Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Morning, Mrs. Nighthorse,” he returns with a grin.
Mena knows my history with Maxim, and even though very few people know he and I are together now, she was one of the first and few I brought up to speed before I left for Costa Rica.
“Good morning,” he says to me, his green eyes darkening as he leans down to kiss me. He pulls away after a brief contact, but I reach up and bring him back for a kiss that lingers, exploring him for a few seconds even with Mena watching. I can’t help it. Seeing him dressed to leave makes me want to tie him to my bed so he can’t get away. I don’t know if it’s clinginess or neediness, but I want him as close as possible as much as possible.
“You have to go?” I murmur against his lips.
“Yes.” He looks down at me, eyes blazing with love and affection and desire. “Unless you want me to stay? I have a meeting at Café du Parc, but I can cancel if you need me to.”
“No, of course not. Power breakfast, huh?” I ask, lifting my brows at his meeting spot near the White House.
“Something like that,” he says wryly. “Peggy Newcombe was on that Antarctica expedition with me, and we’ve stayed in touch over the years.”
“Senator Newcombe?” I ask, surprised.
“Congresswoman then. She’s an ally for climate change and is sponsoring a bill I want to see pushed through. I’ve canceled on her three times already, and she’s leaving on a month-long trip, so I’d like to catch her.” He searches my face, a frown pinching between his thick brows. “But if you need me to stay—”
“No, I’ll be fine. I think I’ll go out a little later myself.”
His frown deepens. “You’ve only been home two days, Nix. You’ll get back to your routine soon enough. Get some rest. Schedule a session with your therapist. Take it slow.”
“I don’t have time for slow, Doc. Your brother’s announcing his campaign very soon.”
“I don’t give a damn if O is announcing he’s going to the moon. Kimba and your team have everything under control. Don’t rush it.”
“Are you presuming to tell me when I should go back to work?” My tone is light, but he needs to know. I love him, but he won’t run my life.
He sighs and rolls his eyes up to the light fixture suspended over my dining-room table. “I would never presume, but can I be concerned?”
He leans down to cup my cheek and locks our gazes together. “I just don’t want you feeling pressure.”
The stiffness gathering in my neck eases at the love in his eyes. “Thank you, but you have to trust me to know what I need, and I need to work. I won’t break.”
He nods slowly, searching my face before straightening. “Well, I have to go meet Peggy, but I’ll be back. I can work from here.”
“Work from your office. It’s fine. I think I’m going for a run and might swing by my office just to pick up a few things and check in.”
He stiffens. “What time? When?”
“Maxim, really?” I laugh and take a sip of my juice. “I’ll be fine.”
“One of the guys will go with you,” he says, an expression I can’t quite place crossing his face.
“One of what guys?” I ask.
“Oh, you mean the battalion stationed outside the door? In the hall?” Mena asks, her tone dry. “Or the one in the lobby?”
“Battalion?” I look from my auntie to my boyfriend. “What’s she talking about, Doc? And what guys?”
“Just a precautionary measure,” he says. “I’ve assigned you a security detail.”
“A what?” My back goes straight and rigid. “The kidnapping was specific to that country, to those circumstances, and was about Wallace and the vaccine. It had nothing to do with me. Don’t generalize the danger. I’ve never needed security, and I still don’t.”
His full lips tighten, but he doesn’t speak for a moment. “This is a broader conversation we should have tonight when I get home.”
My heart contracts when he refers to my apartment as home. I melt at the thought of us sharing a home together, but I set my mouth and my will, too.
“I may go for a run a little later,” I say through stiff lips, “and I do not want to be followed. Am I clear on that, Maxim?”
He glances at that insanely expensive Richard Mille watch on his wrist. “I need to go. We’ll discuss it later.”
His tight expression loosens, and he offers Mena a natural smile, charm oozing from every pore. “Goodbye, Mrs. Nighthorse.”
“Please call me Mena. I think we’ll be seeing quite a bit of each other.”
“I’m sure,” he replies, flicking his glance back to me.
“I’ll walk you out.” I stand and follow him around the corner to the small foyer of my apartment. He leans against the front door and pulls me into him, dipping his head to delve into my mouth without speaking. The tension that had crept up between us drains away, and I return every thrust of his tongue, groaning into the kiss. He slides his hands down my back and over my ass, smoothing the silk of the pajamas over my skin.