She paused. “What?”
“You heard me.” He wasn’t in the habit of repeating himself and he wasn’t about to start now.
He was so close to offering her salvation. Damn it, he could taste it. This science guy, he had a reputation for dirty deals. Did Graciella even know that? Was she aware that there was a reason the son of bitch was willing to make her drugs?
Staring at her now, he wanted to hold her. To kiss her. To fuck her senseless. It was on her. He wouldn’t touch her again, not until she begged him for it.
“This is all for Bain,” she said.
“Not all of it. Capturing your scientist, getting the antidote from him, that will be saving Bain. Killing him is all for you. I hunted him for you.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“But, I’m not a nice person. I’m really not.” She cleared her throat and he cupped her face.
“Look at me, Graciella.”
She tilted her head back but her eyes were closed. Always rebelling.
He pressed a kiss to each of her eyelids. As much as he was pissed off, he wasn’t going to hurt her. He couldn’t. Boss pulled away and was surprised to see tears.
“Why are you crying?”
“I can’t help it.”
Boss stepped away.
A couple of tears slowly traced down her cheeks but she gave no other sign of emotion.
“I don’t know what’s going on right now,” he said.
“I … no one has ever done anything like that for me before. I’m not used to it.” She licked her lips. “I’ve been on my own for so long.”
“You’re not on your own.”
“All you want from me is to join you.” She swiped at her cheeks as if the tears offended her. “This is so stupid.”
“You think that’s all I care about?” he asked.
“Isn’t it? You’re not trying to grow your little clique?”
He scoffed. “We’re not in high school. Yes, I want you as part of Killer of Kings, but not just because you’re a good assassin.” He had to touch her. Running his thumb across her bottom lip, he wanted to taste her. Instead, he stared into her eyes, trying to keep his wits about him. “I want to keep an eye on you, Graciella. I don’t know what it is you’ve done to me, but I can’t help but want to take care of you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
He laughed. “I don’t think of you as a child. Believe me, I don’t.” He pressed his rock-hard cock against her. “Feel that. Feel me. This is what you do to me. I can’t seem to control myself around you and it fucking does my head in. I’m a man of self-control.”
She took him by surprise as she wrapped her arms around his neck and slammed her lips against his. He tasted the saltiness of her tears. He wrapped his arms around her, one going to her ass, lifting her up, and resting her against the wall.
Her legs went around his waist and he was nestled right against her core. She felt so fucking good.
She traced her tongue across his lips and he opened up, deepening the kiss. This woman was running riot with his emotions. One moment he was pissed and wanted to throttle her, the next, he couldn’t get enough of her and wanted nothing more than to fuck her.
The kiss slowly eased, the passion not dying but Graciella pulling away. She released his waist, putting her legs back to the ground.
“I’ve never had a man put my needs first,” she said. Her hand touched his lips. “I enjoy kissing you. I think you’re the first man in my entire life that I’ve kissed and really enjoyed it.”
“Graciella?”
“I told Viko because I want him to be in your debt. I don’t want him to put your head up for bounty and if you piss him off, he will do it.” She licked her lips and stepped back. “I don’t … I’m not used to having people care. I know my brother does and I … I love him too, but it’s not the same.” She took a deep breath. “I hope one day you can understand, and I’m sorry. If Viko gets the scientist, he did promise he’d give you the antidote.”
“You shouldn’t have done it.”
“I know, but for your safety, I’d do it again.” She walked away and headed to the door.
He wanted to stop her but knew that kiss alone was more than she’d been willing to give at some point. Beneath all the confidence was a broken soul. This was her attempt to reach out.
She opened the door.
“Thank you,” he said.
She lifted her head and nodded.
“Let’s hope you didn’t fuck up and kill Bain in the process.”
He watched her take a deep breath. “I … I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t believe in him, Boss. I know he’s an asshole and he does things differently, but he’s a good man. To a certain extent.”