Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“He looked at your list of possible places and found an account he didn’t recognize. He has two keys from his father’s things he hasn’t been able to match up with a lock. One of them is for a safety deposit box. We need to wait until Sunday because his mom is out of the country, and he knows Julia will be watching the house. The senator has agreed to meet with us on Monday and hand over that key. Until then, we’re going to keep working, and you have to make everything look normal to the Canadian.”
That was a great lead, but she was still dismayed. “We’re leaving Joseph behind?”
“Absofuckinglutely.” He stepped back. “Have I told you how gorgeous you are? Those rings…I think about them all the time.”
She knew because his eyes were often on her breasts. She dreamed about being comfortable enough as a couple that he would corner her in the middle of the day and play with them, twisting until she was creamy and wet and ready for a quickie.
But they should also think about other things.
“Have you thought about…” She began because Joseph seemed to be a legitimate intelligence agent. Charlotte had checked him out and then ruined his op even after they’d discovered he was legit. She understood why, but they could bend a little, couldn’t they?
He held a hand out. “Stand.”
Oh, that command sounded super irritated. She put her hand in his and let him help her up. “All I’m saying is…”
“Do you need a gag, love? Because this is not a workspace, and you damn well know it.”
She hated gags. Drooly things. And she did understand it wasn’t a workspace, but she knew what was going to happen. “You’re going to keep my mouth occupied all night and probably the next few days, and I’ll be on that plane before I can make my point.”
“Oh, then let’s make your point right now, brat. As long as you want to talk, I can spank. Turn around. Hands flat on the table, and spread your legs wide.”
He was going to make her pay for being the logical, reasonable one. She turned and put her palms flat on the padded table. Well, it wasn’t like he wouldn’t have found a reason. It was part of the play. He got to spank her. She got to have her ass slapped in just the right way. She got to feel powerful and complete. She probably wasn’t going to win this argument.
“He’s been working this case for a long time,” she began and then gasped because his hand came down on her ass.
Pain bloomed, but she was ready for it and let herself ride the wave of heat until it crashed into something like pleasure.
“He probably knows the target better than any of us.” She was careful not to use Julia’s name. That woman didn’t get to be here in this space with them.
Three quick slaps this time had her panting. Was he going to argue his point? Or was the discipline his point?
“We need to keep good relations with Canada or they might not send us anymore syrup, and I don’t want to be completely dependent on Vermont.” If he wasn’t going to argue then she would go for the silly.
A nasty smack hit her ass and he held his hand there, forcing the heat on her skin. “Do you have any idea how much I love it when you tease me? When you’re weird and funny? When you walk in a room, it gets brighter for me. I find you so sexy it hurts.”
She could take care of that ache for him. She rolled her hips, pressing her backside against his hand. “I haven’t had a lot of reason to glow lately, Sir.”
Another three hard smacks and she bit back a groan.
“I promise to give you a reason. You’re the sun in my sky. I know I hurt you, but I won’t do it again,” he promised. “I learned my lesson. I trust you, and I won’t shove you aside again. I did it out of fear and guilt and yes, there was love in there, too, because I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. It’s new, and I’m so scared I’ll lose you.”
He settled in to spank her, ten and then twenty more times, the sound of his hand striking her ass making a symphony of arousal. She could feel herself getting soft and wet. She held on to the sides of the table, letting the sensations roll over her in waves.
He’d been scared. His past had wrongly taught him he was cursed. She’d thought the same from time to time, but then she would look at the world through different eyes. That was what she’d forgotten to do while he’d been gone. She’d forgotten there was often another side even to bad events. His fear had forced him to push her away, but she hadn’t been alone. She’d had her friends. Her father had left her behind, but Ian Taggart hadn’t. Charlotte Taggart wouldn’t. Hutch and Noelle and Maddie and Deke and Boomer and Daphne wouldn’t leave her behind.