Page 52 of Over the Edge

I toweled myself off roughly, trying to scrub away the memories of his hands on me, his mouth, the way he’d looked at me like I was something precious instead of just another body. Another conquest.

But the ghost of him lingered everywhere—in the faint scent of his cologne that clung to the rumpled sheets, in the throb between my thighs that reminded me with every step that I’d let him in. That I’d begged for him.

“Stupid,” I muttered, yanking a brush through my wet hair harder than necessary, ripping through the tangles. “So fucking stupid.”

My reflection stared back at me from the vanity’s mirror, lips still slightly swollen, a faint bruise blooming on the side of my breast where his mouth had nipped and sucked.

Heat flushed my skin at the memory and pooled between my legs.

Ugh. I threw down the brush in exasperation with myself and told my traitorous reflection, “No.”

I couldn’t afford to care about Flynn Shepherd. I couldn’t afford to care about anyone.

Focus on the mission. Nothing else matters.

I dressed in a black Tom Ford jumpsuit with a deep-V that plunged nearly to my navel and a wide belt cinched at my waist with a gold buckle. I slid matching chunky gold bracelets onto my wrists and strapped on heels sharp enough to kill. Finally, I dealt with my hair, twisting it into a severe chignon with not a hair out of place.

No one looking at me would see the woman who shattered in Flynn Shepherd’s arms last night.

They’d see cold, untouchable Elisa Deveraux.

And that was exactly who I needed to be right now because beneath my carefully constructed exterior, I was unraveling fast.

CHAPTER17

LYRIC

Even though Istopped for coffee on my way across town, nobody else had arrived yet when I stepped into the temporary command center.

Nobody except Flynn, draped in a chair like he owned the damn place. His eyes heated as he took in my outfit, lingering too long on the deep-V neckline that left little to the imagination. That persistent, nagging memory of his mouth on my breasts rushed back, sending a wave of heat through me.

“Morning, princess,” he said like he hadn’t just seen me an hour ago, his voice rough with an edge I couldn’t quite place. Anger? Hurt? Desire? Maybe all three.

I took a seat as far from him as possible while still being in the same room and set my coffee on the table, pulling out my tablet to review the after-action report I’d thrown together after my shower.

Silence stretched between us.

“So that’s how it’s going to be?” he finally asked.

I looked up, keeping my expression neutral. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do.” He leaned forward, those amber eyes molten. “You’re going to pretend last night never happened.”

“There’s nothing to pretend. It happened. It’s over.” I turned my attention back to my tablet, though the words blurred together. “We have more important things to focus on. You know, like stopping Moreau from selling a weapon that could kill thousands.”

“Right.” He exhaled through his nose, his jaw tight. “The mission. Always the mission.”

Before I could respond, the door swung open and the team filed in.

Trent nodded at me, his face unreadable as he settled into a chair.

Alistair was quiet as he sat beside Trent, his gaze shifting between Flynn and me. I didn’t like the way it made me feel, like he saw everything. Every bruise I’d covered with foundation, even the ones I’d asked Flynn to put on me in the throes of sex. He might be our medic, but I didn’t need his diagnosis. Not for this.

Nolan sauntered in behind them, looking like he’d rolled out of bed and into the first clothes he found. His trademark smirk was firmly in place as he dropped into a chair and propped his boots on the table. “As a connoisseur of explosions, I have to say on record that was a very impressive fireball last night.” He eyed my outfit and his smirk widened to a grin. “And today she’s dressed to kill. You might just be my soulmate, Siren.”

Flynn growled softly, and I shot him a warning look. The last thing I needed was for him to go all possessive alpha male in front of the whole team. I’d never gain their respect if he treated me like I was his territory to defend instead of his equal.

“I’d be a terrible soulmate,” I replied to Nolan with a thin smile. “Ask anyone.”

---