I reached for him, fingers tangling in his shirt. “Too many clothes.”
He smiled, lifting his shirt over his head in one fluid motion, then shed his jeans. When he climbed back onto the bed, I welcomed him without hesitation, the heat of his skin pressing into mine like a promise.
He began with gentle, almost worshipful kisses, allowing me every moment to reconsider. But as I wound my hands through his hair, yanking him closer, his restraint shattered. His mouth grew insistent, his hands urgent, roaming over me as though staking claim.
“I need you,” I breathed against his lips.
“You’ve got me,” he vowed, hand sliding between us to test my readiness. Finding me slick with desire, he set himself at my entrance, his eyes locked on mine as he pressed in.
I gasped—my body opening around him despite the lingering tenderness. The slight ache only honed my focus, every nerve alive.
“Okay?” Dion’s voice was husky, reverent, as his hips settled fully against me.
“More than okay,” I gasped back, wrapping my legs around his waist and drawing him deeper.
He began to move in slow, measured thrusts, careful of my soreness yet driven by need. I matched him, arching into each stroke, my fingertips tracing the ridges of his muscular back, mapping the scars there with trembling curiosity.
“You feel incredible,” he groaned, burying his face in my neck. “Perfect.”
His words ignited me from within. I sought his mouth, pouring every flicker of longing into the kiss. His hand slid lower, fingers finding my clit. I arched, a soft cry of pleasure slipping free.
“That’s it, baby girl,” he encouraged, voice rough as gravel. “Let go for me.”
Heat and pressure built until I couldn’t hold back. I shattered around him with a choked cry of his name, my muscles clamping down as waves of bliss crashed through me.
Not far behind, Dion tensed and released, shuddering within me. He collapsed beside me, carefully so as not to crush me, draping an arm over my beating heart and pulling me close.
We lay there, breath mingling, hearts thundering in unison. I was half asleep when he got up to see to the condom, muttering about the dogs as he left the room. I wasn't awake when he came back.
Chapter Fifteen
Emily
I woke in a tangle of limbs, Dion's arm draped possessively across my waist. Light filtered through the curtains, reminding me this was Tuesday—the day of my meeting with Susan. Despite the warmth of Dion's body beside me, a chill crept through my veins.
"You're thinking too loudly," Dion murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
I turned to face him, finding his blue eyes already open, watching me. "Today's the meeting."
"I know." He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Remember the plan," Dion said, sitting up and stretching. The morning light caught the ripple of muscles across his back, highlighting the scars I now knew intimately. "Stick to the facts. Don't reveal what you suspect about the trafficking ring unless absolutely necessary."
I nodded, pushing myself upright. "And the wire?"
"I will fit you with it before you leave. It's undetectable unless someone's specifically looking for it." He caught my hand, his expression serious. "If anything feels wrong—anything at all—you say the code word and we're in there."
"Barnaby," I confirmed. Our chosen code word would trigger immediate extraction by Dion's team, who would be positioned strategically around the building.
"Good girl." He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Now, let's get you dressed for battle."
An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself. Gone was the soft, vulnerable woman who'd spent the long weekend in Dion's arms. In her place stood a professional in a crisp navy suit, hair pulled back in a severe bun, expression cool and composed.
Walker worked efficiently, attaching the tiny microphone to the inside of my blouse. "This picks up everything within about ten feet," he explained. "We'll hear whatever she says, even if she whispers."
I nodded, trying to ignore the flutter of anxiety in my stomach.
