Page 98 of Finding Eve
“I did not!” She attempted to break free, and when she failed, her eyes shot lasers at him through the mirror. “Ifyourecall, I promised to follow your safety instructions. I already told you, that’s all you get.”
“Is it?” He pulled aside the thin strap of her bra and brushed the tip of his tongue over the little red strawberry he’d left on her shoulder earlier. His mark. His claim. The one she’d allowed him to make, knowing full well what it meant. “AndIwarnedyou.Sex with me changes things. So, until I decide it’s safe, your ass goes where I go. We clear?”
Pressed against him, she couldn’t hide her full-body tremor as his mouth closed over his mark to suck lightly on her flesh. “Fine! We’re clear, Mr. Bossy Pants.” Exaggerated and dramatic, her sigh had him hiding his grin against the soft skin of her shoulder while he studied her reflection.
She was all fast curves and vibrant color, and he loved every fucking inch of her, including her pouty frown and angry eyes. Goddamn, she was sexy when mad. “You’re not angry with me, baby.” He planted a kiss to the side of her clenched jaw and turned her to face him.
“Are you sure? Because from where I’m standing itfeelsan awful lot like I am.”
“Well, you’re not.” He picked her up by the ass, put her butt down on the counter, and settled himself between her thighs. “So, why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you.”
“Nothing’s bothering me. I’m fi—”
“Eve.” He heard the snap of command in his tone and didn’t regret it. Something had her out of sorts, and he meant to get to the bottom of it before it became a bigger issue.
“Adam.” Her sharpness equaled his, and impasse reached, she leaned as far away as his arms would allow.
Stubborn silence descended as he waited for her to give into him. She didn’t want to fight. Not today. Not with him. And sure enough, his patience paid off about thirty seconds later when her body softened right along with her expression.
“You don’t fight fair.”
“With you, I don’t fight at all.”
“Fine. I’m worried about the judge and Bryan, I…” She bit her lip and a flush of color crept into her cheeks as she once again dropped her gaze. “They have to pay for what they did. I know that, but I don’t want them to be hurt.”
Finger under her chin, he lifted her head and waited for her to look at him. “You heard my orders, right?”
“Zero body count unless necessary.”
“Exactly. The safety of my team comes first. I can’t promise you no one will get hurt, but I can guarantee, any use of force will be a last resort. It’s the best I can do.”
She nodded, her blue eyes clouded with concern for the family who’d betrayed her trust, held her prisoner, and set her up for slaughter. “I know it’s stupid to care about what happens to them, but…”
“No buts.” He cupped her cheeks, pulled her to him, and kissed her softly. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met, Eve. And sometimes the biggest hearts are the ones that suffer the most. Regardless of what they’ve done, the Matthews have been your family for eighteen years. You’re entitled to whatever conflicted feelings you’re struggling with. But know this…” He brushed the pads of his thumbs over her soft skin. “Your heart belongs to me now. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect it—and to protect you. So, no matter what happens tonight, you’re coming home with me, and we’ll figure out what comes next together. Agreed?”
She took her time before responding, and the sassy smile that took over her features when she did damn near buckled his knees with relief. “You’re not giving me an option, are you?”
“Not even remotely.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
Inside the private airplane hangar,the air buzzed with activity as the JTT prepared for the mission ahead. Tucked into a corner office area, Eve tried to stay out of sight while she fought to stay on her feet.
Her throat closed, her heart pounded, and her blood rushed. Too fast. Everything was moving way too fast. She squeezed her eyes shut, doubled over, and braced her fists against her trembling knees.
Damn it. Not again.
She’d managed to claw back the last panic attack by hiding in the jet’s bathroom and breathing through it. But this one had come on so fast, she couldn’t control her body’s physical reactions.
The world swayed, and she wobbled right along with it.
A hand landed in the middle of her back. “Are you going to puke?” Gray asked.
On the verge of passing out, Eve shook her head.
“Are you about to break your face on the concrete?”
She nodded, and streaks of white light zigzagged across her closed lids.
