen. She had a funeral to attend, and I was here to keep her safe.

Even sleeping in the same bed as her was making it difficult as hell to keep my head on straight. All the things Cash always told us about separating our personal lives from protective details were kicking into high gear. I saw others go through it and never really gave a shit about whether or not they got involved. But I didn’t understand the stress of it all. Not until I had someone of my own to worry about.

Her chest rose ever so slightly as she rolled toward me in her sleep. Sunrise was still hours away, but I couldn’t sleep when I knew what was going to happen today. Every devastating scenario ran through my head, threatening to overwhelm me. I’d never let a job get to me like this before, but I’d never had a personal stake in it like this. Not even when it was Thumper’s ass on the line when we rescued Bree.

I had a massive concussion from that job, and it felt like I barely made it out alive. He was my friend and teammate. I’d have done anything for him and the job. But now that I knew even an ounce of the terror he went through while we were on the run, trying like hell to keep her safe, I understood just how fucked up a person could get. And I knew deep down that when we walked out that door, I wasn’t going to be able to keep my personal feelings locked down.

I brushed my thumb across her lip and slowly trailed it down her collarbone and over the swell of her breasts. I was already hard thinking about her lying here in my arms. Hell, for the past two nights, I couldn’t sleep unless I was inside her.

Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to touch her like this for days made me lose my fucking mind. I slid the sheet down, bending over to take her nipple in my mouth. Her hands immediately slid around my shoulders as she moaned and pressed her breasts up into my mouth.

“Slider,” she whispered breathlessly.

The way she gasped as she said my name drove me insane. The second she spread her legs, I settled between them and swirled my tongue over her skin, tasting every fucking inch of her.

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