Page 24 of Secret Mission

A thousand emotions churn inside me, too fast to pin down.

“You look different now that you’re dry.”

As if put out by my remark, her brows knit more tightly together. “Yes, I do. So do you.”

But then the shine in her eyes shifts from angry to scared. It happens fast. And leaves her looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.

Damn.

Her arrowed gaze hits its mark.

Maybe I am.

A soft voice breaks through my thoughts, shaky but determined. “Take me back to Karma.”

“Nope.”

The word hangs heavy in the air.

She flinches, but I don’t let up.

“Not gonna happen.” I edge my voice with seriousness.

Her face flushes toward red, heat rising to her cheeks in the wake of new anger at my announcement. Each second her awareness that something is wrong is growing. “Why are we on a boat?”

“Because one presented itself at the right time.”

For a few seconds, the cogs turn behind her pupils. Then realization hits, and her jaw drops. “Youstolethis boat?”

Now, why would she automatically jump to that?

Clearly, I made a really good impression. But at least it’s an accurate one.

I shrug, shifting my weight, wondering how this conversation is going to play out, yet knowing she's not going to win. “We needed transportation.”

“Morally gray, anyone?” Her tone drips with sarcasm.

Pushing my hand in my pocket, I almost shrug even though there’s a sting after her words. “You’d have to have morals for them to be gray.”

I used to be moral.

Now I’m…

Fuck.

I just don’t give a fuck. All my fucks died when Hope did.

Neither of us says anything for a beat, but a noise interrupts our disparate inner dialogs—a mechanical hum in the distance—that snaps my attention to the river.

“Shit. A boat.” I lunge for her. “Get down.”

Before Ally—yes, that’s what my mind has now nicknamed her—can move, I’m gripping her shoulder, pushing her down behind the boat’s console, onto her knees, hemming her into the small space with my wide-spread thighs.

No one will be able to see her. But fuck if I don’tfeelher.

Warm breath fills the space in front of me, coasting over my already growing erection.

I hope that this isn’t some cheap knockoff zipper on my pants because it’s getting real inside my boxers.

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