by Katie Reus
“A trial period. We live together and act like we’re fucking married.” His expression dark, his grip tightened again and that possessive look on his face turned her resolve to mush.
Iris swallowed hard and even though she worried she’d live to regret her decision, she nodded slowly. “Okay…but only after this job.” She had no clue how long it would end up being.
He got this triumphant look on his face, but before he could speak she pressed a finger to his lips. “I’m serious. I’ve still got a job to do. That doesn’t change. You’re in danger and I know I should step down as team leader because I’m emotionally invested, but I’m not going to. No one will protect you more than I can and I’m not leaving your side until this threat is eliminated. Whether I’m team leader or not, I’m glued to you.” Wyatt was just as trained as she was and was more than capable of protecting himself, but in a situation like this he needed to be focused on his job. Not worrying about people out to kill him.
She knew Wyatt wanted to argue, could see it in his eyes, but he held back. Okay, that said something all by itself. Internally, she let out a sigh of relief that this wouldn’t turn into an argument.
“Then you’re definitely sleeping in my—our—bed.” The triumphant look was back, all smug and masculine. Pure Wyatt.
Iris didn’t bother fighting her smile. “Is that all you ever think about?”
“Since we were fifteen.”
She blinked at his bold statement, taken completely off guard by the raw honesty of his words. He didn’t give her a chance to speak, just closed the distance between them in seconds. Before she realized what he intended his mouth was on hers, but rather than devour her, his kisses were soft and sweet. She could feel the pent up energy thrumming through him, despite the show of gentleness.
Her fingers curled against his chest as need swept through her like a tidal wave. He tensed, his body going rigid as her fingers tightened, but he kept up those sweet kisses. When they’d fallen into bed the first time over a month ago, things had been intense. Wyatt wasn’t a soft or romantic man. While he was incredibly giving as a lover, he was so rough around the edges. Of course she wouldn’t want him any other way, but right now his tenderness was freaking her out a little.
Hot, sweaty sex she could deal with. Hell, she craved it from him. This slowness…she didn’t know what to do with it. One of his hands slowly slid up her body, skating over her waist, arm and shoulder before he threaded his fingers through her hair. His hold wasn’t tight, but caressing as his tongue danced against hers.
Iris wasn’t sure what was wrong with her, but he had her feeling edgy and impatient. Sliding one hand down his chest and taut stomach, she didn’t stop until she reached the button of his pants. He’d changed out of his typical suit and now wore a comfortable T-shirt and jeans. She started to work the button free, but he pulled back.
His pale eyes appeared darker in the dim lighting of the pantry and his breathing was rough, uneven. He swallowed once as he stared at her. “No.”
She blinked, not sure if she understood. Since she didn’t trust her voice, she slid her hand down until she cupped his erection over his jeans.
He let out a pained sound. “Not…right now. Let me take this slow.”
Still unsure exactly what he meant, she slid her hand back up and linked her fingers together behind his neck. “How slow?” she murmured, loving the feel of her body pressed up against his. No matter what, her attraction to him was potent. It had always been there, lingering between them, but once they’d kissed, things had turned flammable in an instant. There had been no going back.
“I’m going to get you off with just my fingers,” he rasped out before dipping his head until his teeth and stubble rasped against her neck.
She arched into him, wanting to tell him to stop simply because they were in a pantry that wasn’t exactly private, but also wanting him to do exactly what he said. A month of using her hand and fantasizing about him was nothing compared to how he could pleasure her. She wouldn’t mind him using his mouth too. Iris’s nipples tingled with anticipation as Wyatt’s hand teased the hem of her button-down black blouse. With impressive speed, he deftly pulled all the buttons free.
Looking down at her chest, he slowly peeled the shirt open. Even though she hadn’t planned on anything, she’d worn one of the few non-utilitarian bras she owned. Black and purple lace covered her breasts, but left little to the imagination. It had been a gift from Wyatt, but he hadn’t seen her in it yet. By the look of pure hunger on his face, he certainly liked what he saw.
“You like the gift?” When he met her gaze there was a trace of uncertainty in his eyes, surprising her.
Maybe it was because he hadn’t seen her wearing it yet. She nodded, wanting to reassure him. Any sort of vulnerability from him shredded her. “I love it.”
He watched her then for a long moment and she forced herself not to squirm under that intense scrutiny.
Finally he spoke, taking her off guard with his raw sensuality. “I want to feel you coming around my fingers, then my tongue.” His words sounded starkly over pronounced in the small enclosure. He couldn’t even tear his gaze away from her breasts and she couldn’t seem to stop her erratic breathing.
