Mine to Protect (Mine 6)

She put his shirt down on the sink and turned on the faucet. In moments, she had a cloth covered in warm water and soap. She slid the cloth against his skin. Once more, she was very, very careful. His head cocked as he stared down at her. When was the last time someone had patched him up?

Other than, of course, an ER doctor. “I’ve had so much fucking worse, baby. I’m all right.”

“You think I don’t see the scars?” And the fingers of her left hand rose to trace over one of the thick, long scars that slid over his abdomen. “You’ve had too many wounds, Victor. You’ve come too close to death.”

He shook his head even as her touch seemed to burn right through him. “I’m still standing.”

“For how long? None of us will live forever, and when you face danger so much…” She stared at the cloth. At the wound on his arm—the newest wound. “If we’d still been in bed, still been sleeping, we could both be dead now.”

“We’re not.”

“Because we got lucky.” She washed off the cloth. Dried his arm. As she worked, she kept her gaze on his injury and she didn’t look up into his eyes. “He didn’t want to kill you, though. He was there for me. He even said you could walk away.”

Victor’s hand curled under her chin and he tipped her head back, forcing her to look up at him. “Did you think I was going to leave you?”

Her gaze was so deep. So green. “I wanted you to leave. I wanted you safe.”

She actually thought he’d abandon her? “I would never leave you like that.”

“Not even to save yourself? What is wrong with you?” Now she sounded angry. “Your life should come first. Not me, not—”

He leaned forward and kissed her. Not rough and hard. Not taking or demanding. Just…

A kiss.

Soft. Light.

Because he could be gentle, some of the fucking time.

“I would never leave you,” he said again, whispering those words against her lips. He needed her to understand this. “I don’t care how many hitmen come your way, I am going to be there. To get to you, they will have to go straight through me.”

Her lashes lifted and tears gleamed in her eyes. “That’s what scares me.”

“Baby, haven’t you noticed? It takes a lot to slow me down. Bullets, knife attacks…I don’t get taken out easily.”

Her gaze searched his. There were so many emotions in her green stare. “What are you doing to me?” Zoe finally said, her voice husky, breathless.

“I’m keeping you safe.”

“No.” She shook her head. “You are doing a whole lot more than that.” She leaned onto her toes and pressed her mouth to his. “You’re making me fall for you.”

His heart jerked in his chest.

“That’s so dangerous,” Zoe told him right before she lightly nipped his lower lip. “More dangerous than you can imagine.”

Hadn’t she realized it yet? He liked danger. His hands slid to her waist, and he lifted her up, positioning her on the sink.

“Victor! No, your arm!”

“I don’t even feel it.” He kissed her. Not so gentle this time. Harder. Rougher. He was riding an adrenaline high from the night and that powerful surge just blended with his lust for her.

You’re making me fall for you. Hadn’t that been part of the plan? That stupid bullshit plan? Only…

Baby, you’re getting under my skin.

He kissed his way down her neck. Her hands had fallen to grab onto the sink, holding it tightly. He wanted her holding him tightly, as if she’d never let go. He licked her. Sucked her skin. Felt the frantic beat of her pulse beneath his mouth.

“Victor…”

His eyes squeezed shut. Did she know that she sounded like pure sex? His every wet dream? That husky voice, that little moan that she gave…

“If you don’t want this,” Victor rasped. “Say no…now. Say it and I will walk away.”

He’d walk right back out into the cold night air because he’d sure as hell need to cool off.

“I want this. I want you.”

Those words were all he needed to hear.

His hand slid down her body. She kicked off her shoes, and they hit the floor with a little thud. He caught her jeans and her panties and pretty much just yanked the things off her.

Her breath panted out. Her eyes were bright with need. Her cheeks flushed.

“You are so beautiful.” He meant that. He’d always thought she was beautiful.

His hands slid between her legs. There was something about watching his hand…seeing his fingers touching her, stroking her…Zoe is mine.

