Page 83 of Some Saviors Can Break You

“What? What did I say?”

“You said, and I quote, ‘I get that we worry about the people welove’. Do you love me, Detective Florence Harris?”

“That wasn't how I imagined saying that for the first time.”

“I don’t care how you said it, all I care is that you love me.” Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed her like they weren't standing on a busy street.

“You know you’re leaving me hanging here…” she trailed off and gave him a pointed look.

“Oh, princess, I love you. I told you already that you’re mine, and I'm not ever going to let you go. I messed up yesterday. I wish I could take it back. I wish that last night instead of going to my hotel room alone and trying to sleep that I had taken you to the penthouse, made love to you, and then fallen asleep with you in my arms. Forgive me?”

“Well…” She made a big show of pretending to consider the idea. “I guess I can't fault you for giving in to your fears when I've been guilty of doing the same thing. I forgive you, Eli, but please don’t ever make a promise to me that you don’t intend to honor. I just…I can't…”

“I know, sweetheart, I'm sorry. But I would never not fight for you, I'm fighting for you right now because the idea of yougoing to work still fills me with an indescribable terror, but I'm going to learn how to deal with it because it’s important to you. Thank you for calling me out, thank you for fighting for me even though I gave you every reason to hate me. I promise you that I won't ever break your heart again.” He put a hand on her chest above her heart, enjoying the feel of it beating against him. Her heartbeat had become his, it was as vital to his survival just as much as his own beating heart.

“I believe you.” Tears shimmered in her eyes, round teardrops balanced on her eyelashes before trailing silvery lines down her cheeks, and although he hated to see her cry for any reason, he knew these were happy tears and not sad ones. “I love you, Eli.”

“I love you, too, princess.” He caught her tears with his lips before kissing her again. “You know we haven't christened my office yet,” he said with an arched brow.

“You saying you want to go back up there now?”

“You saying no?”

“But everyone is there. What if someone walks in on us?”

“We’ll lock the door, and I’ll tell my secretary I don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Cos that worked so well when I just ignored her and walked into your office,” Florence said with a laugh.

“Ah, but this time the door will be locked.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Why not? After everything that’s happened since I met you I've learned to live in the moment.”

He couldn’t argue with that. Bending down, he lifted Florence over his shoulder and carried her back across the street.

12:00 P.M.

Eli set her down on the desk in his office, and Florence couldn’t believe they were really going to do this. She hadn't ever done anything like this before, and she couldn’t deny that she was turned on.

“I can't wait to taste you,” Eli murmured in her ear.

“You better hurry up and do something,” she moaned as his tongue touched her collarbone followed by his lips as he trailed kisses down to the tip of the v of her sweater.

“This has got to go,” he said, his hands grabbing the hem of the sweater and pulling it over her head. “This too.” He unsnapped her bra and let it fall to the floor, and then his mouth was feasting on her breasts. His tongue swirled around her nipples, teasing her, torturing her until she was begging for more.

“Eli,” she begged. “Please.”

“Please what, baby?”

“Please, I need you,” she said breathlessly.

“Stand up.”

She complied, standing on shaky legs.

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