Having his laser-like focus on her always made her weak in the knees. As his words penetrated the haze in her mind she wanted to shout that she wanted that too. She’d missed the feel of him teasing and stroking her to orgasm with nothing but his mouth and fingers—and she really missed doing the same to him. In the bedroom they never had any communication problems. He leaned down, his tongue skimming the top lace of the demi cup. “Wyatt—”
Panic slammed into her sharp and steady as she heard the jingle of the door handle. Iris shoved him to the side as the pantry door swung open. The only reason he moved so easily was because she’d taken him off guard and put a lot of force behind her push. He tipped off balance, cursing as he slammed into the shelves and knocked over cans of something. She ignored him and withdrew her weapon. A second later she slightly relaxed to find Ellie, Wyatt’s assistant, standing there. Her dark brown eyes widened as she stared down the barrel of the gun. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish a few times before Iris quickly sheathed her weapon behind her back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wyatt putting his own gun up. He might have security but he still protected himself. Something she found incredibly hot.
She inwardly cursed her shaking hands. Beyond embarrassed by her behavior, she wanted to kick her own ass. Yes, she might be ‘technically’ off duty right now, but if they were going to fool around, she should be upstairs behind a closed door with Wyatt. Not here right out in the open.
“I, uh, was just…” Ellie’s cheeks flushed bright pink, the color stark against her ivory skin.
Wyatt growled in annoyance as more things toppled to the floor behind them. “Did you need something from in here?” Iris asked with the little bit of normalcy she could muster.
The color in the woman’s cheeks deepened and she glanced off to the side and took a step back. “No, I need Mr. Christiansen for a call from London and he wasn’t answering his cell. I thought I heard someone in here but didn’t, uh…I can just come back.” She took another step back and Iris realized her top was still undone.
“Yes, why don’t you.” Wyatt bit out.
“No!” Avoiding his gaze, Iris started buttoning her top. “Ellie, if you need him, he’s all yours. We were just…” She had no idea how to finish that sentence without sounding like a jackass so she cleared her throat. “Wyatt, I’ll see you upstairs later.” Still ignoring him, she hurried out of the room. He snapped something at Ellie, making Iris cringe that he was taking his frustration out on his assistant, but she didn’t slow down.
She’d fought long and hard to be treated equally in this field. First, as a Marine she’d had to make it clear to pretty much every man she’d ever worked alongside that she wasn’t free to fuck. She’d had a job to do and sex always complicated eve
rything. During her time in the Marines she’d practically lived like a nun. When she’d started with Red Stone she hadn’t had to fend off any unwanted advances, but she had needed to prove herself harder than any man did simply because of her gender.
One night under the same roof with Wyatt and she was acting like an idiot, threatening to compromise all the years of work it had taken her to gain that hard-won respect. They needed to get back on even footing and she had to make it clear that during the day or while she was working, no kissing and certainly no sex. Once they were in bed, however, was a different story. She had no idea if she wanted to stay married, but her feelings for him certainly hadn’t changed. They likely never would. When she’d been in the Marines they’d stayed in touch via emails, but once she’d gotten out and taken her job with Red Stone, they’d picked up right where they’d left off as teenagers. For the past two years she’d looked forward to those weekly phone calls with Wyatt more than she’d admit.
When he’d proposed getting married in Vegas—after the most intense night of sex she’d ever had—the part of herself she’d kept hidden from everyone had jumped at his offer. He’d never actually said the words ‘I love you’, but then again, neither had she. Hell, she’d never had anyone say them to her. Even thinking the words felt foreign. But deep down, she knew what she felt for him was love.
Chapter 6
Wyatt stripped his T-shirt off and tossed it onto the chair tucked under the small teak desk by the expansive windows overlooking Biscayne Bay. Of course the ceiling to floor length drapes were pulled tightly shut and for all he knew Iris had ordered to have the hurricane shutters drawn outside too. Not that he blamed her.
He’d already ordered his regular security to close the house up tight, but Iris had been vigilant when she’d arrived, checking and double-checking everything herself. Going to pick her up with Jay had been a risk, but he’d been willing to take the chance to see her. The poisoning attempt on his life had been subtle, which told him a little about who was coming after him. Well, as much as it could. He was currently in the process of bidding on a company that had just produced a software program that was hack resistant. The truth was, almost everything could be hacked eventually. But if he won this bid he would also gain rights to work with Eldon Osborn, the man who’d designed the program. Since Wyatt hadn’t been able to hire him away from his current employer because of contractual issues, he hoped to get the computer genius this way.
Osborn had written an article six months ago in some obscure science journal about ideas he had on making clean energy more affordable to the masses. And Wyatt was more than a little intrigued. He wanted Osborn on his payroll and he intended to get him.
Shaking those thoughts free, he took a step toward the king-sized bed and as his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he realized Iris was awake and watching him. Her head was lying on the pillow and she had the covers pulled up to her waist. He could see she was wearing a tank top and wondered if she had anything else on under the covers.
She hadn’t moved when he’d first entered the room, but he’d known she’d wake up soon enough. She was a lighter sleeper than he was. Part of him was surprised she was actually waiting in bed for him after the way she’d run from him in the pantry. Not that he blamed her. He was still pissed that Ellie had interrupted them, but she’d just been doing her job. His assistant slept as little as he did, so he couldn’t get too angry.
