Page 40 of Protected

Her eyes lit up, and she beamed at him so much that he would have sworn the room got brighter. She liked impressing him, and that was something he could work with. Now it was his turn to impress her with an adventure.

15

THEY arrived in Arlington with just enough time to park and walk to the Marine Corps War Memorial, known to most as the Iwo Jima Memorial. The sunrise was breathtaking as always, but Bradley found it more spectacular today because he was sharing it with an equally breathtaking woman.

“Thank you so much for sharing this with me,” Darci said as they stood watching the sun peek above the horizon before it filled the sky with beautiful hues of purple and orange.

They spent the rest of the morning visiting Arlington National Cemetery, after which Darci insisted on buying him a touristy lunch.

“This is perhaps one of the best-kept tourist secrets, but it’s the most spectacular view of D.C. Especially with the Washington Monument being closed.” She sounded like an overzealous tour-guide and he thought it was adorable.

Bradley had never heard of the Old Post Office Pavilion. It was not an exaggeration when he’d said he had done little in the way of tourism in the city.

Now they were riding the elevator to the top of a clock tower and he had his arm slung around her shoulders. She was bouncing with excitement, and it amused him. He loved seeing her so relaxed and happy. If the elevator hadn’t been packed with tourists though, he may have been tempted to pin her against the wall and stop the bouncing with a few well-placed kisses. His fingers traced shapes along her shoulder and upper arm as the elevator doors slid open. Darci wasn’t wrong. The view of the national mall was incredible. Lunch, not so much.

“You’re making me eat in a food court? I bought you breakfast at Blue Duck, and you bring me to Chick-En-Joy?”

“Hey, not all of us have the expense accounts for Blue Duck. I told you it would be touristy. Besides, that was a work breakfast that ended in disaster, so I don’t think it counts.” She poked her tongue out at him, and he frowned.

“We’re going to have a talk about that tongue, young lady.”

“You won’t mind so much when I show you what else I can do with it.” He raised an eyebrow at her bold comment and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my god. I can’t believe I said that out loud. I’m so embarrassed.”

Bradley roared with laughter. “No need to be embarrassed, baby girl. I have every intention of finding out what you can do with your tongue.”

“Stop. I’m going to die from embarrassment now.” Her eyes darted to the table, and she picked up her cell phone.

“Hey.”

No response.

“Look at me, please.”

Darci refused to raise her head, so he reached across and plucked her phone from her fingers and slid it into his shirt pocket.

Her head shot up, and she scowled. “Give it back.”

“Not until you talk to me. What’s wrong? I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“I shouldn’t have said that. Nothing is wrong,” she said, staring at her lap again.

“Don’t lie. Look at me Darci.”

She raised her head and made eye contact.

“Good girl.” He grinned.

“Stop that. You don’t play fair. You know what being called a good girl does to me.”

“Do I?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Why are you embarrassed, Darci? You’re a fierce, sexy, open minded woman, but you’re embarrassed about making a dirty joke with me?”

“I feel like I’m brand new to the scene again when I’m around you. I don’t know why, but you make me nervous. And I feel bad making dirty jokes with you because I’m still hesitant. I don’t want to lead you on.”

“Well, stop feeling bad. Period. You’re not leading me on. We both know you’re going to wind up in my bed again, and when you do, it will be mutually consensual. Though you might not like the spanking I give you when I do finally get you there.” He gripped her hands in his as he spoke, locking his gaze on her, daring her to defy him.

“You’re pretty sure of yourself Mr. Givens. And what have I done to earn a spanking?” She pulled her hands from his and turned her head away from his gaze.

“Do I need a reason to spank you? Don’t fight me, Darci. You won’t win, so you might as well give in.”

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