Page 132 of Forbidden Need

“No one asked me to take the heat,” she said. “It was my decision.”

“You should’ve come here.”

“If I’d come here, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave.”

“I’d have—”

“I didn’t want to ignite war between the families.” She exhaled. “Best laid plans… Looks like it’s ended up that way anyway.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“You always say that,” she said, sliding along the desk, guided by his hand on her hip. “I make these messes and then you—”

“This is your kingdom.”

“What will happen?”

“Whatever needs to happen.”

“Mo Grá, I live to support you.”

And these messes wrought more complications.

He reared up between her legs, planting his hands on the desk behind her hips. “This is my job.”

So it was her job to support him and his to clean up after her?

“Have I got time to be grateful now?”

He shirked his jacket and slid both hands up her thighs, pushing her skirt to her hips.

“You were a naughty girl.”

Connel McDade, the only man in the world who could turn arson into an aphrodisiac.

“Our enemies know we’re powerful,” she said, heart hammering. “They should fear us.”

His mouth drifted closer. “All of us.”

“Are you mad?”

“Proud.”

Somehow, she’d known that. “Mo Grá…”

Their lips met, lingered for a second, then with one powerful plunge, his tongue forced its way deep. Yes. Being with him, lounging in their lust, life was surreal. How could she be so in love? So dependent and yet so strong in his protective shadow.

The door burst open and she grabbed his shirt in both hands, keeping him against her, away from any nearby weapons.

Niall and Whisper occupied the space at the top of the stairway, crowding each other, trying to get in first.

“Score’s has gone up.”

“The club?” Conn asked, loosening her hands. “In Miami?”

“It’s ablaze!”

Her guy, cool and unruffled, simply asked, “What does he want to do?”

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