Iris’s gaze flicked to digital clock on the nightstand, then back to him. It was close to four in the morning. “Everything okay?” Her voice was raspy with sleep.
He nodded, loving the vision of her in his bed. Hair tousled around her face and bleary-eyed, he liked seeing her like this. In an intimate way no one else ever did. “Yeah. Just work stuff that wouldn’t wait.”
She sat up, as if she meant to get out of bed, but he shook his head. “I’m beat. Stay with me tonight? Just to sleep.”
“I’d planned to…only to keep an eye on you in a professional sense.” Her lips quirked up at the corners.
“Is that why you’re waiting in my bed?”
Rolling her eyes, she fell back against the pillow. “I’m not ruining my beauty sleep waiting for you.”
Wyatt stripped off his jeans, but left his boxers on. Normally he slept naked, but if he took off everything, he’d end up throwing his good intentions out the window. He needed to knock down the walls Iris had erected between them and get to the source of the problem. Because he knew it wasn’t the reason she’d given him. Yeah, he’d made a stupid assumption, but there was something else holding her back from him.
He slid into bed behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him. Her body was pliant, molding perfectly into him. Inwardly he cursed when he realized she was wearing long pajama pants. Okay, so she hadn’t been waiting here naked for him. Leaning closer he buried his face against her neck and inhaled that sweet scent that was purely Iris.
She tensed for a moment, then laid her hand over the one he’d draped across her stomach, expelling a soft chuckle. “Go to sleep, Wyatt,” she murmured. “I know you’re tired.”
He was, which was another reason he wasn’t pushing for things to go further with her tonight—even if he was hard as stone. The next time he had her flat on her back he wanted to spend hours pleasuring her. Not a frantic fucking where they both got off then passed out. Right now was about building trust and deepening that intimacy in the way he should have done back in Vegas.
The house was well insulated so he couldn’t hear anyone else moving around. Of course her security team was quiet and taking care to be invisible. He’d sneaked up on a couple of them just because he could and to remind himself that he might not be in the Marines anymore but he was no less deadly. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Something he and Iris had in common. While he still didn’t know everything she’d done while she’d been in the Corps, he could guess. She’d been part of a secretive intel unit that did…hell, he had no clue. He loved how smart she was though. Smart and lethal. A sexy combination. But then, he loved everything about her. Once he’d proposed marriage and she’d agreed he’d assumed she’d admit her feelings for him. She still hadn’t. Instead she’d given him the most intoxicating, addictive days of sex he’d ever had, then left. Like what they shared hadn’t mattered.
His entire body tensed at the thought and he forced himself to breathe normally. Getting pissed about it wouldn’t do him any good. He just needed to figure out why she’d left and make sure he kept her in his life this time. Because life without her was unthinkable.
“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly. Iris’s breathing was steady, but he’d known she wasn’t sleeping. He didn’t like that she read him so well.
“Nothing.” The answer was automatic.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Just thinking.” Oh yeah, that answer was going to pacify her.
“About?”
“I thought you told me to go to sleep.”
“Don’t be a smartass.” There was a tiny bite of censure in her words.
Wyatt loved getting her riled up. “You, me, other stuff. My dad died a couple weeks ago.” He’d been planning to tell her, but hadn’t wanted to in front of anyone else.
She sucked in a sharp breath and started to turn around, but he held her tight. The room was dark, their sources of light the digital clock and streams of moonlight coming in through the exposed window in the bathroom. Iris must have left the bathroom door open for a source of visibility. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
They’d done nothing but argue the past month every time they talked and the truth was, he’d emotionally buried his father years ago. “It wasn’t important.” Mainly because he’d known she’d have insisted on going with him to the funeral and it would have been out of pity, nothing else.
She cursed under her breath, then said, “Did you have a funeral?”
“Yeah, it was just me and some of his old war buddies. I didn’t sta
y long.” His father had been a drunk and a dick. Once Wyatt had become financially secure he’d taken care of all his father’s financials but in the end liver cancer had taken him. Not exactly surprising.
“I don’t blame you. He was an asshole.”
Wyatt smiled into her hair. Iris didn’t sugarcoat things very often and she was right, his father had been that.
“I wish I’d been there for you though, I know that must have been tough,” she whispered, her hand tightening on his.
He wished she’d been there too, but didn’t want to talk about it. “What time are you waking up?”
“Gotta get up at six to get ready and meet with the morning crew. I set the alarm on my phone, but I’ll be quiet when I leave your room.”
“Our room,” he said automatically. When she didn’t respond, he persisted. “Say it.”
She let out a sigh of exasperation. “Only because you won’t let me sleep if I don’t. Fine, our room.”
“You know everything I have is yours.” Something she didn’t seem to understand. He’d tried to give her a diamond ring, but she’d looked so uncomfortable wearing it, he’d had a simple platinum band personalized instead. He could feel it on her now as her fingers interlocked with his. It pleased him more than he’d imagined that she’d put it back on. It meant she’d packed it with her.