Gray Witch (Black Hat Bureau 5)

“Your turn.” He reached for my waistband. “It’s only fair.”

“You’ll have to owe me.” I shivered as he sank his hand down the front of my pants. “We should—”

“—be right here, right now, doing this.” He dipped into my underwear. “I love you, Rue.”

“I love you too,” I panted as his fingers found me slick and eager. “Very much.” I bucked against his hand as he entered me. “Very, very much.” As his thumb stroked that tiny bundle of nerves, I quivered with need. “Very, very, very much.”

Delicious tension coiled low in my gut, and I rode him faster, blushing as he watched me.

“You’re so beautiful.” He raked his fingers through my hair, cupped the back of my head, and brought me in for a kiss that ignited the burn between my thighs into an inferno. “And you’re mine.”

The last word held a promise, that he would protect me from his father.

And I would protect him.

The sweep of his tongue bumped his piercing into my teeth. He broke the kiss to nip his way across my jaw, and when he sank his teeth into my throat hard enough to bruise, I came apart in his hand.

“We have work to do.” I couldn’t catch my breath. “How am I supposed to brain now?”

All I wanted to do after that was, well, him. But we had a case, and possibly an eavesdropper.

Neither of which did anything to cool the heat swirling through me when I noticed Asa wasn’t done yet.

A text from Clay foiled my evil plot to straddle Asa before he zipped his pants.

>>You’ve got a live one.

>>Make that a dead one.

>Break that down for me.

>>A man was eviscerated outside the Shots Fired bar two hours ago. A secondary team has already secured the scene. They’re waiting on you. Maybe actually go this time?

>To think I almost regretted not having you around to share my breakfast burritos with.

>>You ate breakfast burritos? Without me? How could you?

>Over the lips, past the gums, look out stomach, here it comes?

After blanking the screen, I started to rise, only to realize Asa’s hand was still down my pants.

“We can’t investigate like this.” I looked pointedly down. “We don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”

“That you literally lead me around by your—” he flexed his fingers, “—sparkling personality.”

“Nice save.” I shoved him back. “Especially since, judging by your wrist, I can tell your poor hand was trapped down there by my fat roll.” I rubbed my stomach. “I’ve been eating too many cupcakes lately.”

Even now that we spent all our time together, he still sent I miss you cupcakes as a delicious reminder of our early courtship. Just not in bulk.

“You can never eat too many cupcakes.” He got our feet under us. “And I wasn’t trapped.” He steadied me. “I didn’t want to leave.”

Fresh heat spilled into my cheeks. “We should clean up and get going.”

Before he could corner me in the bathroom, I ducked in and locked the door behind me. I pulled my hair into a messy bun, washed up, and attempted to appear professional in my day-old tee and jeans. The lump under my shirt confirmed the grimoire was safe in its cage around my neck, undetected so far.

I might not have been bold enough to use the mistletoe necklace Asa gave me every time I wanted a kiss from him, but I liked having the option. I missed it, what it stood for, and I couldn’t wait to get home and swap the pendant for the charm’s comforting weight.

“Your turn,” I called while trading places with Asa. “We need to pick up fresh outfits in town.”