Page 25 of Locked In Ice

“Gonna say I’m a liar?”

“No, I don’t sleep around.I know exactly how dangerous it can be to hook up with strangers.”She’d seen the nightmares firsthand.

“You don’t think it’s dangerous to hook up with me?”

“You’re a different kind of danger.”

“So are you.”

Damn him.He’d almost made her send him a real smile.“So you researched me.Discovered I don’t have a lot of relationships.”Correction—any.“Anything else I should know about myself?”

“Why didn’t I discover that you were a former Fed?”

“A civilian wouldn’t easily access that info.”

“I feel like that is just the start of the secrets you keep.”

True.“My secrets aremine.People have to earn them.We’re not there yet.You don’t get to know every deep, dark detail about me.”

His hand slid down her throat.His fingers were so careful.A delicate skim, but he had to feel the fast racing of her pulse beneath his touch.“Fair enough.”

Her hands lifted and pressed to his chest.“Do you feel it when we touch?”

“The fucking surge of heat that shoves through my blood like a missile?Yes, I do.”

“Good.”His hand was still on her throat, and the touch felt like a brand.“I really would hate to be alone in this.”

His head lowered.His mouth came temptingly close.“Just sex?That the deal for us?”

“What else would it be?”They were adults.They could do this.“Not like you’re looking for love.”

“And you’re not?”

“I gave up on love long ago.”In an alley when she’d watched the sweetest boy she’d ever known bleed out in front of her.

No, Ophelia.Do not go back there.Don’t.

Lane’s brow furrowed.He was—

“Are you always this chatty before sex?”she asked him, truly curious.

“No.”

“Then I’m special.”

“Yes.”

Huh.“Good to know,” Ophelia murmured.“But the way I figure it, we can keep talking all night or …we can do this.”She shoved onto her tiptoes.Pressed her mouth to his.

Detonation.

Chapter Six

She’d wondered what kissing Lane would be like.When she felt electricity with just a touch from him, a kiss had certainly held great promise.That promise was more than fulfilled as her mouth met his.Lust flooded through her body.A storm of need that swamped everything else.

Sure, she could blame it on the adrenaline.

On being too late at night.On exhaustion.Anger.Fear.

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