It was a primitive thought, unsettling. He’d never been primitive with other lovers. Sure, he liked rough, hard sex, but touching someone, feeling this strange link that went far past some civilized surface, that went straight to his core…

I don’t know what the hell is happening to me.

She arched her back and gasped as his fingers stroked deeper. He wanted her to come, right there, with his fingers in her, with his gaze on her, with her body jerking at his touch.

He wanted to be in her, so fucking deep. He wanted her to know that she was his. He wanted her—

To think I belong to her.

“Victor! I’m so close—”

And his cock was about to burst in his jeans. But he didn’t have a condom. Shit, shit! He kept stroking her. Her pleasure would be enough. He’d watch her, then he’d jerk off. Or, hell, just watching her might send him over the edge. His fingers slid over her clit and her hips pushed against his hand.

“In me, Victor! Come inside of me!” Her voice was demanding.

“Baby, I don’t have another condom…” Just saying the words hurt. “This is for you. Just…you.”

His thumb pushed on her clit and his fingers thrust into her. She came right then, gasping, her sex squeezing him tightly and she was so insanely gorgeous. Even more beautiful when pleasure swept over her face

Yes. He could watch her pleasure all night. Never get sick of it. She was moaning softly and her hands were on him, holding him close.

He kissed her. Savored her.

But then…

“Not just me, Victor.” Her hands came between their bodies as she pushed him back. “I’m many things, but not a selfish lover.” She unhooked his jeans. Slid down that zipper. Her fingers closed around his cock and she started stroking him. Long, sensual strokes.

His hands flew out and grabbed for the counter top. He looked over her shoulder. Saw his reflection in the mirror behind her. Hard face. Narrowed eyes. Clenched jaw.

“My turn…” She stroked hard. Pumped faster. He was so erect, Victor knew it wouldn’t take long for him. The scent of her arousal—oh, hell, but it was driving him wild.

She pushed him again, just a bit more, just enough for her to slide off the sink. For her to ease to her knees before him.

He knew what she was about to do, and Victor almost came right then and there. “Zoe—”

She put her mouth on him, and his control splintered. The feel of her tongue, her lips…he was a goner. He held the counter as tightly as he could, and Victor erupted.

Chapter Six

He could have said the desperate need he felt for Zoe was a byproduct of the mad adrenaline rush that had burned in his blood. Victor could have rationalized his desire for her by saying that he’d been in freaking turmoil after the shooting—that he’d been so frantic for her because he’d wanted a reassurance of life. That he’d wanted to wash his sins away.

But those lies would have been all bullshit.

Victor glanced toward the narrow bed. Zoe was sleeping. Dawn was coming, and the mess they were in…it was about to get a thousand times worse.

Because he hadn’t been so desperate for her because of adrenaline or tangled emotions after the shooting or any other excuse that he wanted to throw out there. He’d been so wild…because he’d been with her. Because Zoe made him want and need like no other woman. When and where and why—

did any of that matter?

He. Wanted. Her.

This case was becoming so twisted, with every moment that passed.

He took another long look at her, then he eased out of the motel room. He made sure to shut the door as soundlessly as possible. Then, not wanting to take the chance that Zoe might wake up and decide to use her glass technique to eavesdrop on him, he took a few quick steps away from the door.

A few moments later, he had his phone at his ear and—

“Victor.” Russell answered immediately. “Are you safe?”

“Yes.” He gazed at the deserted parking lot. “Tell me you ID’d the guy.”

“You know you have to come in soon for a sit-down. This was a shooting, man. The paperwork alone—”

“Did you ID him?”

A long sigh came over the line. “The perp looked familiar to you, too, didn’t he?”

Yeah, he fucking had.

“We’re running his prints now and doing a DNA check with other cases. As soon as I have something, I’ll let you know.” Voices murmured in the background behind Russell. “I swear, I’ve seen his face before. Probably somewhere in all those files we have on Luther Bates.”

Luther Bates. “I have a name you need to run for me.” This part made him feel like absolute hell, but it had to be done. “When you’re digging into Luther’s files, look for an attorney…young guy, named Tom or Thomas.”

“What’s he done?” Russell asked.