Page 49 of Secrets

One, two, three, I jump up each step in quick succession before reaching the threshold. Elena moves back, an amused grin curving her lips as I suck in a sharp breath from the unexpected added chill from the air conditioning.

“Holy shit, it’s freezing.” I shake like a damn dog before rubbing my hands over my arms. Goosebumps ripple over my skin as Elena flips the front lock.

“If I knew you didn’t own an umbrella, I would have brought one to you.”

My lips part to give her a rebuttal but quickly shut when I’m reminded ofwhyI rushed out of the house without one. “I…um…well…” I awkwardly shift my weight from foot to foot, unsure of how to explain my concern about her because of all the shit currently happening in my life and was so relieved to finally hear from her, I didn’t think of grabbing an umbrella. But no words—no cohesive words—come to mind.

Instead, it’s guilt that creeps back into my system, reminding me that Alexi, or his men, were just sitting outside her store. That I need to come clean about all the fucked-up shit I have going on so she can make the conscious and smart decision to leave my ass alone, at least until the war between the cartel and mafia fizzles.

Selfishly, I want to believe I can protect her while still finding a way to get everything under control. I want to continue our dates to the movie theater where we share way too much junk food. To museums, where we stare at exhibits and sometimes wonder what the hell we’re looking at. Standing in the kitchen, making recipes we’ve never tried before.

I want to kiss her until that playful giggle spills out. Touch her until I discover every spot that makes her moan. I want to keep living in this happy bubble she’s blown up around us and forget about all the dumb shit from my past that’s finally caught up.

But when I look at her, I can’t. I can’t lie, I can’t hide the truth, and I damn sure can’t keep secrets. Not anymore.

“It’s rare to find you speechless, Agent.” Elena slips a stray hair behind my ear. “I don’t think I quite like it.”

She closes the space between us to place a soft kiss against my lips. It sends a whole new slew of shivers through me, this time with a heat that makes me forget I’m half-drenched from the storm outside.

I have to briefly close my eyes to focus. Remind myself that getting distracted now is the line between life and death. I try to speak again, try to come clean, but when I open my mouth, it’s to release a sharp gasp as Elena’s hands find my waist, pressing the cold shirt against my skin.

“You are freezing.” Her fingers play at the hem of my top. “I have some dry clothes upstairs.”

My entire body contracts as the tips of her nails graze just under the fabric, the tiny friction doing terrible things to my libido.

“Or maybe just a robe.” Her voice is raspy as she leans close again, stealing another kiss, this one lasting longer and sending tingles a little deeper. “Whatever your preference.”

My head spins as I watch her lashes lower, and her bottom lip temporarily disappears between her teeth. When she releases it, a sheen covers it, and everything I wanted to talk about fades as I imagine running my tongue along the edge. No—running my tongue all overher. Every square inch that I’ve been admiring since the second we met.

Elena’s barely-there smirk is enough to tell me she can read my thoughts, and she pushes. “I’m curious. What is your preference, Agent?”

One hand falls from my side before she hooks a finger under my chin to kiss me again. And again. And again. Each one is more sensual than the last. More needy. And each one is a crack to my resolve, shattering what little discipline I had.

“Nothing,” I finally whisper, the words falling out as my pulse begins pounding too loud for me to think. “I prefer nothing.”

Even in the low light, Elena’s green eyes shimmer, a type of triumph validation flitting through them. “That can be arranged.”

Without a word, she returns her hand to my side and slides up my torso, a fire trailing behind them as she tugs my shirt up, coaxing me into lifting my arms so she can remove it.

Though the cool air mixed with the rain still clinging to my skin causes my nipples to draw tight, the rest of my body is on fire, and it’s all because of the way Elena Baudelaire’s eyes drink in my bare frame.

Her gaze is heavy as it roves over my collarbone and down to my bra, and even though she’s not touching me, I canfeeleverywhere she looks. Molten heat floods my veins, and suddenly the need for her—to have her command me physically the way she does emotionally—is too great to resist.

Again, it’s as if she can read me like one of her plants needing water, and she lifts her chin, an order in itself. “Take it off for me, Agent.”

My eyes flash to the dark front of the shop, but before I can say anything, Elena steps forward, capturing my lips with hers.

Her mouth claims complete control of mine, the force a perfect combination of domination and carnal. I thought I understood need, but this…this is somethingmore. Something deeper. It flirts with the line of desperation and there is no way to keep myself from succumbing to it, even if I was strong enough to. And ultimately, I’m not.

Instead, I do what I know isn’t right. I fall into it. I let her walk me backward and deeper into the shop and into the obscurity of the massive plants, until my hips hit the back of her counter. Her hands rove over my frame, unfastening the clasp of my bra and flicking the button on my pants.

I groan into her mouth as she nips my bottom lip, tugging my body free of clothes, all the while all I can do is hold on to the edge of the counter and try not to self combust from the intense heat sinking into every pore. So far gone in the cloud of lust, I almost don’t hear the rumble of thunder overhead that shakes the entire building. I almost don’t heed the fucking warning the universe tries to send. I almost let myself become the very person I fucking hate.

But I don’t. I catch it just as Elena’s lips leave mine and trail down my jaw. I feel it just as one of her hands cups my breast and her thumb tugs at the barbells. And I stop it just as her hands find my waist.

“Red, I have to tell you something.” My blood is rushing so fast through my ears, my voice sounds inaudible, the agony of what I’m doing causing my heart to sink.

“Tell me you’re not married,” she jokes, her mouth sliding over the crest of my breast, making my nerves sing. “Because I have been waiting a terribly long time for this.”

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