Page 33 of Code Name: Atticus
“Let me know if I hurt you,” I warned, beginning to work my thumbs along the tight muscles.
He let out a low sound that went straight through me. “What if I want more?” He looked over his shoulder and winked.
Instead of responding, I continued finding knots and working them loose, moving from his shoulders down along his spine. His lower back was taut—not just from one night on the floor.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “For being angry with you.”
“You weren’t. It was yourself you were mad at.”
It wasn’t necessary for me to agree out loud. We both knew he was right.
“How did you get this one?” I asked, tracing the line along his ribs.
“Kandahar. Guy got lucky with a blade.”
The casual way he said it reminded me how different our worlds had been before this assignment. I’d spent my career in courtrooms and conference rooms. He’d spent his in places where split-second decisions meant the difference between life and death.
“And this?” My fingers found the bullet scar.
“Syria. Sniper got off one shot before Tank took him out.”
“Tank saved your life?”
“Multiple times. Goes both ways.” He tensed as I hit a particularly tight knot. “That’s the spot.”
I worked the tension out of his shoulders, trying to stay clinical about it. But every sound he made—every groan of relief—sent heat straight through me.
“You’re really good at this,” he said after a few minutes.
“You sound surprised.”
“Just impressed. Woman of many talents. Prosecutor, chef, masseuse. What else are you hiding?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I really would.” He turned his head to look at me with one eye. “I want to know everything about you, Brenna.”
The intensity in his voice made my hands still.
“Don’t stop,” he said. “Please.”
I resumed the massage, working my way down his spine. The lower I went, the more charged the air became between us.
“Brenna?”
“Hmm?”
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to forget every reason why we’re supposed to maintain boundaries.”
“Maybe that’s okay.”
“Is it?” He shifted beneath me. “Because last night, you were pretty clear about them.”
“Last night, I was scared.”
“And now?”
Instead of answering, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his shoulder blade. He went completely still.
