He cupped her chin and lifted her gaze back to his. “You’l wear it for me, won’t you, baby?”
“Yes.”
Her breathless voice turned his dick to granite. Damn, how he wished they were back in bed. He’d woken her early this morning, needing to feel the heat of her surrounding his cock, holding him tight. He’d needed the connection, he realized now. He loved Gracie, and he was scared as hel that she might never feel the same for him.
It was Wednesday, and this was their first time apart since the shit had hit the fan. Wade was loath to let her out of his sight. Being honest with himself, Wade admitted that it only partly had to do with protection and had more to do with Gracie’s having time alone. Time alone to think about things. To think about him. Would she stil want him around after eight hours apart?
“I’l be here to pick you up at five and take you to Cherry?
??s. Don’t wait outside; I’l come in and get you.”
Gracie rol ed her eyes. “We went over al this already, Wade. I’m not stupid, and I don’t plan to take unnecessary risks.”
He raked a hand down his face and sighed. “I know you’re not. I’m going to worry until we get this bastard, though. I can’t help that, Gracie.”
“And I’m going to worry about you, so you’d better check in often.”
He smiled at the demand. Knowing she cared went a long way toward al aying his fears. “I’m just on a fact-finding mission today. Nothing more.”
As he watched, Gracie took his hand in hers and brought it to her mouth. She placed a gentle kiss to his knuckles before whispering, “Do you have plans for lunch?”
“No,” he said, his voice hoarse with need.
“Pick me up at noon, and we’l grab a burger together. Sound good?”
“Sounds perfect.” Wade let his gaze travel to her chest. “Maybe we can slip in a quick make-out session afterward.”
The color in her cheeks darkened. “Maybe.”
Wade’s control snapped. Leaning down he took her lips, hard, demanding. Claiming her. He knew his attitude was primitive, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Gracie pressed her soft curves against him, fanning the flames. Her lips parted on a sigh. Wade took it as an invitation and sank his tongue into the warmth of her mouth. Their tongues mated. He gripped her lower lip between his teeth and nibbled on her, letting his hunger for her show. Gracie moaned his name. So accepting. So sweet and tempting. The arousal behind the single word yanked Wade back from the edge.
He cupped the back of her head, both of them gasping for breath. “I need to get you out of this truck,” he growled, “before I forget where we’re at and take you against this seat.”
Gracie’s emerald gaze snared him. “Tonight you can finish what you started.”
“With pleasure, angel.”
Wade opened the door and stepped out, then lifted Gracie to the ground. He waited for her to push her purse up her shoulder, before kissing the tip of her nose. The fact that she was already looking forward to the night to come tamped down some of Wade’s fear. “See you at noon.”
She nodded and headed toward the entrance. He waited until she was safely inside the building before he got back behind the wheel and slammed the door shut. He took out his cel phone and dialed Jonas.
“This better be good, Wade.”
Jonas’s voice was gruff. As if stil asleep? Wade checked his watch. It was ten after eight, but Jonas had always hated mornings. “Where are you?”
“In bed,” he snarled. “Like most normal people.”
“Get to the office.”
“Time to do some digging?” he asked, his voice more alert now.
“Yeah,” Wade said, as he slid the key into the ignition. The truck roared to life. “I want this shit over with, damn it.”
“Me too. It about kil ed me seeing Gracie so worried yesterday at the market. This asshole needs to be behind bars.”
“You’l get no arguments from me. Just remember one thing.”
“What’s that?”