“Then you know if you break her heart again—”
“Igot it,” I cut in sharply. “For the record, I don’t plan on breaking anything.”
His eyes narrow. “Because you’re such a stand-up guy, right?”
“No,” I say firmly, standing to meet him eye to eye. “Because I love her.”
Something flickers in his eyes—a crack in that stone wall—but he covers it with a smirk. “So you say.”
Tate returns just in time to break the tension, sliding back into the booth.
“What are you doing?” Jules’ voice cuts through the room like a whip as she walks over, her eyes narrowing at her brother.
Sarge straightens, a little guilt in his stance. “I was just leaving.”
Jules gives him a sharp look, her shoulders tight with frustration.
“Connie?” I call, stepping away from the booth and toward the counter. “Mind keeping an eye on Tate for five minutes?”
“I’ve got him,” Connie says, casually moving closer with her own coffee in hand.
I turn to Jules, reaching for her hand. “Come on.”
She groans but lets me tug her toward her office. “What are you doing?”
I close the door behind us and lock it before turning to face her.
“Corbin?” she laughs, a little breathless, a little wary.
“I’m giving you five minutes to breathe,” I say as I cup her face and press a slow, soft kiss to her lips. She melts into me, her arms winding around my neck as she leans into the touch she so clearly needs.
I back her toward the desk, feeling her hands slip into my hair, her fingers tangling as if she’s clinging to me like a lifeline.
She lets out a shaky laugh, her body perched on the edge of her desk as I stand between her knees. “What are you doing?” she murmurs against my mouth.
“You need a break,” I whisper, kissing along her jaw, her pulse pounding under my lips. “You need to let someone take care ofyoufor once.”
Her head falls back slightly, and I take that as permission.
My hands slide under her skirt, fingers brushing along her thighs. “You need torelax, Jules.”
She lets out a soft moan as I lean in, her hands pulling me closer.
“Corbin,” she breathes, half a protest, half a plea.
“It’ll take five minutes,” I murmur as my fingers slip under her panties and find her already wet, ready for me.
Her hands clutch at my shoulders, her head tipping forward to rest against mine. “What if someone hears us?”
“Then we’ll keep it quiet,” I say, my fingers stroking her expertly as she lets out a muffled moan into my neck. “But right now, I need to remind you you’re not alone.”
“God, Corbin,” she gasps, her hips rocking gently against my hand.
I kiss her again, deeply, hungrily, and I know she won’t argue because she needs this as much as I do.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jules
