Page 31 of Love In The Shadows

I shook my head. “No. He doesn’t know. Trust me. Your WITSEC handlers wouldn’t have given you up even though you left their program. As far as Richie—or anyone else in the Sanderson group knows—you’re still in their protection. He doesn’t know what name you were given, and with the amount of…action…at the club, I doubt he’s even looked your way more than a few times.”

Tori pulled out of my arms and scrubbed her eyes, smearing makeup down her face.

“I don’t have anywhere else to go, Bennett. I can’t go back to Vegas, and I don’t think I have it in me to start over somewhere new. It’s exhausting, and I’m tired—tired of running.”

My fingertips slipped down the side of her pretty face, tracing her cheekbones and then down to her lips.

“I’m going to help you. You’re not going to do it all alone. But, Tor, we have to get you out of this city.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tori

“Leave the city?” I repeated, staring up into Bennett’s eyes. He was so sure and confident. But that couldn’t be the only solution. There had to be another way. I’d worked too damn hard to rebuild myself—my life. I wasn’t ready to give it all up without a fight.

Bennett nodded slowly, sealing my fate. “I’m sorry, baby. It’s the only way to keep you safe. For good.”

“Aren’t you here to take the Sanderson family out? If you do that, then I won’t have to leave.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I still don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here. Listen, I know this is all happening really fast, but you have to trust me. We may have spent a year apart, but think back, remember who I once was to you. Again, you have to trust me.”

His eyes swept back and forth, searching mine. My heart clenched at the serious look in his eyes, and I found myself nodding before fully processing what his words would actually mean.

“Can you do that?” he asked.

“I trust you, Bennett,” I replied, my voice a faint whisper.

He smiled. “Good.”

His eyes met mine, and he tipped my chin back to kiss me. All other thoughts and worries fled my mind as Bennett and I melted into each other’s arms. His kiss held some kind of power over me. It was impossible to ignore.

I couldn’t think about anything else when we were together. Even though we’d been together less than a few hours before, my body was already aching for his touch.

Bennett obviously felt the same way. His hands explored my body with renewed fervor as though it had been forever since the last time he’d held me, instead of mere hours.

“I’m going to keep you safe, baby girl,” he whispered into my ear. “I’m not going to let anyone get to you.”

His words unlocked a hidden place in my heart, and a surge of emotion flooded out, choking me up even in the middle of the rush of heat and desire. I nodded against his chest and then brought my lips back up to his. He kissed me so fiercely that I lost myself inside of his kiss.

Bennett kept one hand tangled in my hair, cradling the back of my head, while his free hand skimmed down my ribs and waist. He found the edge of my silky blouse, and his warm fingers slipped underneath to brush over my skin. I shuddered when he palmed my breast through the sheer fabric of my bra. My nipples hardened against his hand, and he teased them with his thumb.

“Bennett—” I gasped, shivering at the sensations washing over me.

He groaned. “God, I want to taste you again, baby. I can’t get enough of you.”

My thighs parted at the suggestion in his words. I could already feel my panties getting soaked at the idea of his face buried between my legs, running that wicked tongue over my pussy.

He noticed my enthusiastic reaction and smiled at me, his eyes flashing with mischief. “Apparently, the feeling is mutual.”

“Just shut up and kiss me,” I replied, laughing softly.

Bennett’s mouth crashed back to mine, swallowing up the giggle and turning it into a deep moan of pleasure. His hand moved under my skirt and slid up the hot skin, grazing the insides of my thighs. I gasped when he stroked a finger over my wet panties. “Damn, baby. You’re so wet for me.”

I nodded, my eyes half-lidded as I looked up at him. “That’s because I want you. I want you to fuck me. Deep. Hard. Like you did before.”

“Here?”

I nodded. “Please.”

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