“I left you because I didn’t want anything to happen to you.” He covered her mouth with his hand when she went to argue with him. “You don’t think I know how strong, how amazing, how fucking competent you are? I know that. I know you’re one hell of a woman, a fantastic assassin, and deep down a very caring and loving woman. You hide it all, and I get it. There is nothing weak about you, Graciella. I’m the weak one.”
He removed his hand.
“What? There’s nothing weak about you, Boss. You know that. What the hell do you even mean?” She was more than a little confused.
“I should have known you wouldn’t understand. When it comes to you, Graciella, you make me weak. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.” He stroked some of her hair back from her face. “I don’t want to be without you, not ever. Yeah, I’ve thought about killing you when you drive me up the wall, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want to protect you, always.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Boss.
Feelings. For the longest time, she’d hated them. Wanted nothing to do with them. They made her weak. Boss had gotten under her skin and as she kissed him, she knew she couldn’t run anymore. Not from him, not from the way he made her feel. She was smitten and there was no turning back.
****
Admitting the truth to Graciella had been easier than Boss expected.
He wasn’t lying to her. He didn’t want her to ever get hurt. Her past still clung to her like a second skin and all he wanted to do was to tear down the past, to show her a life with him wouldn’t cause her any more pain.
“Graciella?” he asked.
“Tonight,” she said, pulling away.
Her lips were swollen.
“Tonight?”
“Yes, you and me. Nothing else. Please. You’re not the king and I’m not the competition. We’re just Graciella and Boss. Two people who met. No promises. Can we do that?”
He wasn’t looking for a one-night stand, far from it, but with Graciella, he was more than willing to give her what she wanted.
Running his hand down her back, going to her ass again, he stepped back.
“Boss?”
He pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it to one side. He had two guns tucked into his jeans, and he put them on the chest of drawers beside the wall. Next, he rid himself of his pants and looked at her, standing in just his black boxer briefs.
“You approve?”
She licked her lips. “You’re a beast.”
Her fingers teased the edge of her shirt. He could have taken off her clothes, but this was for her. If she wanted to stop, they’d stop. He’d never force her, not once.
Boss waited with bated breath as she waited.
This was a tease.
She lifted her shirt over her head, showing her padded bra, but also that she carried just as many weapons as he did. She placed hers beside his and next worked on her jeans. Wriggling out of them, she stood in her underwear.
They were both without weapons.
Vulnerable.
Both at each other’s mercy.
Rather than wait for Graciella to take the next step because she’d already gone out of her comfort zone, he put a hand at her waist and pulled her close. “Tell me to stop.”
“No.”
“Damn it, Graciella.”
“I want this, Boss.” She put her hand to his chest and slowly slid it down until she covered his boxer briefs. “I love the fact you wear black.” She squeezed him. “If you don’t want to, back away.”
In answer, he took possession of her mouth. There was no way he didn’t want to. He moved them away from the wall and took her to the bed. Slowly, he lowered her onto the top, still kissing her.
Stroking down her body, he went to her knees, holding them open.
“Don’t worry. I know it’s you. I won’t panic,” she said. “Please, Boss.”
He knew her history like no one else. She was safe with him. “I haven’t even gotten started.” He kissed her neck, flicking his tongue across her pulse. She let out a gasp and now he used his teeth to create the perfect level of pain and then soothe it out with light flicks.
Down he went, going to the tops of her breasts. He kissed each mound before reaching behind her to flick the catch of her bra open. Sliding the straps down her arms, he removed it from her body to stare at her.
“Do you even realize how fucking beautiful you are?” he asked. He saw the blush in her cheeks and couldn’t help but smile. “I take it from that look you don’t have a clue.”
“Why don’t you show me?”
“Gladly.”
His tongue flicked over one beaded nipple before taking the second one into his mouth. She arched up, moaning his name. The sound filled the room, echoing off the walls.